James Newrick is a seminal name in UK BMX, from his early start in the streets of the north east to present day riding and still putting out videos of unique and real BMX. James got an a bus from Newcastle to sit down with me here in London and talk about his BMX journey. We get into it all, from the start and getting his first BMX, early BMX influences, meeting his first riding crew and finding other BMX scenes, building trails, the formation of the NSF in the early 2000’s and the drama that came with its inception…video parts, moving to Sheffield for a summer, making videos back then, ratty bikes, the buff house, street jams, features in Ride, joining the S&M crew in the UK. Getting burnt out on riding to coming back to it. Making videos with a different perspective and how riding changes, what problems you have to solve as you grow up and continue riding. Get it on!

 

Riders mentioned : Olly Olsen,Mike Taylor,Erny Liam Earnshaw,Dave Morten,Micky Pants ,Dan Price,Dave Young,Steve Kinghan,Cookie,Marv,Benson,Joe Cox,Dan Cox,Joe Fox,James Cox,Ian Morris,Boyley,Stephen Murray,Clarky,The Gonz,Edwin Delarosa,Wassy Adam Wasylenko,Tom Blyth,Ben Lewis,Jody Donelly,Jerry Galley,Joe Rich,Zach Sprinkle,Owain Clegg,Mark Theaker,Rooftop,Ruben Alacantara ,Cleggy,Matt Wakefield,Ashley Charles,Will Jackson,Northern Jon,Chris Pink,Shaun Egglington,Bowlhead,The count,Scott Ditchburn,Andy Kinghan,Gary Simmonds,Mike Griffin,Chris Souter,Geth Shooter,Tom Saunders

This one delivers some good insight into the Scottish scene, a scene which has certainly been over looked for years by the BMX media, other than a few token shots its still largely an untold story. Lots of info I was unaware of in this one, David Frame gives us the brass tacks on his journey in BMX which he is still on today. Framey's been ripping for decades, more so than most of us realise. We get into all the usual and not so usual stuff, from perspectives us English lot haven’t seen previously? Multiple world champ, Livingston skatepark lifer, TV appearance regular, member of tne one footed look back club…a very exclusive bunch indeed! Press play and take some in!

 

Riders mentioned: Ricky Fleming, Duncan junior fraser, Marcus Scent, Noel Cowan, Scott Carol, Kenny Hunter, Andy Burke, Amos Burke, Gogo, Scott Mcnicholl, Gavin Simpson, Gary Neal, Gary Forsyth, Scott Macdonald, Grant Smith, Paul Robertson, Gary Henderson, Scott Timmins, Sandy Carson, Stephen Mcintosh, Stuart Pepi Winder, Stephen Laidlaw, Dave Young, John Buultjens, Carlo Griggs, Simon Tabron , Mick Hudson, Craig Campbell, Neil Ruffell, Mike Canning, Dino Deluca, Ron Wilkerson, Mat Hoffman, Jason Ellis, Ed Doherty, Eddie Fiola , Mike Dominguez, Ralph Tribe, Tony Mckenzie, Bob Morales, Chris Sales, Rick Moliterno, Andy Ruffell, Dennis McCoy, Rich Sigur, Stuart Durant ‘Juice'

Northern John, NJ, Norm, Nawf, real name John Deprieelle has always been a fun dude to hang out with when ever most people have come across him. It's a humorous experience coming across NJ, I cant think of anyone who tell ya any different? John started out in the dark days of 1991, long past the BMX boom, when BMX was at one of its lowest points. From his early start in Southport he quickly started a long journey into every aspect of UK BMX, We get into all here, life in Southport, early hand rails and the mystery around them, riding BMX events in the early days, moving to Plymouth, first pics in Ride UK. Living in London, riding an Exposure Ox, meeting Tim Ruck and his first sponsor, the half bar spins, the air punches. Making his own pegs which later turned into Hard Dad products, the story of the where the name Hard Dad came from, meeting Will Jackson, working with Alans BMX, putting on HDP jams, making HDP videos, becoming a photographer for Ride UK right up to still riding BMX now. Riders mentioned: Ruben, Ste, Will Jackson, Simon Tabron, Jon Taylor, Jamies Bestwick, Tim Ruck, Owain Clegg, Ali Whitton, Rob Ridge, Ian Morris, Stuart dawkins, Mat Hoffman, Matt Warren Wolfman, Jon Pratt, Scott Malyon, Sandy Carson, Dave Clymer, Steve Wilson, Martin Tamblin, Andy Irwin, Terry Jenkins, Alan Woods, Andy Preston, Basher Bradshaw, Tommy Bowers, Rob Brown, Ross Hill, Taj, Paul Roberts, Jerry Galley, James Hitchcox, Andy Jackson, Rob Owen, Lard, Paul Russell, Leon Perkins, Davey Wall, Wakefield Rob Cuthbert

