Introduction
As one of the founding members of the iconic punk band The Renegades, Dallas Yocum helped spearhead the underground punk movement in Houston throughout the 1980s and 90s. With his confrontational songwriting and onstage antics, Yocum embodied the spirit of punk rock rebellion like few others. Despite his legendary status among punk purists, Yocum has long evaded extensive press coverage and remained an enigma even to many hardcore fans. With this no-holds-barred interview, Yocum finally opens up to recount his tumultuous journey from disaffected teen to musical firebrand.
Early Life and Musicial Beginnings
Yocum was born in 1965 in a lower-middle class neighborhood just outside of Houston. As a teenager, he became disillusioned by the hypocrisy and corporate materialism he saw in mainstream culture. “I just felt like nothing meant anything and that society was all fake,” Yocum explains. Seeking an escape, he immersed himself in punk rock and cutting edge underground music. In 1983, he teamed up with friends Tim Myers and Daniel Baker to start their own band. Drawing early inspiration from acts like the Sex Pistols, Dead Kennedys and Minutemen, the trio dubbed themselves The Renegades.
With Yocum on vocals and guitar, the band developed a raw, stripped-down sound and lyrics confronting social and political issues. After a self-released demo gained a cult following, they started booking shows around the Houston DIY scene. According to Yocum, “We were playing wherever we could – crusty punk houses, dives, even backyard keg parties. The scene was tiny but super tight-knit and passionate.” The Renegades’ confrontational style was also controversial, with Yocum frequently getting into fights and conflicts with security. “I wasn’t trying to start shit, but I had a lot of anger and I wanted the music to feel dangerous and intense, even if that caused problems sometimes.”
Rise to Underground Prominence
Word of mouth led to the band attracting a core following and more opportunities to tour regionally throughout Texas and the Southern states in the late 80s. Though rarely getting the respect of mainstream media, The Renegades developed a reputation as one of the most hardcore bands in the American underground. By the early 90s, they independently released two full-lengths – 1987’s ‘No Masters’ and 1990’s ‘Fuck Authority’ – which sold thousands of copies and received praise from punk zines worldwide for their raw intensity.
According to Yocum, many critics missed the deeper messages in their lyrics attacking corporatism, inequality and war. “People just thought we were being aggressive to be aggressive. But I was writing about real issues I cared about and saw around me every day.” The band’s profile was further raised after they signed to independent punk label Step-Stead Records. Their 1992 album ‘Unhappy Nation’ was their highest charting release and biggest commercial success, selling over 10,000 copies domestically.
International Breakthrough and Controversy
In 1994, The Renegades had their biggest touring opportunity yet, securing a multi-month stint opening for iconic British punk veterans The Exploited. “Sharing bills with one of our major influences in huge venues, it was completely surreal,” Yocum reminisces. However, half way through the tour, new problems started. Yocum reveals: “The stress was getting to me and I started drinking heavily before shows. Then one night in LA, I got super wasted and totally lost it.”
During the band’s set, Yocum began ranting about topics like homophobia and the LAPD before vomiting on himself onstage. They were kicked off the tour immediately. The incident garnered tabloid-style headlines but also cult status among punks. However, it took a personal toll on Yocum. “I was partying hard with fans after every show and just fell into a really dark place mentally. The music was keeping me going but everything else was falling apart.”
Hiatus, Drug Addiction and Recovery
In the wake of the tour disaster, Yocum withdrew from public life and The Renegades went on indefinite hiatus in 1995. He relocated from Houston to northern California, descended into heavy drug and alcohol addiction. Only in 2002 after several stints in rehab did Yocum finally get clean. “It was touch and go and I burned a lot of bridges during those years,” he admits. Yocum credits a support group for helping turn his life around. He has now been sober for over 15 years.
Return to Music and Legacy
Clean and committed to recovery, Yocum felt ready for a comeback in 2006. He reformed The Renegades with new members and they started playing smaller reunion shows to enthusiastic crowds. A collection of their early material was also re-released. Yocum says it was cathartic to return to performing but on his own terms without self-destruction. In 2010, they recorded ‘Rebels Not Dead’, their first album of new material in over 15 years.
Although now past his hardest-partying days, Yocum remains a beloved figure on the underground punk circuit. When asked about his legacy, he reflects: “All I ever wanted was for the music to matter and maybe cause a bit of trouble! I’m just happy kids are still getting something from our albums decades later.” Yocum currently splits time between California and Texas, working to help struggling musicians with their own addictions or mental health issues. The Renegades also play sporadic reunion shows to this day.
Early Musical Influences
Growing up, Yocum was drawn to raw, confrontational artists that gave voice to societal outsiders. Bands like the Stooges, MC5, and New York Dolls turned him on to rock’s radical roots. Discovering punk in his early teens proved utterly formative. “Hearing the Sex Pistols for the first time, it was like a switch flipped in my brain,” he reminisces. “I realized music didn’t have to be boring – it could be dangerous and shake things up.”
The early Renegades sound
The Renegades debuted with a willfully amateurish sound. “We didn’t give a shit about being technically good musicians,” says Yocum. Relying on distorted guitars and a pounding rhythm section, they crafted an abrasive style out of musical rawness and radical politics. Anthems like “No War But Class War” and “Fascist Pigs” made their left-wing stances clear through confrontational lyrics. Early tours saw them playing in undesirable venues like “skuzzy VFW halls and legitimate dive bars.” But their punk attitude was a smash with underground audiences.
Life on the road
For Yocum, life on the road agreed with his antiauthoritarian spirit. “It was total freedom – we’d bounce around the country in a shit-box van living show to show.” Camaraderie with fellow travelers in the scene became as important as the music. But financial realities meant “most nights we’d barely scrape by, eating bad diner food and crashing wherever.” Over time, the chaotic transit lifestyle started enabling Yocum’s self-destructive tendencies.
Creative peak and turmoil
By the early 90s, The Renegades had evolved into an ultra-tight concert machine. But as their profile rose, so did personal tensions within the band. “The label attention brought new stresses and egos clashed more,” Yocum admits. Around this time, his substance abuse issues were worsening with increasingly destructive consequences. Beneath the surface, Yocum was struggling to find balance or peace in any part of his life.
Rebuilding anonymity
After fleeing Houston, Yocum lived under the radar in northern California. Cut off from the scene and using heavily, he embraced total isolation. “I didn’t want anyone to know where I was or what I was up to cause it wasn’t pretty.” With the past discarded, he could spend years indulging self-destructive tendencies without consequence. Hitting rock bottom made clear the need for deeper changes.
Renewed purpose in sobriety
Sober living gave Yocum structure and meaning again. By providing support to others struggling, he found purpose greater than himself. “Addiction had been my whole identity for a long time, so it took work to figure out who I was without it.” Music also proved central to his recovery, providing healthy self-expression. Returning to it wholeheartedly on his own terms has been rewarding on every level for Yocum.
Conclusion
Through unfiltered honesty, Dallas Yocum has shed new light on his enduring career as a subversive punk iconoclast. While the paths to success and sobriety were not easy, Yocum’s story is a testament to the redemptive power of music and embracing life’s second chances. As one of underground punk’s original provocateurs, his legacy as a pioneering renegade spirit continues to inspire new generations of rule-breakers.
