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.