Jon Taylor has been around a while eh, Jon first got exposed to the BMX masses-probably a few hundred people back then-in 1989 feature in Freestyle Magazine doing a hand plant. At a mini ramp jam at the infamous Roller snakes skate shop, with a bunch of other well known BMX faces from back then. From that pic we would later see Jon appear in print on the regular, Also from that pic he received the name Mad Jon, which he has never managed to shake off. Then he would pop up at the contest and jams of the time often getting coverage in RAD and Invert magazines. Then appearing on video parts for the Backyard and other VHS tapes coming out in the early 90s. He’s ridden throughout the times since then and continues to do so now. We talk about all the decades and how he got back into BMX after a stint on a skateboard in the mid 80s. From going to the annual Holeshot 87 contest where he saw the BMX chaos and Craig Campbells rebel run on the halfpipe, to riding for GT and Hoffman bikes and Vans…Going on to demo days, riding at download festivals then putting on big music events which is what he has a hand in now, this is a long, fun and colourful journey that is still going strong. Riders mentioned: Mike Cow Rose, Paul Harrison, Graham Critch, Jim Tomlinson, David Slade, Warren Sid Sydall, Steff Evans, Mat Hoffman, Eric Steel, Andy Brown, Nick Philip, Craig Campbell, Owain Clegg, Ian Morris, Stu Dawkins, Zach Shaw, Paul Roberts, Jerry Galley, Jamie Bestwick, James Hudson, Graham Marfleet, Shaun Allison, Jason Ellis, Alistair Whitton, Jamie Clegg, Ruben Alcantara

David Slade has gone on quite the journey in this lifetime, I think the first time I ever saw his name in print was a full colour spread in a 1985 BMX Action Bike Hole Shot report in mid air sky diving next to an ejected pink Dyno bailing something high above a quarter pipe. I'd seen him before that on the BMX beat tv show…but that seemed to have not gone into my brain as deep as the Action bike pic. Un be knownst to me at that time David was one of the riders to look out for on the Freestyle contest scene in those days. Growing up in Barnsley he got deeplly into BMX in the first boom with a bunch of friends who formed their own trick team-the blue tile trick team, demoing locally in those early days of Thatchers Britain. As things began to evolve and his universes began to expand he found other riders and scenes further afield and certain creative out lets started to flow….and didn’t stop, to this day. We talk about the Blue Tile trick team, Sheffield YMCA days, early competitions, learning 540's, the PPLA, the love and influence of culture in BMX, discovering a music scene, putting on the first street jam in the UK, Zine making, Damage zine and clothing, riding for GT, shooting pics with Windy Osbourne for Freestylin magazine, Ninja scooters, couch surfing in London, getting chased by cops, making one of the first BMX videos in the UK-‘Smart people in a car crash’ Where he went from there, directing music videos, TV shows and movies...Right up to what he is up to now and how BMX shaped his future…. Key figures mentioned: Shaun Allison, Jason Ellis, Sid Warren Sidall, Cow-Mike Rose, Andy Brown, James Hudson, Mick Hudson, Craig Campbell, Dave Curry, Tim March, Andy Ruffell, Darren Whitfield, Martin Bernstein, Lee Brown, Anthony Christian, Stu Horner, Mat Hoffman, Nick Phillip, Ron Wilkerson, Zach Shaw, Simon Tabron, Ross Marshall, Mark Noble Jess Dyrenforth, Aju Bubu, Lee Reynolds, Eddie Fiola, Jon Taylor, John Povah, Rob Varney, Richard Darlow, Jason Bacon, Damon Nicholls, Ron Wilkerson, Brian Blyther, Spike Jonze, Ged Wells, TLB, Andy Jenkins

Eddie Roman has, coincidently, made a few appearances online over the last month or so. We started this interview in early December, and had to come back for another sit down in early Jan. I was surprised that no one had asked Eddie to do an interview before, the guy was a major part of the BMX scene and the direction it went in back in the mid 80s to early 90s, and beyond. A major innovator and pioneer, from riding to video making to product development. We go in depth as usual, from the start of Eddie’s BMX up to todays activities. From getting on Skyway and UK tours, riding the AFA contests, getting the first wall ride pic in the USA magazines. The following explosion of sponsorship. The decline of BMX in the late 80s, the Enchanted ramp and 2 hip events. The riders that influenced and helped shape what was being created in those recession days. Getting into video making and filming of the most influential videos of that era-Aggro man, Ride like a man, Head first and Ride on (How's that for a video back to back body of work?) This is a good un, lots of stuff that hasn’t been spoken about before. Get some!

