Mike Vallely’s hardcore punk outfit was back on the streets for a short run of Midwest shows dubbed “The Heartland Assault Tour” early this summer.
The five-day three-state tour was in preparation for a full national run with The Aquabats and Koffin Kats later this year.
Mike V & The Rats, who was featured on a number of Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater games (The games also featured Vallely himself as a playable character.) and was a part of the California skater-punk scene in the early 2010s, was mostly put on hiatus when Vallely was tapped to become the lead vocalist of Black Flag in 2013, a position he very recently departed after a decade of touring.
Vallely, who now lives in the Des Moines, Iowa area, received a call from his old friend, Christian Jacobs (Aquabats, Yo Gabba Gabba!) asking if The Rats would be the opener for this summer’s “Bats & Kats” tour, a 23-date excursion across the entire United States.
Jacobs and Vallely met while filming the cult skateboarding film Gleaming the Cube in the late 80s and bonded as punk rock kids in the skateboarding scene.
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“In the early 90s it was all hip-hop,” Vallely said. “I remember being at this skate event and Soungarden was playing and trying to give away their demo and they couldn’t.”
Before hitting the road with the iconic Aquabats this summer, Vallely needed a dry run. He hastily threw together a small run throughout Iowa, Nebraska, and South Dakota.
“Before we get on that thing, we should get some shows under our belts,” Vallely said.
Since moving to Iowa, Vallely has been doing what he always does. Skating and making music. But hadn’t put much thought into a continuation of the old band. He collected some Des Moines locals to serve as The Rats since the original touring members were still in California.
They mostly hit small cities which don’t often get noticed and played mostly to small crowds. Despite Vallely having entertained some serious masses while in Black Flag he remained humble and simply enjoyed the chance to try out new material with a new lineup of The Rats.
“I think Omaha has been the best turn out,” Vallely said. “I don’t know, they’re all big to me. You get on stage and you play, that’s like a big deal. And if someone showed up, that’s a big deal.”
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