The Union Tapes

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

Kurt Schmidt is without doubt the fakie pioneer, no one was doing fakie tricks like him in the mid 90s, we delve deep into that topic and as usual go right back to the start. Kurt grew up near Minneapolis in middle America, a long way from the sunshine drenched concrete skateparks of California but the lust for BMX was strong and these guys made their own thriving scene, mostly in Kurt's garden, where they constructed quarter pipes to rip on. I never knew just how deep Kurt's BMX roots were, he started way back in the 80s BMX boom. Progressed up the ranks in the local MFA contest scene, Met a bunch touring BMX teams and through riding with Rick Moliterno and DMC ended up riding for Haro, just as BMX was collapsing….We get into the stories in this episode and uncover a bunch of tricks that that Kurt owns, that most people don’t realise. The inception of Standard bike co, how and why it came about, what the idea was, the way they rode, where they took inspiration from and how they picked the team….the BMX beefs back in the 90s and the whole story up until now! Riders mentioned: Rick Moliterno, Bill Nitschke, DMC, Dave Voelker, Eddie Fiola, Rich Sigur, Taj, Joe Rich, Chad Degroot, Dave Freimuth, Eddie Roman, Ron Wilkerson, Mike Dominguez, Todd Anderson, RL Osbourne, Mat Hoffman, Chris Moeller, Bob Haro, Woody Itson, Tim Ruck, Marty Schlezinger, Dale Madson, Andy Jordan, Steve Swoope, Perry Mervar, Mike Kranich, Hugo Gonzales, Scotty Freeman, Krys Dauchi, Dizz Hicks, Martin Aparijo, Randy Tischman, Kevin jones, Darren Pellio, Chase Gouin, Chad Herrington, Chris Potts, Kevin Martin, Sandy Carson

Dan Price made an impact on the UK scene in the mid 90s but his BMX roots true back much further than that. We take a step back into the archives of Dans active mind and uncover a lot of things most of had no idea about. His journey into BMX being quite different to most others who came through the 80s BMX explosion where he went in a few different directions and found himself returning back to a BMX scene that was desolate but he didn’t even realise it. Get into this one, we cover 80s BMX boom, discovering Southbank, early influences and being heckled for being too dirt brothers like, early street jams, meeting life long friend James White. contests, moving to Hastings, never being bothered about riding ramps, magazine pics, video parts, the ideals of street riding, the trouble with being sponsored, trips to the USA and his take on modern street riding, the never ending battle of still riding BMX and what it all involves.

Back when I first got into BMX, we used to go Rom on semi regular basis, dreaming of one day being able to air the concrete bowls there like the other kids could. Rom had some amazing locals, low key and top sponsored guys. But what everyone really fawned over was the California skateparks, under the picturesque blue sky, light coloured concrete, motocross googles and colourful race uniforms. There were a few riders that featured regularly in the UK magazines, pics started coming out in UK magazines of riders like Eddie, Brian Blyther, Mike Dominguez and Rich Sigur who specialised in aerial moves at the pipeline skatepark in CA. These pics were the ones all of us aspiring youngsters looked to and dreamed about. One of the riders that I started to see feature in the uk magazines was Eddie Fiola, Whom by this point was aboard the new GT performer fully kitted out in matching race gear. The buzz was well and truly out there and this guy was on everyones radar, more photoshoots and a visit to the UK to compete on the new UK BMX TV show Kellogs track wars was perfect timing. Now almost a house hold name in the UK. That year yellow bike part sales no doubt got as popular as they have ever been. Eddie was all over the magazines and events for the next few years, but then slowly faded out of the spot light, even though he never quit riding BMX. We do the usual here and follow Eddies story from his first bike into BMX, creating skatepark riding with the early pioneers and what evolved from it. First photoshoots, the start of the King of the Skateparks events. Multiple sponsorship stories, visits and tours to the Japan, UK and Europe. Controversy at the Kellogs event. Shows, the changing face of BMX, right up to present day and releasing the EF frame fork and bar kits….An information over load on this one for me. Enjoy.