Back in 95 myself and Fids took a trip to California to experience the American dream, we stayed in HB with Neal Wood, Chris Moeller, Steve Emig and Jason Timmy Ball, who’d moved to California the year before and was working at S&M bikes. Timmy was one of the Sheep hills locals and popped up in many a magazine and video riding the many trail spots of So Cal from those days. 30 years later he is still working at S&M bikes, we get the low down on how he got into riding BMX as a kid in Colarardo, to everything alone the way. The years of working at S&M, the manufacturing process, the machines and tooling, the products, some talk about the iconic S&M vhs BMX inferno, right up to present day and the LAMF frame story.

 

Riders mentioned: Chris Moeller,Neal Wood,Brian Foster,Fids,Alan Foster,Lawan Cunningham,Jay Bone,Chris Sales,ToddLyons,Grotbags,Chico Hooke,Alex Leech,Keith Treanor,Mike Griffin,Vic Murphy,Bo Usher,Steve Emig,John Povah,Mcgilla,Stew Johnson,Steve Crandall,steve ob ,ray luscombe,john fagerburg,brendan brown ,claybrown ,troy mcmurray,brian taylor,luscombe bros,Robbie Reid,Nick Coombes,Andy Coombes,Stuart Dawkins,Ian Morris,Barspinner Ryan Brennan,Adam Pope,Jason Pope,Josh Stricker,Corey Nastazio,Hucker,Kris Bennett,Shaun Buter,Jimmy Levan,Freddie Chulo,Shad Johnson,Mike Griffin,Dave Parrick,Timmy Strelecki,Chase Hawk,Dakota Roche,Robbie Morales,Mike Tag

Fids was the first episode we did for The Union Tapes, and served as the perfect launch for what we were trying to do.

This is a tribute to Fids, who left us on the 08/12/24 he leaves a legacy and a half.

The stories I tell here are from his early days, when we started hanging out, he started getting back into BMX again and some of the stories that followed.

From the early days Fids lived a life he was pursuing with a passion putting as much into it as he could.

We all learned lessons from this guy.

As some one online put it recently, "the afterlife ain't ready for the Fids"

Some highly progressive riders came through after the early 80's BMX explosion, the kids inspired by the King of the Skateparks and early Freestyle contests at the start of it all. The next wave was snapping at the heels of the big pros of the time. Joe Johnson is one of those guys, making a lot of noise on the east coast, Joe built his own quarter up against his moms house, mastered it then continued on to create many of his own moves. Joe went on to become part of the prestigious Haro team in 86. I remember watching Joe ride at the Manchester worlds and thinking how does he stretch everything so far and land so perfectly at the top of the ramp. There was definitely a new technique being used here. We touch on a lot of Joe contributions and riding ideas as well as all the usual topics of how it started…

 

Bob Haro, Dennis McCoy, Eddie Fiola, Mike Buff, Craig Campbell, Tony Murray, Ron Wilkerson, John Povah, Mat Hoffman, Mike Dominguez, Carlo Griggs, Chris Potts, Jerry Galley, Kevin Martin, Rick Moliterno, Marc Mcglyn, Rich Sigur, Dave Voelker, Dave Nourie, Dave Mirra, Kevin Robinson, Jason Ellis, Scott Carrol, Jamie Bestwick, Simon Tabron, Spike Jonez, Greg Guilliote, Jason Hassle, Andy Brown, Lee Reynolds, Brian Blyther, Zach Shaw

John has been in BMX since the start, he’s been involved in a lot of projects both in front of the camera and behind the scene, we tap into all of that and more. From John’s start in BMX in the west London area to present days BMX projects. We get into his first BMX, the early race days, the first quarter pipe ridden. Discovering Harrow skatepark and the early 80s scene. Riding for Raleigh, the team and the BMX programme they tried to create in the mid 80s. Meanwhile quarters and the London scene in the darker days, leaving the UK and moving to California in his late teens. Progressing street riding, filming for the ultimate weekend VHS, ramp building, being in the iconic Dirty deeds video, working at Schwinn. Later being a part of the Etnies BMX programme when they had there most popular push in BMX right up to present day and the Old School BMX Reunion out at Woodward west they he puts on.

 

Darren Wood, Lee Shuri, Dean Iddiols, Andy Ruffell, Jason Lunn, Paul Zack, Paul Gerlach, Andy Brown, Greg Guiliotte, Lee Reynolds, Joe Johnson, Ron Wilkerson, Todd Anderson, Keith Treanor, Chris Moeller, John Paul Rogers, Dave Clymer, Brian Foster, Steve Mccolud, Dizz Hicks, Craig Campbell, Jess Dyrenforth, Damon Nicholls, Tony Mckenzie, Nathan Lunn, Rich Sigur, Davin Halford, Chris Day, Jay Miron, Ruben Alacantara, Taj Mihelich, Joe Rich, Aaron Ross, Ian Morris, Carlo Griggs, Neil Ruffell, Brian Blyther