interview by
j.michael niotta
& mike russell
Mike Russell and I had a chance to talk shop with Rich Black during the opening of his art show at The Oblong Box, Downtown, San Diego. Because of the open bar, interesting people and the amazing artwork, we forgot to record our conversation. I blame Bass, Mike blames Miller. We shot good old Rich this one over the computer.
Cheers, j. michael.
86: rich, i know you from the bars in san diego. you’re living in oakland now...are you originally from there? what’s with the move?
Rich Black: i grew up in i.b./san ysidro. i had the opportunity to move, so i took it.
86: how long have you been in this racket now?
RB: maybe 5 years in the gig art market.
86: in san diego you’ve done fliers for 4th & B events & brian pollard’s clubs (klub 80’s, therapy). you’ve also done album covers (frank the baptist), band fliers, & even clothing...what’s next?
RB: well i did a concept for frank, but it wasn’t actually used so i don’t think that counts. i’m doing a lot of ads now as well as some comic and novel covers.
86: you’ve created images for such bands as billy idol, gwar, ministry, elvis costello, pat benatar, the swingin’ utters, d.i., lower class brats, b.b. king, the cramps, the misfits, the exploited, rat city riot, mad sin... what bands or organizations that you haven’t touched, would you like to work with?
RB: i’d like to do a joan jett, brmg, vnv nation, le tigre, massive attack or some of the more mainstream bands like white stripes, interpol, franz ferdinand, killers, etc. list really is endless on those i’d like to do posters for.
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86: does r. black have a day job, or is it all ink now? what crap jobs have you suffered through in the past?
RB: i pretty much draw all day, for one company or another. the ink is virtual though, as I ink and color in Illustrator. i worked at mcdonalds for a day and was in the air force for 5 years. other than that it’s all art.
86: on your website, www.rblack.org, i noticed you’re affiliated with some music compilations. what hand do you have in that?
 RB: just the artwork. i used to help run a san diego/tj ska-mod event called Skadrophenia, which was headed by dj go go guillermo.
86: what do you think of the present state of "mod-dom," or "modism?" (whatever the term may be.)
RB: i enjoy the mod scene such as it is and the music, but to me, tends to be a tad stagnant with little forward movement.
86: still ride a scooter? what year, model, & is it all quadrophenia’d up with the mirrors & shit?
RB: i have a 79 P-200, which is a daily rider. it’s gotten pretty ratty and there’s only one mirror.
86: it seems here in san diego that the older guys belong to one club, while the younger to another. you a member of either, or are you solo? what brought you to that scene, & how long have you been a part of things?
RB: i’ve been in the pharaohs maybe 4 years, being involved with the mod/ska scene got me involved with vintage scooters and it’s all downhill from there. secret society tends to have an older membership mostly because their club is older, while the pharaohs tend to be more visual in san diego, so it’s easier to attract new members.
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