Growing up in Long Beach, there were many influential punk bands in the LA/OC area. You know the names, Black Flag, X, The Gun Club, Germs, Adolescents, Vandals, TSOL, etc., and then there was Secret Hate. A band whose logo you saw everywhere, just as much as the Black Flag bars or Misfits skull. Billed as a heartfelt compilation honoring the late Secret Hate drummer Rick Selga, featuring unreleased tracks, post-Secret Hate projects, and bands shaped by his legacy. The album features 4 iconic Long Beach bands and musicians that helped shape the punk legacy in Long Beach.
Secret Hate the legends of the Long Beach scene whose influence can be heard in almost all the punk bands in Long Beach and whose song “The Ballad of Johnny Butt” has been a cover staple and made its way to the major label debut for Sublime. The tribute features the bands GlueFactory which features Mike Davis (Secret Hate), Greg “Mudd” Lowther (Falling Idols, Corn Doggy Dog, Perro Bravo, Hamapple), Randy Bradbury (Falling Idols, Pennywise, Tender Fury) and Chris Bradford (DeadBeat Dads, Carpit, 3rd Alley, Hamapple). Das Klown the street punk band fronted by A.J. Ransdell, Rick’s roommate at the infamous Castle in Long Beach. Hamapple which features members from The Vandals, Falling Idols, 3rd Alley, Perro Bravo. I had the opportunity to sit down and chat with Mudd and A.j. to discuss the project and the impact of Secret Hate.
In your opinion, what is the biggest impact Secret Hate had on the punk scene?
Mudd: Secret Hate was a major influence on The Falling Idols. Our singer, David Quackenbush, grew up in the Bixby Knolls area of Long Beach. He and his sister went to Hughes Middle School before moving to the same neighborhood where Trey, Randy, and I lived. David and his friend AJ (later of Das Klown) were younger than the guys in Secret Hate and the Crewd, but they were influenced by the “war stories” passed down from the older kids. We started The Falling Idols around the same time Secret Hate was forming. Bands like The Stingers. Rhino 39 and the Suburban Lawns had already paved the way for kids to start bands and build a local scene. When Reggie Recktor joined the band on guitar, their songwriting took another leap forward. Reggie was a skilled guitarist who brought in suspended chords and unexpected voicings. Mike, in turn, pushed vocal melodies that were unusually sophisticated for a fledgling local punk band. Reggie, inspired by Bad Brains, even brought reggae into the mix with the original Ballad of Johnny Butt.
AJ: They made people think, and if you were truly listening, you knew it was something special. Intense, uniquely soulful, and kind of scary. Back then it went over most people’s heads, and they really didn’t get it till it was gone. In my eyes, they were the best in Long Beach and an inspiration for all the good ones to come after.
Where would you rank Secret Hate in the legacy of Long Beach punk?
Mudd: Eric, Bud, and Brad of Sublime were younger than us, and they may have been influenced by The Falling Idols in the same way we were inspired by Secret Hate, the Crewd, and the earlier Long Beach bands. Eventually, Sublime discovered those bands too—and went on to cover Ballad of Johnny Butt on their self-titled album. That exposure inspired Secret Hate to reform, with Blake and Bob on guitars, replacing Reggie, who had sadly passed away a few years earlier. Mike, Kevin, and Rick continued to inspire and influence music in Long Beach and beyond. In the early 2000s, Eric Wilson formed the band Shortbus, which recorded Odd Walking Man, a song written by Mike and Blake. Secret Hate had a demo of that track that was never officially released.
What impact did Rick have on your drumming style?
Mudd: Rick had been more than an inspiration—he was a mentor. He always encouraged The Falling Idols and generously let me use his drums because mine were junk. Rick embodied what it meant to be a “band guy.” He believed that a rising tide lifts all boats. He never tore other bands down; to him, music was a community not a competition. I also remember a Halloween party we played at Reggie Recktor’s house, where I used Rick’s drum kit. After the show, Rick and I talked about drumming. He complimented my approach and suggested some ideas for playing faster songs like using eighth notes on the cymbals instead of sixteenths, or trying non-surf-style beats. I told him I’d never taken lessons and was thinking about it. He said he hadn’t either, and maybe that’s why we both played in our own unique, unconventional ways which wasn’t necessarily a bad thing. Originality mattered, especially in the local scene. Great musicians are everywhere, but the standouts are those who are original and connect with people.
Living with Rick can you share a memory you have that made an impact in your life or always makes you smile?
AJ: I left home when I was fourteen. One of the houses we lived at was called “The Cave”, and Secret Hate practiced in the garage. I loved just sit and watch Rick play the drums. He had great style and did it with such ease. He grew up playing to R&B, so he knew all the moves. Rick was hilarious and definitely knew how to charm the ladies. I remember one time I didn’t want to go to school so I popped a hole in my bike tire. When he figured out what I did – he fixed the tire and made me go anyway. Rick was like a brother to me and always had my back even when I was wrong. He wanted me to be better and was always concerned about my wellbeing. I could count on him. We kept in touch till the very end. A few of us were there when he passed and I got to be there for him and his family. He held my hand and told me he was proud of me and that moment meant everything.
Can you tell a story about Rick or Secret Hate that has lasted with you?
Mudd: Before I learned about his health issues, I ran into Rick on the beach in Sunset Beach. We’d known each other for over 30 years. We had a great conversation, reminiscing about the old days. I thanked him for being such a genuine influence on me. In typical Long Beach fashion, he brushed it off, and we talked about Mike Davis and his remarkable ability to elevate an average musical idea into something much more. Rick told me that Mike was one of the brightest people he had ever known.
What does this album mean to you?
AJ: Being part of this tribute album is an incredible honor. Secret Hate wasn’t just a band I admired—they were a defining influence on my musical journey. Their music shaped me, and their presence was a huge part of my life.
Mudd: After Rick Selga passed away, Mike Davis reached out to Long Beach Records to see if they might be interested in releasing Odd Walking Man and a couple of other demo tracks. This tribute album was a joy to put together. Mike Woods of Hamapple really wanted it pressed on vinyl. I usually resist that due to the costs involved, but for this project, it felt right. Vinyl was the medium when Secret Hate and The Falling Idols were dreaming of giving our friends and co-conspirators something to hold and hear. Brent Cheshire, who had done the “Secret Hate 2.0” flyers and album artwork, was the obvious choice to design the cover. Bill Ranson (aka Vex Billingate) of the Suburban Lawns had attended art school with the artist who drew the cartoon of Rick on the back cover. Since Rick, Mike, Kevin, and Reggie were all influenced by the Suburban Lawns, I liked the idea of that vicarious connection. I considered using a photo of Rick but felt the hand-drawn artwork showed more thought and effort in honoring a true legend.
