Family Man
Twenty-Three Years Removed From Black Flag, Chuck Dukowski Is Right At Home With His Latest Project, The Chuck Dukowski Sextet
>>interview BY Zach Gajewski >>PICS provided by The CD6

Chuck Dukowski, the same man who blew your mind with his heart-stopping, Damaged-era Black Flag bass lines and who penned such classic punk rock anthems as “My War,” has returned with a new musical endeavor: The improvisational, jazz-influenced Chuck Dukowski Sextet. It would be unjust, however, to say that The CD6 are simply a band, as is apparent not only by the manifesto-saturated liner notes of the group’s debut full length Eat My Life but also by Dukowski’s own words. A sense of optimism pervades each word Dukowski speaks, a hopeful, even inspirational way of expressing himself that also comes through The CD6’s music. With plans to record a second full length, The CD6 will continue to work toward their goal of political and artistic revolution — and don’t think they won’t have fun while doing so. –Z. Gajewski

How did The Chuck Dukowski Sextet develop, and why at this point in time?
The CD6 started with just the desire to jam and have a little group, but it’s snowballed into something much larger and more ambitious. Lora and I started Nice and Friendly Records as a result of The CD6. We are so inspired and excited about our music and our friends’ music. There are some cool bands out there that aren’t getting released or exposed, and there’s room for much more. We want to make an environment of creativity, with no elitism. We’re all invited.
Why be called a “sextet” when there are only four base members of the group?
Well, as we like to say, we like sex better than quar.
Though some of the most important and influential music of the past 25 years or so has been born from independent scenes and DIY ethics, there is a tendency for many indie bands (be they punk, hardcore, or any of the sprawling subgenres that relate to the aforementioned) to claim that they play music simply because it is fun or it is exciting. Obviously, as musicians you enjoy playing music, but for The CD6 there seems to be more to where you are coming from and what you are doing than just “having fun.” Is there a mission behind The CD6, and if so, what do you want to accomplish with this mission?
Yes! We do love to play and we are on a mission! We want to change the future, and we can! There’s a lot of fatalism and negativity going on, a lot of apocalyptic worldview. And there is no doubt the world is fucked lately. But we’re not going to get anywhere with a “the end is now” sandwich board. There’s such narcissism in that “I’m living at the end of the world” mindset. The world’s gonna go on and it’s up to each and every one of us to create, with every little thing we do, the kind of world we want to live in. We want everyone to feel it — you do matter. And there are lots and lots of us. This government, this war, does not represent us. We can choose to make things that are beautiful, that are expressive, and inspirational. We can create a different culture; get rid of this materialism and violence. And violence is so fundamental, so prevalent in our culture, we forget to see it. There’s violence in the way the school system treats children and teenagers, the way we are taught to be competitive with each other, the whole concept of rugged individualism. We are a species that cannot survive outside of a group and we must give real thought as to what type of group we want to be a part of. Each and every one of us are the architects of our own culture, the real one, the one we live in, day to day. Each of our little cultures is a cell that makes up the bodies of the movements that change the world, so let’s make something better right now!
Do you see any limitations, musically or otherwise, to what the CD6 can do?
Everything in the world has limitations. We can’t throw the world off its axis with a ripping solo! But there’s so much potential for us. The CD6 is a family that includes our nuclear family; we’re a counterculture family project! Lora and I are married and our son Milo has recently become our fulltime guitar player. And, of course, our dear friend Lynn Johnston’s genius reed playing makes us really unique. Not to sound too “Charlie Manson,” but you can join our family, too! Let’s start the party that changes the world! Like Ian MacKaye and Amy Farina of The Evens say, “Not necessarily the only way to navigate this empty field.” We’re crossing the field, blazing a path! We like to wave at The Evens!
On The CD6 full-length debut, Eat My Life, you guys cover the Black Flag staple “My War,” a song that you penned. Though it has been over 20 years since you played with Black Flag, does the reputation of “the Black Flag bassist” follow you? If so, do you find this helpful, a hindrance, or both?
I’m proud to have been in Black Flag and genuinely grateful that people appreciate my songs, my playing, and the things I said and stood up for.
How do you feel about modern punk rock and other independent music?
There’s some great music out there and there’s some mediocre music. We like the great music better.
When did the idea for Nice and Friendly Records come about, and what made you want to start your own label?
At first, I wasn’t sure I wanted to start another label, but the more I thought about it the more I wanted to do it. The world needs more good music and I love the work. We got the idea of starting the label in a funny way because we came up with the name first. Lora and I were talking about all of the tough, posturing kinds of names that record labels have. You know, like Murder Inc., or whatever. We love the idea of a label based on something as underrated and egalitarian as being nice and friendly.
Are there any other planned releases for Nice and Friendly, or are there any bands you would really like to work with?
We have some things in the works, some old stuff to release, and, more importantly, some new bands to release. But we’re jamming econo, to borrow a line from The Minutemen, so were moving, but not too fast.
Now that Eat My Life is out, is there a possibility of The CD6 touring?
We don’t have any tours planned now. We are coming to a place where our various personal lives might allow it, so perhaps in the near-ish future. We love to play live.