S2 E5: What I Learned From William Duvall About Determination

This week on The Hardcore Humanism Podcast, we talk with musician, vocalist and songwriter William Duvall. Many people know Duvall as a member of the legendary rock band Alice in Chains. Duvall has been in the band for over a decade, during which time they put out albums such as Black Gives Way To Blue, The Devil Put Dinosaurs Here, and Rainier Fog. But before he joined Alice In Chains, Duvall was in several previous bands, including being a founding member of the Atlanta hardcore punk rock band Neon Christ. And Duvall has just revealed that Neon Christ is reissuing a deluxe release of the band’s material from 1984 – a co-release between Southern Lord and DVL Recordings to celebrate Record Store Day (June 12th).

This deluxe release was a wonderful opportunity for Duvall to share the story of how Neon Christ was formed and the obstacles he, his friends and band mates faced to realize their dream. And one of the most notable features of that story was the sheer determination that Duvall and Neon Christ showed in order to achieve their goals. The term “determination” can be defined as being resolved to carry out one’s purpose in life. Humanistic approaches to human development like those proposed by Albert Maslow suggest that human beings are able to develop an internal drive for self-actualization, or the fulfillment of one’s purpose and potential in life. In fact, research suggests that people who have a stronger sense of purpose have increased longevity and healthier behaviors as well as increased work productivity and improved emotional coping. Thus, by having more resolve to fulfill their purpose, people may be able to improve their health and well-being.

In the late 70’s and early 80’s, Hardcore Punk bands were formed in the absence of the support afforded more mainstream artists. Hardcore punk was a fast, intense and incendiary art form that addressed important emotional and sociopolitical issues. Oftentimes people who embraced these cultures and forms of art were ignored, rejected or even at times attacked verbally and physically for who they were and the artistic statement they embraced. Thus, at the time, existing record labels, radio and music venues were often off limits to these artists and their fans. The entire culture had to be created from the ground up.  

Duvall pursued his hardcore punk purpose with Neon Christ in 1980’s Atlanta Georgia when there was barely any kind of punk rock scene. Duvall discovered his need to express himself authentically. And despite having no initial support, Duvall shares how he pursued this purpose through a singular focus on working hard to build Neon Christ as a band and build a community of like-minded people. And while Duvall is now a full-fledged rock star in a legendary band, achieving both commercial and critical success, one of the most notable things about his journey with Neon Christ was how he dedicated himself to his purpose before having any sense that it would be “successful” in the conventional sense. He loved punk rock when others did not. He built a band and a community around him where neither of those things existed. And just listen to his enthusiasm talking about getting on the road, booking a northeast tour, and having one of his songs on a hardcore punk compilation. He still has the excitement, the fire, the passion as though he was just starting out. And that is such an important lesson – because anything that we do that is outside the norm, or bucks convention is probably going to be met with obstacles. But if it matters to us – it matters. And as long as it’s not hurting anyone else, it is something that could light us up inside. We may not all become big-time rock stars. But if we pursue our passion, work hard to achieve it and build a supportive community around us, we can find excitement and fulfillment like we hear from Duvall.