It seems to me that your life has made a complete circle - you seem to be a completely different person than when you were younger.  Why is that?And how much have you actually changed?
If I have made a complete circle I would have reverted to something, right? I think we all move down the road with age and experience. How could I not change when everything around me constantly changes. I live a very eventful life. To not go through changes would be not investing in those experiences. As far as how much I have changed, I have no real idea as to how to answer that. Perhaps I have more patience as an older person, things like that but the stuff that makes me go, that really hasn’t changed.

I read that you turned down an offer where they wanted you to promote liquor - why is that?  Is being clean and sober a choice you made because of personal experiences?
I have turned down a couple of alcohol ads. I don’t drink and certainly don’t want to promote it. I got drunk a few times in my youth and really never liked it. It was very depressing for me. So, it’s not like I am fighting some temptation to drink, I really have no interest at all.

Growing up, I heard you had a rough childhood.  How did you overcome this and turn it into a postive experience later in life?
Well, life is what you make it. You can get pinned to the ground by your past, your upbringing, what have you or you can live your life. It’s a choice you make. I got quite a bit of inspiration from the bad times of my past actually. They have been quite a motivator to make me work very hard and kick ass. I think the bottom line for me is that I was not going to cave in to external forces of that kind, no way.

Let's talk about your days with Black Flag and Rollins Band.  What are some moments that stick out for you?  Do you regret anything that you've done over the years?
In Black Flag I was perhaps hard to be around at times. It’s a lot of stuff thrown at a young person. Nothing really sticks out in particular. It’s more of those times being so defining and life altering that has had the lasting effect. Being in Black Flag was such a different experience to anything I had ever dealt with. It was a very abrupt change in life. I was a very different person a year after I joined the band. Regret is a luxury I can’t afford. I would rather take the punishment and heal up and keep moving, otherwise, life lived fully would be full of regret because you are not always looking out for your best interests or the interests of others. That would be a regret, to have ever endangered the lives of others.

Around '83 your persona took a turn for the worst: assaulting an audience member, being called a "macho asshole" by Greg Ginn, etc.  Tell me what you were going through inside and how did you deal with any anger issues you had at the time?
Assaulting an audience member? You mean there was just one? I thought there was a bunch!  I was always reactive. I got hit first, I hit back. That kind of thing never befell Greg Ginn and I am glad of it. He had better things to do than get punched in the face like I did. My anger issues, as you call them were dealing with people who came to take it out on the singer. I don’t know if one is supposed to hang around and say thanks for getting cigarettes put out on one’s bare legs, etc.

Would you say your life is an open book?  Is there anything that people may not know about you?
I have no idea. I live alone and work. I am self reliant and I pay in full on time. I don’t know what more there is to know.

Tell me about your friend Joe Cole and that horrible day in December of '91.  I'm sure that was a tragic experience to go through.  What ever happened to the gunmen?  Out of curiousity, what would happen if you ever had another encounter with them?
He was a good guy who didn’t deserve what he got. He was shot by a crip. I don’t know what kind of street credibility one gets for shooting an unarmed person. It’s nothing I would want to have done. The shooter got away with it. What would I do? I don’t know what I could do. Joe is dead, nothing changes that. I don’t think about revenge, I don’t think it accomplishes anything. What happened to Joe is part of the American machinery.


Some people have described you as a loner - why is that?  And why don't you have any interest in getting married?
It’s probably because I am one. I am better off on my own. I don’t hate people but prefer my own company. People are complicated, relationships tend to normalize things and to me, obscure aspects of life that I want to experience. The last thing I want is to come off the road to a woman. Nothing against women, I just don’t want to answer questions, check in, explain myself, etc. Also, I don’t want to have that safety net of unconditional love or whatever. I would rather load my pack, dress for cold weather and hit the trail while it’s still dark out.

"Workaholic": what does that word mean to you?
It’s when you have nothing else to do or no other way to cope with life. That would be me.

Tell me about 2.13.61.
It’s my birthday and publishing company. It’s very small and we basically get my stuff out there.

Would you consider yourself a good role model?  Why/or why not?
I would consider myself a bad role model. I don’t think I value life enough to be a parent or to be paid too much attention to.

If a movie were to be made about your life - who would you want to play
youself?
Don Cheadle

What are your thoughts on the war?
Do you mean the invasion and occupation of Iraq? I think it’s a conflict to establish basing posture in the region and to make the Middle East submit. It’s a pay day for some and a nightmare for others. It was one of the worst ideas America ever came up with. I had nothing to do with it!

What are your thoughts on the upcoming presidental elections?
I think it’s very interesting and I have no idea as to who will win. I think there’s a good chance there will be a Republican in charge again. As it is now, I am good to stand by and see how things shake out in the next few months.

Tell me about your show of Fuse.
Basically, it’s a hacked up version of the show I had on the Independent Film Channel. It was a talk show with a live band once a week for two seasons. It was good while it lasted but only lasted two years. I thought it was good. Interesting guests, cool bands.

Can you go into detail about some of the stuff you're currently working on?
I have shows until the end of the year. I am working on two books at the moment, I am hoping to get them out later this year. I am a bit behind but am working away on them as best I can. I have some other stuff planned but I have to wait to see if they come through.

Do you enjoy making movies?  What are some of the best experiences you've had while on set?
I like the work ok. Films for me is employment and nothing more. I am always happy for the job and take it very seriously but I don’t take myself seriously in it.

What should we expect from your 2008 tour?
I will be talking about a lot of the travel that I have been doing lately, things that are happening at the moment. That’s kind of what I always do,