Skatepunk

I've been to a few countries in my life, but I just got back from Finland and I've gotta say that it's pretty damn amazing. Of course I realize that it's always different than living there when you go to a place for a short period of time. Still, Helsinki is an amazing city. They don't care about skateboarding, they've built some amazing places to skate, the city is clean, safe, and full of trees, and the girls are beautiful. More than any other place I've ever visited, by far, the women are striking. Serious sensory overload.

Just had a very nice surprise checking out SteveBerra.com Very nice site, good design without being too arty, and easy to navigate through good photos, sequences, articles, fiction, and journal-style entries that eliminate the stage between skater and fan. Well worth checking out.

Tom Penny is here in California today, and there's an eS sample Penny shoe. It looks pretty amazing and he wore it tonight--everyone was checking it out. The Flip video, "Sorry"... starts off with Johnny Rotten narrating, sort of, talking about the video, and then introducing each skater throughout. Here's the run through: Mark Appleyard got the first part, and it was amazing. The filming here was especially nice, as there were a lot of roll-bys and moving camera dolly-style shots (The "Frangle"). Appleyard is amazing and this is the first really commensurate video part for him.

Man, I've written a lot this month already. Anyway, yesterday was a pretty amazing day--got to play music with some friends while other friends were in the backyard skating, then I went skateboarding to San Clemente with a good group of people to skate with, then went to Hollyweird to have dinner and hang out with a different group of friends: Justin and Beth, Erik and Lucy, Spanky and Herman, Trainwreck, Braydon, Miner, and more dudes. And then I went and saw the " Champs" at The Smell with Daniel, Felipe, Peter, Josh, Brian, Joel, and a large contingent of the Rosemead crew. Packed day.

About 9 months ago we did an interview with Manny on here, and I've been meaning to do more with the other kids. So, without further ado, here's Taylor Corner, interviewed by Manny, and then by me:

Manny: Taylor, are you hardcore?
Taylor: No.

Mark: What does that mean, hardcore?
Manny: Hardcore skater.

What's a hardcore skater, Manny?
GSD. No, one who skates all the time and falls all the time. Who cares. Taylor, How come you wear your cuffs so big?
Cause I do, why do you care?

Turnover played their first public show tonight--I just got back from there. I actually had a couple of beers so I'm a little bit beer-goggled out right now, but man, it was a good night. We played twice, there were some cute "fans" there, and even though I'm only the bass player it was a lot of fun... Paul Simonon style bass lines are really fun to play, and I'm doing my damndest--I'm still kinda learning how to play.

Want a little interesting bit of skateboarding history? Check out the team for Circle-A Skateboards and check the art gallery and shop for Bob's current project, Circle-A Skateboard Shop, San Jose, CA.

Now playing: Inch "Educated Woman: Greatest Hits" CD (Goldenrod) The title of this CD changes every time I play it... I think the last time it was "Inch Digs A Hole in Your Sleep."

Just got back from Vancouver for Slam City Jam. Had a great trip--one of the best contest trips I've had in a long time, Didn't spend any time in any lame strip clubs (or any strip clubs), didn't have hassles getting into and out of the contest, didn't have to search for things to do at night. On Friday night my friend Rick had the grand opening for his skateboard shop, AntiSocial, and there was an art show opening the same night at his art gallery in back.

May 9, 2002. Three years ago today my dear friend Tim died. What to say?

I just got back from Germany. After the barbeque, (see below) I had a day to recover before leaving for 8 days on a whirlwind skateboarding demo tour of Germany with the éS team. The skaters were Eric Koston, Paul Rodriguez, Rodrigo Teixeira, Mike Taylor, Bob Burnquist, PJ Ladd, Rick McCrank, Tom Penny, and Arto Saari. One of the most amazing crews of skateboarders I've ever traveled with.

Johnny Thunders died eleven years ago today. He's another one of those characters that tears me up. I love his whole deal -- the music, the pity-me look that girls love because they feel they need to rescue him, and he'll let them rescue him, the rock look that says f-it to everything. But of course he was a doper and I still have a hard time understanding how that happens to people. Actually, though, I understand that people's realities are so much different from my own that there's no way I'll understand their deals until I'm there myself... still it's foreign to me.

On Saturday, April 20th, we hosted a contest and barbeque in Joe Lopes' honor. About 280 people came to skate, eat, drink, and enjoy. There were a lot of people who had bought Joe's board when they were young, and we all traded Joe stories if we had 'em. Paul Schmitt told me that one time Joe was interviewed and was asked "What's your favorite part of all of this, the skateboarding, the barbequing, the traveling?" and Joe simply responded "Life." Pretty poignant, now.

Mike V. and The Rats may sound like you'd expect a Mike Vallely band to sound, but they're not bad. If you can say Rollins Band, Minor Threat, and pissed off, you've got a good idea. But he's got that charisma that carries through even on record, and although I was naturally skeptical at first, I like the three songs I've heard on their demo CD. Pretty cool. I'm sure you can get info from Mike's website...

PJ Ladd. There's so much to say here about this kid, but just let's leave it at this: His new video part in "PJ Ladd's Horrible Wonderful Life," which was put out by Coliseum Skate Shop in Boston, is probably the most inspiring video part I've ever seen. He rides for Flip and eS now, and has or will be setting a new level of standard for young guns coming up. He's part of the new wave that will have some veteran pros facing the music that they're not quite cutting it anymore...