May 22, 2020
Lydia and Tim visit V. Vale and his wife Marian Wallace at
their apartment in San Francisco, which doubles as headquarters for
RE/Search, a 40-year-old publisher of
books on underground music, film and culture, of which Vale serves
as editor and sole proprietor. In the indie publishing world, he’s
a founding father; in weird art and punk circles, he’s a
legend.
In 1977 Vale founded Search & Destroy, San Francisco’s first
Punk Rock publication. It was published at City Lights Bookstore,
where Vale worked, and was funded by $100 each from Lawrence
Ferlinghetti and Allen Ginsberg. In 1980, Vale launched RE/SEARCH
Publications. Vale is most likely the longest lasting (and still
active) Punk publisher. Although Vale released books which include
Jello Biafra, Henry Rollins, Lydia, and many other Punk notables,
RE/SEARCH is actually best known for its impact on the total world
of underground culture.