V. Vale
Encyclopedia
V. "Valhalla" Vale is a writer
, keyboard player and, as Vale Hamanaka, was a member of the initial configuration of Blue Cheer
, prior to that band becoming famous as a power trio
. He is the publisher and primary contributor to books and magazines published by his company, RE/Search Publications
. "Valhalla" Vale, who is the host of the television talk show Counterculture Hour on Public-access television
cable TV channel 29 in San Francisco. studied English at UC Berkeley, and is a Japanese-American.
In 1977, while working at City Lights Bookstore
, with $100 donated by Allen Ginsberg
and Lawrence Ferlinghetti
, he began publication of Search and Destroy
, a San Francisco-based zine
documenting the then-current punk subculture
. In 1980, he began publication of RE/Search, a tabloid format zine focusing on various counterculture and underground topics, with financial help from Geoff Travis
of Rough Trade Records
and actress/film director Betty Thomas
. At the same time he also started his own typesetting
business, allowing for a day job to fund his publishing exploits and guaranteeing high quality typography and design for his magazines and books.
The 1980s saw the expansion of RE/Search books from tabloid-formatted 'zines to academically-modeled books. "Valhalla" Vale published and contributed to many books on the subjects of pranks; obscure music and films; industrial culture
; authors J.G. Ballard and William S. Burroughs
; modern primitive
s; and many other underground topics. In 1991, Vale sold his typography business to focus on publishing full time.
Writer
A writer is a person who produces literature, such as novels, short stories, plays, screenplays, poetry, or other literary art. Skilled writers are able to use language to portray ideas and images....
, keyboard player and, as Vale Hamanaka, was a member of the initial configuration of Blue Cheer
Blue Cheer
Blue Cheer was an American psychedelic blues-rock band that initially performed and recorded in the late 1960s and early 1970s and was sporadically active until 2009...
, prior to that band becoming famous as a power trio
Power trio
A power trio is a rock and roll band format where the traditional power trio has a lineup of guitar, bass and drums, leaving out the rhythm guitar or keyboard that are used in other rock music to fill out the sound with chords...
. He is the publisher and primary contributor to books and magazines published by his company, RE/Search Publications
RE/Search
RE/Search Publications is an American magazine and book publisher, based in San Francisco, founded and edited by Andrea Juno and V. Vale in 1980. It was the successor to Vale's earlier punk rock fanzine Search & Destroy , and was started with $100 from Allen Ginsberg and Lawrence Ferlinghetti...
. "Valhalla" Vale, who is the host of the television talk show Counterculture Hour on Public-access television
Public-access television
Public-access television is a form of non-commercial mass media where ordinary people can create content television programming which is cablecast through cable TV specialty channels...
cable TV channel 29 in San Francisco. studied English at UC Berkeley, and is a Japanese-American.
In 1977, while working at City Lights Bookstore
City Lights Bookstore
City Lights is an independent bookstore-publisher combination that specializes in world literature, the arts, and progressive politics. It also houses the nonprofit City Lights Foundation, which publishes selected titles related to San Francisco culture. It was founded in 1953 by poet Lawrence...
, with $100 donated by Allen Ginsberg
Allen Ginsberg
Irwin Allen Ginsberg was an American poet and one of the leading figures of the Beat Generation in the 1950s. He vigorously opposed militarism, materialism and sexual repression...
and Lawrence Ferlinghetti
Lawrence Ferlinghetti
Lawrence Ferlinghetti is an American poet, painter, liberal activist, and the co-founder of City Lights Booksellers & Publishers...
, he began publication of Search and Destroy
RE/Search
RE/Search Publications is an American magazine and book publisher, based in San Francisco, founded and edited by Andrea Juno and V. Vale in 1980. It was the successor to Vale's earlier punk rock fanzine Search & Destroy , and was started with $100 from Allen Ginsberg and Lawrence Ferlinghetti...
, a San Francisco-based zine
Zine
A zine is most commonly a small circulation publication of original or appropriated texts and images. More broadly, the term encompasses any self-published work of minority interest usually reproduced via photocopier....
documenting the then-current punk subculture
Punk subculture
The punk subculture includes a diverse array of ideologies, and forms of expression, including fashion, visual art, dance, literature, and film, which grew out of punk rock.-History:...
. In 1980, he began publication of RE/Search, a tabloid format zine focusing on various counterculture and underground topics, with financial help from Geoff Travis
Geoff Travis
Geoff Travis is the founder of both Rough Trade Records and the Rough Trade chain of record shops. A former drama teacher and owner of a punk record shop, Travis founded the Rough Trade label in 1978.-Biography:...
of Rough Trade Records
Rough Trade Records
Rough Trade Records is an independent record label based in London. It was formed in 1978 by Geoff Travis who had opened a record store off Ladbroke Grove...
and actress/film director Betty Thomas
Betty Thomas
Betty Thomas is an American actress and director in television and motion pictures.-Life and career:Born Betty Thomas Nienhauser in St. Louis, Missouri, Thomas graduated from Ohio University in Athens, Ohio, with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree...
. At the same time he also started his own typesetting
Typesetting
Typesetting is the composition of text by means of types.Typesetting requires the prior process of designing a font and storing it in some manner...
business, allowing for a day job to fund his publishing exploits and guaranteeing high quality typography and design for his magazines and books.
The 1980s saw the expansion of RE/Search books from tabloid-formatted 'zines to academically-modeled books. "Valhalla" Vale published and contributed to many books on the subjects of pranks; obscure music and films; industrial culture
Industrial music
Industrial music is a style of experimental music that draws on transgressive and provocative themes. The term was coined in the mid-1970s with the founding of Industrial Records by the band Throbbing Gristle, and the creation of the slogan "industrial music for industrial people". In general, the...
; authors J.G. Ballard and William S. Burroughs
William S. Burroughs
William Seward Burroughs II was an American novelist, poet, essayist and spoken word performer. A primary figure of the Beat Generation and a major postmodernist author, he is considered to be "one of the most politically trenchant, culturally influential, and innovative artists of the 20th...
; modern primitive
Modern primitive
Modern primitives or urban primitives are people in developed nations who engage in body modification rituals and practices while making reference or homage to the rite of passage practices in "primitive cultures" These practices may include body piercing, tattooing, play piercing, flesh hook...
s; and many other underground topics. In 1991, Vale sold his typography business to focus on publishing full time.