Ep482: Dez Cadena - Flag, Black Flag, Misfits and more

The Vinyl Guide - Artist Interviews for Record Collectors and Music Nerds

Nate Goyer

Music, Music History, Music Interviews

4.7 • 579 Ratings

🗓️ 13 January 2025

⏱️ 70 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Former Black Flag singer/guitarist Dez Cadena traces his path from being the son of a jazz record producer to becoming a pivotal figure in the LA punk scene, discussing the records, rare recordings and eyewitness accounts in the formation of LA punk rock culture.

Topics Include:

Interview start, brief discussion of The Saints and Chris Bailey's passing
Dez discovered Australian punk through Music Plus record store
Early exposure to Ramones, The Damned, and The Saints
Describes discovering Radio Birdman alongside The Saints
Compares Radio Birdman's sound to Blue Öyster Cult
Discusses early AC/DC fandom, specifically Bon Scott era
Father Ozzie Cadena was record producer for jazz labels
Family moved from New Jersey to California
Father had connection to Lighthouse Cafe jazz venue
Dez's childhood exposure to music through father's record store
Father's recording techniques using minimal microphone setups
Connection to Rudy Van Gelder's recording studio
Father recorded blues artists like Lightnin' Hopkins
Received first drum kit as child from father
Influenced by TV show Hee Haw's multi-instrumental performers
Father encouraged guitar learning over other instruments
Father's reaction to Dez joining Black Flag
Met Ron Reyes at garage sale playing punk records
First encounter with Black Flag (then called Panic)
Discusses early Black Flag recording sessions and demos
Explains Louie Louie single release on Posh Boy Records
Details Thirsty and Miserable Licorice Pizza promotional record
Discusses relationship with Black Flag after leaving band
Explains circumstances of Ron Reyes leaving Black Flag
Describes chaotic Louie Louie performance after Reyes quit
Discusses transition from singing to playing guitar
Mentions potential singers considered before Henry Rollins
Keith Morris briefly returning for one show
Current Flag project and Punk Rock Bowling festival
Discusses Punk Rock Museum and giving tours
Mentions Johnny Thunders' guitar and other museum exhibits
Recommends The Schizophonics band
Promotes his current band Dondo
Mentions producing 3rd Rate band's recent record

See Dez at the Punk Rock Museum - Tickets here

Commercial free, high resolution verion of this podcast is available at: www.Patreon.com/VinylGuide

Listen on Apple: https://apple.co/2Y6ORU0
Listen on Spotify: https://spoti.fi/36qhlc8

Transcript

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0:00.0	This is Des Kedina, and you're listening to The Vinyl Guide.
0:05.0	This episode of The Vinyl Guide is sponsored in part by Groove Washer.
0:08.6	Clean and protect your records with the best and safest cleaning fluid around, the
0:13.0	groove washer.
0:13.7	Ask your record shop for the groove washer, or head over to groove washer.com and get 10%
0:19.4	off with discount code Vinyl Guide 10.
0:22.4	Protect your vinyl investment with groove washer, cleaning fluid, and supplies from
0:26.2	Groove washer.com.
0:27.8	And now on with the show.
0:31.2	Welcome to the vinyl guide.
0:33.0	The podcast for record collectors and music nerds.
0:36.0	Here's your host.
0:36.7	The biggest record nerd of them all, Nate Goyer.
0:39.5	Well, hey, everyone, it's Nate.
0:41.8	Oh, my God, this is episode 482 of the Vinyl Guide.
0:46.1	Man, we're getting up there.
0:47.8	The podcast for record collectors and music nerds, I hope everyone's doing well.
0:53.7	I'm especially thinking of our family and friends out there in Southern California.
0:59.7	Man, what a rough week.
1:01.5	We've been watching those scenes on TV.
1:04.5	Not too dissimilar from some of the wildfires in Sydney we had a few years ago,
1:10.1	and you guys were great with your outpourings of
	...

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