Hot. Reckless. Totally Insane.

This past Sunday the Levi’s Film Workshop in conjunction with MOCA’s “Art In The Streets” exhibit held a screening of classic skateboarding movie, Thrashin’, for it’s 25th anniversary. The sold out screening was held at the Silent Movie Theatre on Fairfax in Los Angeles and featured a Q&A with some of the cast and crew after the movie.

Here are a few photos I took at the screening…

Obligatory marquee shot of the Silent Movie Theatre.

Superfan hunting down autographs.

When we arrived the rare Powell Peralta UK video Attack was playing. I need to track down an original of this thing.

The producer and co-writer of Thrashin’, Alan Sacks, introduced the movie.

Before Thrashin’ came on, the theatre screened the 1963 skate short, The Devil’s Toy.

Thrashin’! Here come The Daggers!

Cast and crew Q&A after the movie. From left to right: David Wagner who plays Little Stevie in the film, production designer Catherine Hardwicke, producer and co-writer Alan Sacks, Christian Hosoi from the Daggers, co-writer Paul Brown, editor Lorenzo DeStefano.

Catherine Hardwicke, Alan Sacks and Christian Hosoi.

Last night Evan Jacobs premiered his Orange County Hardcore Scenester documentary at the Yost Theatre in Santa Ana. The movie was great, see it as soon as possible. Here are a few pics from the night…

The Yost Theatre in Santa Ana.

Bitchin’ movie poster.

Proud Youth! Kevin Chaffey and Steve Larson.

Chase Corum, Dave Mandel and Shawn Rosenthal hanging out before the movie.

Jeff Terranova and his girlfriend Beckey Salg ready to watch the movie.

Big ass screen.

Jim Brown is ready to party!

The big moment finally arrived… Evan took the stage to introduce the movie as well as a couple of special guests…

Popeye took the stage and played an acoustic version of the Farside classic, “Audience.”

After Popeye finished, Jeff Caudill performed the Caudill/Jacobs colabo.

Popeye and Jeff, jammin’ the hits!

Popeye and Jeff in front of the over capacity theatre.

Dan O’Mahony singing in Carry Nation… Orange County Hardcore Scenester on the big screen.

The movie is over… Evan is stoked!

Post movie hangouts… Andrew Kline, Dan Foundation and Stagedive Stacey.

Shirts!

The Outlaw Ian Hoss and Joe Nelson.

Suppression Swing’s PT Pugh and Jason Hampton united!

Evan Jacobs and Mike Hartsfield with Mike’s daughter.

Looks like someone’s been down here with the Ugly Stick. Isaac, Street Regis and Jeff Banks from Chorus Of Disapproval.

Jeff Caudill and Popeye.

Scott Sprigg and Jason Welsher.

Recording legend Jim Monroe and myself.

Dan Foundation, Dave Mandel and Andrew Kline.

One more marque shot.

This past Wednesday night, Patrick O’Dell put together and hosted a Skate Video Night in conjunction with the Art In The Streets exhibit that is currently happening at MOCA. Three different “best of” skate video montages were shown, broken up by decade (80s, 90s, 00s) and all the classics were featured. The highlight of the evening was hearing from the panel of skate and film making legends which included Stacy Peralta, Lance Mountain, Spike Jonze, Ed Templeton, Greg Hunt, Ty Evans, Rick Howard, Aaron Meza and Tobin Yelland.

It was a great event and I hope Patrick does more of these.

Tickets!

The Vista Theatre on Sunset.

Event poster by Chris Johanson.

The line to get in went down the street and around the corner.

The theatre filling up.

Patrick O’Dell intro’ing the night.

Bones Brigade Video Show on the big screen as part of the 1980s video highlights that were shown.

Left to right: Ty Evens, Rick Howard, Aaron Mesa, Greg Hunt, Tobin Yelland, Stacy Peralta, Lance Mountain, Spike Jonze, Ed Templeton, Patrick O’Dell.

