Smash!: Why the changes in drummers--why did Emil leave the band?
Greg: He didn't want to tour. Right now, with the band, economically, it isn't good.
Smash!: (to drummer Bill) Who are you?
Bill: I'm the Descendants drummer, other than that I'm a nice person. I'm permanently in both bands.
Smash!: Do you see any kind punk or other attitudes?
Henry: I don't know nothing about no fucking punk attitude
Greg: We get a lot of trouble from various people, skinheads and longhairs. My tendency isn't to be any type of group (with whatever attitude). As long as people leave me alone they can do whatever they want.
Smash!: So you don't see yourself tied with any kind of attitude or message?
Greg: We don't represent any movement. I'm not straight edge, I like to fuck, I drink coffee once in a while. Everyone should do what they want and leave others alone.
Smash!: What's going on with your new vinyl?
Greg: We have a problem with Unicorn (records, who distributed Damaged). We have a lot of new songs, we wanted to put out a record six months ago. We're suing them, they didn't pay us any royalties on "Damaged."
Smash!: How many did you sell?
Greg: Very roughly; probably about 55,000 to 60,000.
Smash!: What do you think of the LA scene?
Greg: Well, actually there are different LA scenes. There isn't a cohesive scene. I prefer it this way. The bands start sounding the same with one united, one same scene.
Smash!: What about the outsiders' criticism, that the LA bands sound the same?
Greg: They probably haven't heard all the bands in LA. You have to look for the different bands, some do sound the same. There are a lot of good bands.
Smash!: What do you think of White Flag?
Greg: They're a heavy metal band, they're pretty funny.
Smash!: What about the band and all ages shows?
Greg: We prefer all ages shows, they're virtually all we ever play. The drinking age in LA is 21. Any place we play in California, doesn't have an age limit. We try to if possible. We'll take an all ages show over an over-20 show no matter what the money situation.
Smash!: Who sets up your shows?
Greg: It varies, this time the club pursued it. We do have an east coast booker. We've avoided playing here when we can't get a show with no age limit.
Smash!: What about the band and the cops?
Greg: We've had three gigs cancelled in the last three months due to cop pressure out there. The police aren't quite as political out there. They get real redneck cops out there.
BLACK FLAG AND THE HC SCENE:
Greg: A lot of people want us to be a certain way, like to have skinheads or whatever. We want people to be into Black Flag for what the music is, not the superficial aspects. Some people get mad at us because we don't act or be a certain way. We don't make any requirements of our audience. They can be smoking a joint, slamming, or standing by the side.
AFTER THE SHOW:
(An abundance of kids were on and off the stage, with generally no trouble. But towards the end of the set the bouncers became a little jumpy, and became too rough during "Rise Above.")
Smash!: What did you think of what the bouncers were doing, and the divers?
Bill: You take the good with the bad. That's one of those things. If one of the kids breaks my drums, I'll get someone to beat 'em up. But I like people on stage, it makes me play harder.