Bob Morales Bob Osborne Tinker Jurez Fred Bekker Bob Haro Jeff Watson Mike Dominguez Brian Blyther Dave Vanderspek Donovan Ritter Tony Murray Rich Sigur Richard Anderson Josh White Jess Dyrenforth Dave Curry Ron Wilkerson Dave Breed Terry Jenkins Andy Irwin Craig Campbell Neil Ruffell Maurice Meyer Josh White Mat Hoffman Dave Voelker Stu Thompsen Harry Leary Greg Hill Timmy Judge Scot Breithaupt

BMX action bike was the real BMX bible back in the 80s, it set the standard for uk bmx mags in its approach to covering BMX and how the many themes of it grew.I don’t know where to start with this intro, this is the first person on the show that has never ridden BMX, but contributed so much to it and many people have requested I get him on the show. If you are into BMX you would have undoubtedly seen TLB real name Tim Leighton Boyce’s pics some where, even if you didn’t realise they were his. For us kids who came through in the 80s Tim is a name we all know. we get into Tim’s start into the skateboard industry working at Alpine sports and the skateboard explosion in the 70s. His start in being a skateboard magazine photographer. The collapse of skateboarding into the BMX boom years and what he did and didn’t like about it. His early approach to covering the local kids as well as the pros of the time. The iconic photo shoots with Craig Campbell at Rom and the Eddie Fiola and Mike Dominguez Livingston story. The re emergence of Skateboarding and slowly creeping it into BMX Action bike, the emergence of the newer BMX street style. The infamous Mons jam’s and the UKBFA vs BMX action bike conflict. Turning the magazine into Read and Destroy with Nick Philip. The demise of Read and Destroy and what came next, We also talk about the up coming read and Destroy book-which doesn’t feature any BMX pics inside, we did talk about his BMX archive but couldn’t include that part. Rumour has it there are over 3000 of Tim’s BMX pics out there…Let’s hope they make it into print sooner than later.

Marv moved to London in 2005 (with Daniel Benson), I remember wondering why they’d moved to London - I thought they were both from Sheffield and that scene was blowing up at the time with the recent release of Joe Cox’s Voices DVD. They had a reputation that preceded them, so the buzz was out these guys were in town. We crosed paths at a Rom jam and at the time I was surprised at their amicability. I came to learn both these guys were students of the BMX game through and through. Marv was one of the big break out names in the uk around that time, he scored the last part on the Voices DVD from the then underground Sheffield scene, then ended up on the Fit bikes UK team, with many sponsors to follow. He made multiple magazine features that often provoked other riders, made endless DVD appearances aswell as making his own series of DIY DVD’s documenting the London scene he was involved in. This is the tale of kid from Berkshire moving through the BMX ranks right up to having a pro frame with Fit and far beyond…

Riders mentioned Daniel Benson, Grant Stone, Joe Cox, Dan Cox, James Cox, Joe Fox, Liam Eranshaw, Reece Coren, Tim March, Dakota Roache, Cookie, The Count, Kris Bennett, Ben Lewis, Leo Forte, James Smith, Will Jackson, Northern John, Rob Hate, Bowl Head, Jersey Mike Taylor, Butcher , Troy Mcmurray, The Gonz, Joe Riley, Tom Blythe, Rob Bartlett, Ross Payne, Robin Fenlon, Jon Taylor, Ian Morris, Scott Malyon, Dean Hearne

