“I’m building a mini ramp in an arch that’ll be ready for Halloween.” The words that sealed the deal. Tom Wilk’s DIY project in South London grew stronger every week. Nail by nail, sheet by sheet, the build was completed bang on time on the day of the party. The Bombshelter, born and open for NBDs.
This BYOB shindig went into the early hours, everyone was mash up. We’re thankful that we could take a year off to enjoy someone else’s chaos for once and were not disappointed. Thanks Tom.
Noteable observations:
1. Kev Firth’s Satan Cruz surf stunt took the entrance of the night. Lad paddled into the line up like a don.
2. Character of the night was Colin Uout, the Hackney council rep who busted everyone, all night long, with a selection of superbly written official paperwork. Nobody was safe around his durastrictions, especially if you were seen parking on the coping. Pay the fine bitch.
3. Chroliver won Man of the Match. Frontside shuv, first wall rides. Yes fam.
Look out for footage from this session soon. Until next time…
If the news of The Fat White Family’s forthcoming second LP wasn’t enough to make your pupils pop, two fresh tracks and details of a debut album from The Moonlandingz surely will.
But that’s not even the whole of it. Those in the US will be treated to an extended version of The Moonlandingz‘ late self-titled EP with two bonus tracks, ‘Psych Ersatz’ and the instrumental ‘Blow Football with J Carpenter’, and a ‘Sweet Saturn Mine’ Sean Lennon de-mix. And it’s out today available to buy here!
Whilst over in the US on their first North American tour earlier in October, the band pro-longed their stay to record and album and a half’s worth of material, also with Sean Lennon, at his studio in upstate New York. ERC/Moonlandingz main man Adrian Flanagan spills the beans below –
“We’ve got 17 tracks recorded, enough for an album and maybe a follow up EP. So far, it’s sounding incredible, there’s a lot of different genres on there: deranged glam rock songs about self discovery in foreign countries, east European electronic rockabilly about the fuckers who run our country in the UK, truck driving songs about prostitute killers, there’s a track called “The Rabies are Back” that sounds a bit like vintage Devo, there’s sensual ballads about strangling your lover, a track about indie rock stars acting like pricks called “Drop It Fauntleroy (The Ballad of A.Turner)” and this massive heavy psychedelic Bollywood type track. Yeah it’s gonna knock some socks off, might have a few guests on it too, just got to mix it all first before we plan a release date. I’m guessing late summer for the album, maybe a single in the interim.
Working with Sean was great, he really put the hours in and has contributed to a lot of the tracks on the record, playing musical saw, glass harps, Victorian funfair organs, banjo’s, sitars and lapsteel guitar, he’s practically a member of the group. Musically, he’s on the same wave length as us and he’s a funny fucker, he spent the early hours of one morning, post recording, reciting the lyrics to the Osmonds track “Crazy Horses” to us, he could not believe that such mind blowing lyrics existed in popular music, have you read them though? Utter POPPYCOCK!!!!”
Here’s a statement nobody was expecting. Geoff Rowley announced last night on his social networks that he has quit Flip as a team rider:
“I am proud to have been riding for Flip Skateboards for over 20 years, enjoying many years of success and good times. But, as a rider the time has come for me to part ways with the brand. I have nothing but love for the team, past and present, and wish all continued success for Flip. Exciting new opportunities will allow me to be utilized to my fullest potential, and I’ll be divulging more in the coming months on the positive change for the future.”
Geoff is still an owner of Flip but will no longer have a board as a team rider. We wish him and all at Flip our very best.
The beautiful thing about being here in the United Kingdom is that you’d have to be extremely unlucky to be faced with this sort of situation on a day out street skating, even through the financial district of London.
We all know that the reputation of Policemen in America has reached an all time low but here’s another example of their aggressive, bullish behaviour. Yes, we agree that resisting arrest will most likely move you into another realm of shit but regardless, nobody needs to be assaulted, locked up or pepper sprayed in the eyeballs for pushing a rig.
Yibin Mu paid the price for skating in a ‘no skateboarding’ zone. Reports are saying that the officer is now under investigation as it looks like he used a ‘chokehold’ on Mu, an arrest move that is no longer legal in the USA. This is so painful to watch.
If you’ve ever visited our area of West London and skated Meanwhile Gardens then you will know that Trellick Tower is unmissable on the skyline. Once the sun sets behind Erno Goldfinger’s grand design work from back in 1972, the bottom tier of the bowl there escapes the sunlight from the West and sets into the shadows behind the tower itself.
This Grade II listed building is architecturally one of a kind, attracting those who see gentrification in the area as appealing. The surrounding area, that was once very run down, has become so expensive now that many who were born there are wondering whether gentrification is worth its price as it slowly drives locals elsewhere street by street. Even Goldbourne Road’s cultural mix of market stalls are currently under threat as the council plan to open it up to more boutiques. The spirit of this area is slowly withering away as a result and us locals are having to fight hard to keep its legacy. You can help us by signing this petition.
Local skater Nick Jensen features in this new video looking at the Tower’s past, present and possible future. Great piece of work.
So here it is, in full. Alien Workshop have powered loads of work into reviving its once fallen crest to bring you a new identity in terms of team riders. Joey Guevara, Frankie Spears, Paul Lillani, Max Garson and Brandon Nguyen are now the henchmen for the SECT, get on this 14 minutes of artistic license and chill.
Sergio and the OG Playstation crew are ready for this week’s Old Man Nite that falls a day before Halloween this Friday 30th October. Expect a warm welcome, beers and BBQ whilst the session is going down all over the park. It kicks off at 7pm until 10pm and is always a winner at Bay66 skatepark in London.
Join the Facebook event group and spread the good word.
If you are thinking about picking up a new set of wheels for your rig this month look no further than this Spitfire X Skateistan collab, as the cause is more important than ever. Skateistan’s battle to get people rolling in Afghanistan in between mindless wars caused by greedy governments trying to take control of their country has been ongoing for decades. Their people deserve more, the children deserve everything and we can all do our bit to take their minds off the bombardments and enjoy a fun filled life, on a deck.
Pick up a set in Skateistan’s online shop this month. 100% of proceeds going towards Skateistan’s sport and education programs for youth. These 53mm wheels, designed by Lance Mountain, are also available in stores worldwide and come as Spitfire Formula Four 99 duro wheels with flatspot resistance. Ride the fire, help those in need.
Unless you’ve been living under a rock Yoshi Tenenbaum’s part from this flick got the tongues wagging.
Get the teas on and press play for the full monty put together by James Park in Washington D.C featuring Jeremy Murray, Dan Corrigan, Tyrone Henderson, Ben Walters, Kadian Maxwell and Yoshi.