The Union Tapes

As a key player of the Trumpton scene I been trying to get this guy on for ages, James has been working on a book and wanted to do this once it was completed, he stayed true to his word and came on, and in person! The Retford/Trumpton scene became a major piece of the puzzle in the mid 80s to early 90s. The Hudson brothers had one of the early half pipes in the grounds of their house. Featured many times in BMX Action bike and Rad and the scene bred locals that went on to become some of the pioneers of the era. Our chat goes back to his very start in BMX, being 'pro'ed out by his Grandad' on his first BMX, to doing demos at local fetes with the Retford and District trick team. Building the half pipe, his first sponsors, riding at the circus, the UKBFA circuit and Alfreton quarter pipe sessions. Trips to the USA, getting into photography, pics for RAD. What happened at the controversial UK KOV Portsmouth event. Becoming the editor of SK8 Action magazine and how he ended up making his on BMX magazine in 91, the short lived BMX Now! And everything that followed….

Keith has been on one of my original lists for guests before I even started, and this one gets a bit real, Keith has certainly lived a life and come through a lot of tough times which I'm sure many of us have never experienced. Keith has travelled a path and still managed to come out with a life time of passion for BMX. Keith started his journey in BMX in New Jersey where he got into the local skate scene and learnt to ride halfpipes, he attended a lot of seminal late 80s BMX events and with a few trips going back n forth to California became one of the break out riders in the early to mid 90s. With is signature aggro style and no nonsense approach to riding. Keith got on S&M, scored magazine covers, multiple video parts and a trip to the back yard jam in 93. We talk meeting the so cal crew, early magazine pics, the cover of Invert magazine, S&M videos, UK trip and Riding with Jerry Galley, Dirty Deeds, BMX Inferno, the short lived Menstrual cycles brand, Hoffman bikes Sprocket jockey shows, Lolapalooza demo's and all the gnarly stuff that followed…Hit play and find out a whole lot of the story, right up to still ripping on a BMX now…

Seamus Mckeon has sailed nicely under the BMX radar for a long time now, cutting his teeth in BMX in early 2000's seems so recent in comparison to our usual guests. None the less Seamus has had an equally interesting path from starting out his journey on an 80s GT performer, then ending up working at Eastern bikes in his home town. Early influences and VHS tapes and DVD's. He became a progressive BMX rider early on with in the scene. We get into all the usual stuff, home ramp, riding with his brother. Working at the warranty department at Eastern, a short spell on other bike brands and how some relationships with sponsors quickly fell apart. Distinct ways of riding bike sand certain perspectives on tricks, the hand plant history. Getting on FBM and getting to know Steve Crandall, FBM trips and the FBM crew. Trips to the UK, riding for United bikes , and coming right up to date with the his own DIY concrete bowl the Goat pen.

Nothing says committed BMX filmer like Stew Johnson, the guy has had his hand in many a classic BMX video in the last 30 years. Back in 96 I got a copy of Scum Lights Out on VHS from Cyclone-the legendary ole retail store in Waltham Abbey. I'd heard of Scum , it was a low key -in the uk- T shirt brand but id never seen a t shirt. The cover looked good and professional for those days, so I dived in and got it. It is one of my favourite videos to this day. Show casing a whole bunch of scenes that you rarely saw back then, East coast and middle America was so nice to look at being in the UK. A year later I met Stew at Posh, he was filming for his next video Anthem. Which is where everything started to change for him when you listen to his story.. We get into all the usual stuff here from his beginnings in BMX and his love of 80s heavy metal-He saw the infamous Cliff Burton play with Metallica in Fort Wayne IN-getting into BMX as a kid, hes fascination with Dizz Hicks, going to races, meeting infamous characters on the wider BMX scene, starting Scum clothing and making seminal 90s BMX 1201 and info on its cast of characters, living in the Fat house in Fort Wayne, filming for Props, making videos for Fit and his job at S&M now-which I wanted to spend more time on but it got pretty late. We do an Anthem and Anthem 2 deep dive, which I'm sure. A lot of people will enjoy….plenty to get involved with here

What more can be said about this guy? From the UK BMX boom in the 80s right through to present day, Jamie is still ripping on a bike. We get a good delve into the early days of how he first started out and the beginnings of progression that came from those days riding in sports halls. His thoughts on BMX media in the 80s, early influences and why they were important. Who was the main competition at the UKBFA events, getting on Hutch in the BMX recession. Climbing the ranks on the contest circuit. Riding a PK ripper in the KOV king of vert series, spinning his first 900. Backyard jams and KOC events. Moving through sponsors in the 90s.Travelling back n forth from the UK to USA, working a full time job and riding in the KHE days, getting on GT as a full time pro. Vert battles and rivalries in the USA, moving to Woodward to turn vert riding into a real occupation. The progression of vert, taking it levels up and everything that comes with it…get ya ears round this story, its a good un. Riders mentioned… Paul Winfield,Mark Atkins,Brian Wills,David Frame,David Slade,Craig Campbell,Lee Reynolds,Andy Brown,Greg Guilliote,Jason Ellis,Shaun Alison,Terry Jenkins,Stephen Laidlaw,Dave Young,Scott Carol,Jason Davie,James Hudson,Mat Hoffman,Simon Tabron,Kevin Robinson,DMC,Carlo Griggs,Mick Hudson,John Hudson,Alan Sibley,Ross Marshall,Dave Mirra,Jason Hassell,Andy Ruffell,Neil Ruffell,Zach Shaw,Jerry galley,Damon Nicholls,Woody Itson,Andy Preston,Mike Pardon,Joe Rich,Taj,Ruben,Johnny Petit,Mike Canning,Glyn Lewis,Eddie Fiola,Rich Sigur,Eric Steel,Stephan Prantl,Christophe Chevaillier,Howard Radcliffe,Stuart Dawkins,Mike Dominguez,Eddie Roman,Ron Wilkerson,Phil Dola,Graham Marfleet,Stephen Macintosh

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