The first pic I ever saw of some over tweaking something was Todd Anderson, who at that point in time-1985-was riding for Redline. I picked up a magazine in a mock 711 next to Faze 7 BMX centre in Waltham Cross, Todd was cranking a loopback with his feet on the cranks arms, and his front wheel hitting his shin, I'd never seen this before, until that point a look back was anything with bars passed 90 degrees. I think those pics set the standard for many people to follow with all tricks not just the look back. Todd’s BMX journey started many years before that though, we go right back to he start, first seeing freestyle at a race meet, riding for SE bikes, the infamous cover of Freestylin' magazine, local scene, building quarters, the legendary Camirrilo ramp and the sessions and riders who rode there. AFA events. As well as the lookback we discuss his iconic 1 foot fatties and being the alley oop master in the early days. Trick techniques and how he evolved his style so early, innovating tricks he isn’t really credited for. Taking big slams. Getting on General Bikes, tour life and what General were before and after their bike venture. Right up through the 2 hip KOV and Meet the street events, Vans tours with Eddie Fiola, tracking his life right up to present day where he still dabbles in BMX.

The Union tapes Episode 24 with ex S&M UK rider James Cox, we go back to the start of his BMX journey coming out of Portsmouth in the mid 90s and the routes he took a long the way. We cover BMX influence through out his life and the ever evolving projects he had, from riding to music, to creating his own brands Retribution and then later Antidote. His fascination for S&M bikes and riding for em later on, making videos and becoming a magazine regular, moving around the uk to different scenes, working at 4 down. UFO’s, lucid dreams and astral projecting…get it on!

Riders mantioned

Isaac Clark, Morgan from Southsea, Farren Downes, James Newrick, Daniel Benson, Cookie, Marv, Clarkie, Kris Bennett, Shaun Butler, Shane Steels, Tommy C, Geoff Slattery, Corey Martinez, Nathan Williams, Ryan Metro, Chris Moeller, Ricky Tribble, Mark Tanner, Fathead, Steve Bancroft, Paul Bromfield, Ed Docherty, Robin Fenlon, Ben Lewis, Buzzard, Dan Cox, Joe Cox, Josh Bedford, Dave Young, Steven Laidlaw, Tom Saunders

Got a little bonus going on here, and some thing a little different. Coinciding with the release of our zine 5 and Nails in the Coffin on DVD, ex Uk Fit pro Marv (Nicholas Martin) who was a young 16 years of age and a fan of Nails in the Coffin when it came out back in the late 90s, he wanted to know a few things about it, so came in and asked me some behind the scenes questions about the goings on in and around the making and riding in the video.

Shaun Allison is a name that was on my original list of guests back when I first started thinking about doing this podcast, and I’m sure many people out there won’t have even heard of? After avoiding the media spot light of the news agent mags and finding a home contributing to the zine scene where he felt more at home with the true underground of BMX, There was rumours of shaun floating around the London scene for a year or so before any of the lesser travelled kids saw him in action, He showed up to the south bank street jam in 88 with Dave Slade, I was there that day and was witness to a totally different riding style and approach to what I was used to, it was all power and aggression with a few moves I'd not even seen before. Shaun got in the public eye of BMX in the late 80s, when BMX was well and truly in its biggest decline. This is a story about riding in and around the north of England with a crew of other like minded underground innovators around the Retford, Sheffield, Nottingham and Worksop areas.

Riders mentioned: Jason Ellis, Sid, David Slade, Cow-Mike Rose, Andy Brown, Jason Hassell, James Hudson, Mick Hudson, Geth Shooter, Chris Hardy, Neil Waddington, Craig Campbell, Pardeep Lail, Ed Docherty, Mad Malc Stappleton, Dave Curry, Tim March, Andy Ruffell, Lee Cewcker, Titch, Shardy, Kev Motishaw, Martin Burnstein, Lee Brown, Anthony Christian, Stu Horner, Mat Hoffman, Dave Dean, Mad Mcmad, Nick Phillip, Pete Augustin, Ron Wilkerson, Will Smyth, Clive Gosling, Zach Shaw, Mike Canning, Simon Tabron, Jim Tomlinson, Dino Squillino, Dave Voelker, Ross Marshall, Dave Beveridge, John Hall