REVOLUTION MOTHER

An interview with Mike Vallely
by Jason Walsh

New Jersey native Mike V has been one of the most recognized professional skateboarders for the past two decades, always separating himself from the pack through his aggressive, go fast, go big, try anything mantra. He has had a successful career, sponsored by Powell Peralta, World Industries, and in most recent times, Element Skateboards. He has been scattered across the pages of every major skateboarding magazines, finding his way into dozens upon dozens of videos, and filling skate shops across the world with his signature decks, clothes, and even shoes. However, there is a side of the hard-charging thrasher that many of his fans might not know. Mike has always had a deep passion for music.

It all began in 1984, when a young skate rat from Edison, NJ saw Black Flag for the first time at the age of 14. The show drastically changed him and his spirit for hard music never ended. In 2002, he formed Mike V and The Rats, an experimental hardcore project which fulfilled his desire to perform music to live audiences. It was three years later, with the band gaining positive reactions from crowds and Mike enjoying his role as a frontman, that he decided to take the idea to a more serious and focused level. With Rat’s guitarist Jason Hampton in tow, they brought in Orange County hardcore veterans Brendan Murphy on drums and Colin Buis on bass. Revolution Mother was born.

The band has spent the past four years, touring when they can, with the likes of Tiger Army, Bad Religion, Danzig, and Social Distortion, along with a European hitch with Funeral For A Friend. Revolution Mother has just released their second studio full-length, “Rollin’ With A Mutha,” which has a Rollins Band feel with crunchy, overdriven, heavy rock flavor. I had a chance to talk with Mike briefly about the new record and Revolution Mother’s plans for the year.

First off Mike, how are you doing this year? What's been going on with you?

Life is good. Our new CD is out. I'm very excited about it and I can't wait to get on the road and perform these songs. I'm skating and rocking. That's what it's all about.

Tell me about the new record "Rollin With Tha Mutha" It sounds great and harkens back to those glory days of early hardcore.

Thanks. Although, I don't see us as a hardcore band and I'm definitely not trying to harken back to anything, but the early hardcore days definitely had certain energy about them and a spirit that I feel I am and always have been plugged into and a purveyor of. Like I say on the record, I'm an old school motherfucker and I make no apologies for it.

What was the process of putting this one together and how was it different from the band's past endeavors in the studio?

We recorded the majority of the new album in our own warehouse studio in January of this year with Fred Archambault producing. Half of the record was written prior to setting recording dates and having a record deal (Ferret Music) and the other half was written days before entering into the recording process. This record is definitely way more focused than our last one for sure. We had a very clear vision this time of what we wanted to accomplish and we are very happy with the results.

What does the band have going on for the rest of the year?

We hit the road with Clutch in the U.S. in September and October and plan on being busy around the world for the next year or so supporting this thing. Our time is now.


Talk about your early introduction into hardcore as a youth in New Jersey? I read your first show was Black Flag in Trenton in 84. I'm assuming that was at City Gardens? What about that experience changed your outlook and how you perceived music afterwards?

Yep, City Gardens. My life basically began there at the age of fourteen seeing Black Flag. There was something about the intensity of the experience that has remained with me until this moment but also that show just made music accessible to me. Before that show, I dreamed of being in a band. After that show, seeing that band, made me actually do it. Black Flag was about action.

Why now at this stage in your life, is this something you want to do?

I'm not saying music isn't a rather new career choice for me after being a pro skater for over twenty years, but at the same time it was never really far from what I've always been doing in my skating and in how I live my life. I've always been more of an artist than an athlete. Music is a very natural extension of who I am. I don't see this as a stage in my life. This is my life.

More importantly, has this been a fun experience for you? Being older and wiser and a proven professional in skateboarding, has it been rejuvenating for you now at nearly 40 to be taking on this new challenge in life?

I'm young at heart. Always have been. Age isn't an issue, never has been. When I was 16 and skating with the top pros in the world or now at the age of 39 and skating with the top pros in the world , I don't sweat it. Never have. I just do what I do. I love life and I live it, all the way. If I wasn't having fun you wouldn't be taking to me.

Aside from the band, what does Mike V the skateboarder, the husband, the father, have going on this year?

Just living it all. There's no real division. No separate hats. Mike V the singer is Mike V the skater and husband and father and bad ass motherfucker. What you see is what you get.

Any last words?

Get the hell out of my way.