Alex Byrne makes it into the Larry Ransom Dot Com t-shirt hall of fame.

Holger Klein from Germany recently drew this picture of me and just emailed it my way. WOW! Thanks Holger! Great job!

Production began this week on the Bones Brigade documentary inside of a warehouse in Los Angeles! All the key players in the Powell Peralta story are converging to Los Angeles to be interviewed on a set, this week and next. Today saw Mike V, Tony Hawk and others getting in front of the camera and telling the old tales of their beginnings with The Bones Brigade and more.

Since rejoining the recently reformed Powell Peralta, Mike’s interaction with Stacy Peralta has been minimal thus far as both agreed that before that started swapping stories it would be best do do it on camera for the documentary to give it a fresh and exciting edge. Today was Mike and Stacy’s first conversation of significance in 22 years. It was great to be able to witness it in person and it was the longest and most in depth interview so far.

Check out these photos from the set…

Stacy greeted us as we arrived.

How awesome is this set!? Great job production crew!

Mike V’s ready for action.

Another shot of the back end of the set. So awesome.

Final words from Stacy before filming begins.

The slate is on standby.

Camera B.

Stacy in position for the interview next to camera A.

Action! The interview begins.

Mike on the monitors.

Mike and Stacy post interview. Johnny Oliver from Powell Peralta filming for a behind the scenes featurette.

Mike signing for an autograph for one of the camera guys.

Tony Hawk was up next for his interview.

Meanwhile, backstage it was time for a quick photo shoot with Tony Friedkin.

Every person who interviews for the film signs these boards for the production crew and staff.

Stacy Peralta and Mike Vallely.

Yesterday, I accompanied Mike on another trip to Santa Barbara for a visit to the Powell Peralta factory and offices. Another epic time was had and I hope to go back again soon. Stop reading this and check out the photos…

Blazing a trail on the 101 North.

Once at Powell, the first stop was the photography room so Mike could have some new promotional photos taken.

Vouge.

Um guys… the films for Lance Mountain’s classic Future Primitive deck are just laying about.

Scanning and archiving photos.

Thousands of images to go though and scan.

More negatives awaiting to be scanned.

After Mike’s photo shoot was complete we met up with Michael Furukawa to talk some biz. Here, Michael is showing us the video of Aldrin Garcia’s brand new world record highest ollie.

Some early ’90s Mike V Powell imagery inside the conference room.

80s imagery on display.

I caught Mike raging with Lance and McGill.

Cab and Tony were on the scene too.

We caught word from the wood shop that a new version of the board shape Mike has been working on was just completed so we rushed in to see the heat transfers being applied.

Version 6 of Mike’s shape.

The final deck having it’s graphics applied.

Three decks ready for the shred test.

Wheels!

More wheels!

Mike with Powell-Peralta employee and fan.

While walking around the factory, pretty much every 30 seconds, it’s hard to not see something cool. Mike found a mini test screening of his OG Elephant deck.

Next up, we received some insight to the heat transfer silk screening process.

Next stop was back to the conference room to meet with the man himself, George Powell. Some of the things that were discussed during this meeting were very exciting! I’ve been sworn to secrecy but when the time is right you’re all gonna know and be blown away. Left to right: Mike V, Michael Furukawa, George Powell.

I couldn’t resist taking another shot of the tiles in the bathroom.

We left the offices and headed down to State St. in Downtown Santa Barbara. Our destination… Wahoo’s Fish Taco.

Steve Caballero deck on display inside Wahoo’s.

Next stop was Yogurtland. Mike went for toppings of a more healthy variety while I opted for M&Ms, Cap’n Crunch Berries and Fruity Pebbles.

Our last stop of the day was the new Powell Peralta Skateshop located at 918 Chapala St. in downtown Santa Barbara, CA.

Mike V tees.

Autographed Elephant on display.

The ‘graph.

Now this is a skateboard shop!

