The Death of Independent Everything

A countercultural media activist and founder of RE/Search Publications, V. Vale presents Real Conversations 1, a collection of lengthy interviews with indie-media luminaries Henry Rollins, Billy Childish, Jello Biafra and Lawrence Ferlinghetti that will be the first in a series of interview books. These punks and poets extemporize passionately, angrily, hopefully, fearfully and humorously on how to stay independent in a corporatized world, covering everything from SUVs, the WTO and the prison industry to visual art, punk music, independent presses, and artistic and political protest. Filled with controversial, sometimes conflicting and occasionally unexpected commentary born of years of artistic, industry and political experience, this book will appeal to a broad cross-section of progressive artists, writers, independent publishers and producers, skateboarders, intellectuals and activists. 30 photos and illus.