Skateboarding legend Mike Vallely appears to have parted ways with Black Flag, marking the end of what has been a rough ride with the band.
Mike V, who took over vocal duties for the hardcore legends in 2013, recently shared a Substack entry titled "My Final Tour with Black Flag," detailing his experiences on the road. While he doesn’t outright say he’s done, the tone of his writing makes it pretty clear that he’s stepping away.
Fans who have followed Black Flag since their initial run are no strangers to lineup changes.
Since the band’s reformation under guitarist Greg Ginn, the roster has been in a constant state of flux, with somewhere between 13 to 15 musicians coming and going.
Mike V was among the longest-running members in the band’s current incarnation, so his apparent departure feels like a significant shift.
His journal entry doesn’t sugarcoat things. He describes a tour that took a serious toll on him, mentally and physically.
The stress, the conditions, and what seems like a growing disconnect between himself and the rest of the operation all come across in his words.
For Mike V, who has built a career on intensity and commitment - whether in punk rock or skateboarding. It’s no surprise that he would choose to walk away if things weren’t working out.
He’s always been someone who fully commits to whatever he does, and if that fire is gone, it makes sense that he’d step back.
Black Flag’s future is anyone’s guess at this point.
The band has cycled through members at such a rapid pace that another new lineup wouldn’t be out of character.
As for their vocalist, the street plant icon got plenty of other projects to keep him busy. Between his music, skating, and various creative endeavors, he’s never been one to sit still for long.
For now, fans can only wait to see what’s next—both for Black Flag and for Mike V himself.