Yesterday I had an opportunity I’ve dreamed about for 26 years… I got to tag along with Mike V and visit the Powell Peralta offices and factory. I can’t even begin to explain how important the company is to me. In 1985 I saw Future Primitive and it shot my life into a direction that has yet to be derailed. The company, videos, ads, graphics and skaters helped shape my youth and well, heck.. even my adult life. It was such an honor to be there and get a behind the scenes look at all the things I’ve always wondered about. I have to give a huge thanks to Michael Furukawa for taking the time out of his busy day to show me around and answer all of my questions.

Besides all the great history we all know and love about Powell Peralta, one thing that I think is so great about them is that they are a true skateboard company. They make all of their own products in their own factory! Everything is researched, developed and manufactured in the good ‘ol USA. To this day, George Powell still creates the shapes of their wheels! How cool is that!? And getting to hear Michael Furukawa explain some of their wheel and skateboard manufacturing techniques and hearing how passionate he was about it reassured me they are still the best skateboard company of all time.

What you see here are a few photos from the day. Enjoy…

Crusin’ the 101 North.

Mike V mans the wheel.

Once we got to the factory the tour began. First stop was the back parking lot to check out the old portable mini ramp that was used on many Bones Brigade summer tours.

Here is Mike and I in front of the ramp. I first met Mike in August of 1988 in Rochester, NY and he was skating this very ramp that day! 23 years later, here we are.

The tour continued inside… Next stop was the wheel room. Top secret stuff prevents me from showing you some of the technology that make the wheels so you’ll have to settle for a pic of a trays of some fresh-out-of-the-oven wheels.

Newly poured wheels being cut into shape.

Here is the room where the heat transfers for board graphics are stored and filed including the new aqua blue Mike V Elephant down on the end.

The other side of the room was where the retired graphics lived.

All of the heat transfers are screened in-house and applied to the decks using this machine as Michael demonstrates.

A stack of Caballero decks waiting to have the top dragon logo silk screened on.

Silk screening the top of a Caballero deck.

Pallets of boards waiting to be shaped, sanded and skated!

A new skateboard taking shape.

Michael showing us the master shape for Mike V’s OG Elephant deck.

This is the main apparatus that is used to cut Mike’s OG Elephant shape.

Here is Mike investigating a stack of freshly cut Elephant decks awaiting to be sanded.

Sanding! A new deck getting smoothed out.

The next stop on our tour was the main warehouse area where everything is stocked and shipped. We stumbled upon this new Mike V display that was just delivered. It was made for this weekend’s Crossroads Retail Show.

Further on into the warehouse it was time to check out the the latest Powell Peralta goods and do a bit of shopping.

Mike grabbing his new aqua blue Mike V Elephant for his personal stash.

Next we met up with long time Powell Peralta employee, Jim Knight. Here, Jim and Mike discuss the upcoming Powell Peralta coffee table book. I was privy to see some of how the layout of the book will flow during the visit. Can’t wait to see this thing completed.

No photos were allowed inside but behind this door is the Powell Peralta archives. Every photo and every artifact is stored away in there. I could have spent hours in that room.

Vato Rat pool tiles in the bathroom.

Back upstairs and into the offices… Mike signed 5 decks to be sold soon to benefit the Grind For Life organization.

Our day at Powell Peralta came to a close and we let Michael get back to work. Now we were headed on down to the House Of Blues in Anaheim to see Motörhead!

The drive down to Anahiem was smooth sailing and upon arrival Mike’s friend, Robb Whitaker, hooked us up with tickets, all access passes and escorted us to our front row, center balcony seats. They were the best seats in the house!

Lemmy!

After Motörhead’s set Mike was spotted and signed autographs and posed for pictures for some fans who were in attendance.

From there we were escorted backstage to meet the band. Here we are about to enter the band’s lair.

Here’s the cap to an amazing day…. Robb, Mike V, Lemmy from Motörhead and myself.

Pure Fun issue #10 coming soon. Release show to follow. Stay tuned…

Brian Murphy is in the club.