Ep550: Black Flag Vocalist Max Zanelly

Black Flag vocalist Max Zanelly shares how she went from waitressing to fronting one of punk's most legendary bands and how the new lineup is carving their own space in legacy of the band.

Australian tour tickets and info here.

Topics Include:

• Max Zanelly checks in from Toronto, post-Canada tour
• Black Flag heading to Australia: four cities in late May
• One year ago, Max had just started rehearsing with Black Flag
• Only prior music experience: saxophone in middle school band
• A longtime fan, Max attended a Black Flag show in Vancouver
• Greg Ginn noticed Max singing every word from the front row
• Numbers exchanged; Greg said he wanted to make music someday
• A month later: the vocalist left, Greg offered Max the role
• Max sent vocal demos and flew to Texas to rehearse
• Already knew the full catalog; My War was the gateway album
• Side two's slow, sludgy tracks resonated the most deeply
• Favourite songs to perform live
• New recordings underway, still at early instrumental stages
• Max currently writing lyrics for a potential new Black Flag record
• Big age gap with Greg, but the band dynamic gels well
• Lineup reveal photos triggered massive online backlash before any shows
• Live shows quickly won skeptics over, including 80s-era veterans
• Henry Rollins is Max's personal favourite past Black Flag vocalist
• First rehearsals: nervous and shy about screaming into a mic
• Fake-it-till-you-make-it; fully unleashed onstage by the fourth show
• Voice conditioned gradually; 24-hour rest between shows is enough
• Bassist David sparked Max's interest in record collecting on tour
• Grew up religious; told mum she was just selling band merch
• Mum eventually came around; Max now inspiring women to start bands

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