The Union Tapes

Scott Malyon was one of the big break out names from UK BMX in the late 90s early 2000s. Whenever he rode an event he was always a name that stood out, huge transfers, higher airs than the whole group and usually the furthest gaps. Scott bounced around a couple of sponsors early on, and ended up riding for the super influential T-1 team, with Joe Rich And Taj Mihilech. And in time had his own signature T-1 barcode frame. We find out where it started, the journey up, what motivated him to go to such levels, breaking bike parts, early riding spots, the sponsors on the way, riding influences, the UK scene, The sometimes dangerous Union trips to Europe. Scoring multiple magazine covers. The infamous Props issue 50 Union trip. Getting invited on Road fools trips across the USA. Contest philosophy, the people he rode with and everything else involved in his 30 plus year journey in BMX.

Gordy Kids Carlo Griggs Steve Geal Mat Hoffman Dennis McCoy Dave Mirra Vic Murphy Brad Blanchard Stuart King Tony Jarrod Ian Morris Dave Beveridge Dylan Worsley Stuart King Colin Austin Matt Pingel Pete Jankovski Mark Malone Andy Appleyard Curtis Last Martin Tamblin James Hitchcox Pill Cong Zach Sprinkle Nate Wessel MikeAitken Matt Berringer Elf Wiz Andy Peerless Rob Steel Rob Ridge Rob James Paul Meacher Grotbags-Paul Roberts Tony Cardona Randy Brown Tony Hamlin Tom Dillon Jay Roe Edwin Delarosa Vic Ayala Joe Rich Billy Dexter Brian Terrada Biz Seth Kimborough Taj Mihellich Rooftop Darren Clagget Corey Martinez Nathan Williams Robbie Morales Paul Buchanan Van Homan Kevin Porter Groundchuck Jason Steig Ryan Nyquist Chris Doyle Jimmy Levan Fraggle-Fraser Peek

I've known Andy Brown for well over 30 years now. As a kid many of us looked up to him and the crew he rode with as the older riders coming out of the London area, leading the way. Although there was always rumours of an angry persona, he was always friendly to us youngsters and later on when I started hanging out with him regularly I borrowed a lot of his traits, I considered him an adult, even though he was probably only 20 years old he always seemed to pursue the things he liked whether they were considered cool by people or not, he did what he desired.

Although he'd already scored the cover of BMX Action bike and featured many times in the mag Andy rose to infamous status after his iconic interview shot at Meanwhile 1/4 pipes in west London featured in BMX Action bike/RAD magazine. He'd already been riding for a few years at that point, was a regular on the UKBFA contest scene in the mid 80s, starting out as a prominent flat lander, later to become one of the most innovative and aggro ramp and street riders of the late 80s.

We cover starting out riding in South London in the early days, riding locally, Youngs BMX store in Lewisham, discovering Rom skatepark and the hive of BMX that existed there, the beginnings of South bank BMX scene, The Meanwhile crew, getting on the cover of BMX Action bike, learning to air, the RAD interview, Chingford ramp scene. The Tizer worlds, injuries, riding for GT, getting into street riding, trip to the enchanted ramp in CA, his clothing brand 'Evolution' , the dying BMX scene in the early 90s, comics, metal/punk music, getting out of the scene, BMX in the Olympics, looking back on BMX now and way more!

Riders mentioned: Paul Zach, Paul Gerlach, Billy Stupple, Marco Lara, Biff, Jason Hassel, Craig Campbell, Nick Phillip, Jess Dyrenforth, Neil Ruffell, Robert Ruffell, Andy Ruffell, Dave Young, Aju Bubu, Chris Laney, Shane O'Brien, Jason Lunn, John Povah, Greg Guilliotte, Lee Reynolds, Dave Slade, Nick Phillip, Sid-Warren Sidell, James Hudson, Jason Ellis, Shaun Allison, Scott Macdonald, Mike Canning, Zach Shaw, Jerry Galley, Gary Macallion, Nick Howard Elkan, Joe Johnson, Dennis McCoy, Ron Wilkerson, Darren Whitfield and more...

Stuart King discovered BMX at its lowest point in popularity, we pin it down to around 1990. How the carcass of a 80's kids boom held any interest to a young teen back then is quite intriguing. He quickly picked up a friend group and a heavy arsenal of tricks, which only got bigger and bigger as he himself grew. He is one of the most naturally determined riders I've ever met, and that determination became visible in his style once he reached 16 or 17 years old. He quickly became one of the big UK names in the mid to late 90s, and was one of the only UK names to make it over to the USA into and hang in the infamous pro class at Hoffman bikes BS series. After a lot of troubles with breaking bike parts and generally bad products of the early 90s, he became interested in making more robust BMX products, which later became the legendary King Bike Co, a frame which was built in 95 which had geometry that is still used to this day. Multiple trips to the USA for contests, and the first UK BMX X Games competitor, which led to him meeting new friends in Bethlehem PA, the home of Posh trails. We get into how everything fell into place, the riders, the places, the events, the bikes, the products, the company, the burnout and getting back into it in recent years.

Riders mentioned: Mark Langston, Richard Browne, Duncan Jack, Mason Smith, Elliot Mcgrath, Martin Allmey, Scott Stevens, Grotbags, Jerry Galley, Mike Canning, Jamie Bestwick, Simon Tabron, Jason Davies, Dave Mirra, Dennis McCoy, Joe Rich, Taj Mihelich, Sandy Carson, Chris Sals, Jay Lonegan, Ed Koening, Robbie Morales and Mat Hoffman

Greg Guillotte was one of the riders pushing the limits in mid to late 80's, part of the legendary meanwhile quarter pipe crew in west London. Greg scored a Radness unlimited page in BMX action bike magazine as his first pic and that was the start of many print pages to come. Whilst BMX dwindled in size and became a pointless childs activity in the eyes of the public, crews of dedicated riders up n down the country pushed harder than ever in pursuit of BMX radness. In this interview we hear Greg's story of moving from the USA to Holland to London then back to the USA, getting into BMX, first visit to Londons meanwhile gardens, learning to air, getting in the magazines, hole shot contests, UKBFA, BMX beat, the infamous pop out-itis, learning to ride Londons half pipes, moving back to the USA, competing in the 2 hip and AFA contests, building a new backyard ramp in TX, shows for Micki Conte, getting a cover of Go! Magazine and much more….get some!