Tony Hawk is reportedly joining a project to turn Nick Hornby’s book Slam into a Broadway musical, according to Broadway News, because now days every artistic, branded entertainment vehicle needs to be set to music — thank you Lin-Manuel. If you haven’t read the book (and you should) here’s the jist:
“Slam” follows Sam, a teenager with a troubled home life, as he finds out that his girlfriend Alicia is unexpectedly pregnant. He imagines having conversations with Hawk as a way of finding his way through the situation. Though the novel is set in London, the musical will be resetting the story in the U.S.
Skateboarding’s favorite musician Mark Motherbaugh is writing the music and Kyle Jarrow (of Spongebob Squarepants musical fame) will write “the book.” Tony will reportedly create some “skate choreography” for the project and we’ll all be humming along when it comes out.
In a farewell letter published on Hypebeast outlining exactly why he is ending the Benny Gold brand and handing his SF retail space back over to HUF, Benny Gold (the person) outlines the situation successful artists often get in when their “brand” becomes bigger than themselves — better in one paragraph than many have been able to do in 30 page Keynote projects. He explains exactly how it feels when the beastly machine begins driving the master and creating its own reality. Here is the paragraph from Hypebeast.
We have a beautiful flagship location in San Francisco and an outstanding staff that has helped me realize my full potential. The brand has become bigger than myself and I am forever grateful for this. . . But with this success comes it’s own set of challenges. I now find myself growing less creatively as my days are spent managing people, budgets, and production issues. I am feeling increasing pressure to follow trends and go more “urban” in the attempt to capture more market share. A brand becomes a living, breathing thing and every brand has a life cycle -— well it’s become increasingly clear to me that the Benny Gold brand is nearing its end. I would rather bring it to a close and celebrate it’s life with integrity rather than push it to become something I no longer believe in.
How’s that? It answers so many questions we’ve had about other emerging clothing brands. How do you keep doing the same thing over and over? Season in, season out? It’s nice to see someone admit it straight up — you can’t. Not unless you change everything that got you there in the first place.
Congrats Benny. Well done. We look forward to seeing what you’re working on in the next phase.
We’ve always felt a strange disconnect between East Coast “streetwear” and skateboarding in general. Nothing brings our confusion into clearer focus than Supreme. Yes, James Jebbia has done a stellar job of appropriating all the right stuff to create a billion dollar clothing company, starting with artwork from Barbara Kruger and then logoing pretty much everything and marketing it to NYC’s label obsessed kids. But, really? Is a collection of 248 “limited edition” Supreme skate decks really worth $1 million dollars? Guess we’ll find out soon enough, at Sotheby’s, according to a story on The National.
The 248 boards, which will be sold as one lot through Sotheby’s, offer a unique archive of Supreme’s work and present a rare opportunity to see all of the designs together. Not surprisingly, this adds to the value and, with no buyer’s premium, the collection is expected to sell on January 25 for between US$800,000 and $1.2million (up to Dh4.4m).
Go get ’em Ryan Fuller. What are the chances the new owner will be an EDM producer? Pretty high we’d guess.
Pro skateboarder Rob Loriface is facing federal criminal drug charges after a raid of his Encinitas, California home in September 2018 found “heroin, methamphetamine and hundreds of Xanax pills,” according to a story on NBC San Diego.
Scattered throughout the master bedroom of Lorifice’s home, deputies retrieved small plastic baggies, Roxicodone pills, Xanax, marijuana, mushrooms, packing materials, as well as a digital scale. . . In all, deputies seized 231.6 grams of heroin, 193 grams of meth, and 196 grams of marijuana, as well as $16,824 from the skateboarder’s home.
Loriface reportedly said that the drugs were “left at his house by someone else . . . and he was afraid to get rid of them” according to a federal complaint. Would be great if that is true. He is being charged with “possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute” and is currently out on bail.
What makes a copyrightable stripe? Looks like Vans and Primark are going to find out as the footwear giant sues Primark over what it considers “identical knockoffs” according to story on Cosmopolitan.com.
A lawsuit alleging trademark infringement, unfair competition and false advertising was filed in New York last month. . . The two designs in dispute are the Vans Old Skool sneaker, featuring the iconic side stripe, and the Vans Sk8-Hi sneaker, a lace-up high top also with the classic stripe. The court documents state that Primark’s use of a side stripe on its trainers is confusing to the consumer. . . “The Side Stripe Trademark’s prominent placement and often-contrasted colour make Vans’ shoes immediately recognisable to consumers even at far-off distances,” say the documents.
When you compare this to all the skate brands that have boosted Vans designs over the years, it looks pretty mudane, but they have to protect their IP.
It’s all beginning to make sense now. “I mean before, I thought the 900 was actually a real trick. Then I figured out it’s just as fake as someone landing on the moon.” Word, Greg.
Next week (December 13, 2018) Tony Hawk’s mobile game (created by Maple Media) hits the Apple and Google Play stores. It’s called SkateJam and we don’t really know much aside from what we read on 9 to 5 Mac. Here are a few details:
The action-packed mobile experience, available for pre-order now and free to download worldwide on the App Store® beginning on December 13th, captures the essence of Hawk’s legacy – his unmistakable style, influences, and tricks are prevalent throughout the game. Developed by Maple Media, a Los Angeles-based mobile media, advertising and technology company, Tony Hawk’s Skate Jam will set a new bar for authentic tricks, controls and music in a mobile skate game thanks to Tony himself. The game will also feature, Classic Career Mode, Global Skate Jam tournaments, Street, park and vert skate disciplines and dozens of Birdhouse skateboards to collect.
Sounds like everything we need in an mobile skateboarding game. For more info click the link.
We were planning on doing these super list news link updates on the weekly, but last month seemed a bit shorter and our slow typing fingers failed the task. Take this as a catch up on all the news that caught our eye lately. we’ll attempt to do better moving forward. . . or not. Follow the jump for all the stories. Happy Friday.
Tony Hawk announced today (November 14, 2018) that he is dropping in on the “agency” business model with D/CAL a “hybrid brand consultancy and creative agency based in Detroit and California, get it? Hawk is co-founding the business with partners Adam Wilson (Carhartt, McGarryBowen), Jared Prindle (Tony Hawk Inc., 900 Films), and Ryan Maconochie (Arc, Leo Burnett, Trisect). Katherine Huber is director of client services.
“I’ve worked with many brands and their agencies over the years and even as a relative outsider looking in, I understand the challenges between clients and agencies. Our approach is unique, with an emphasis on authenticity,” added Hawk.
D/CAL says current clients include: Michigan-based DROUGHT, and HoMedics, San Diego-based Tony Hawk Foundation, and Chicago-based CityBase. For the official word from D/CAL please follow the jump.
Tony Hawk is reportedly joining a project to turn Nick Hornby’s book Slam into a Broadway musical, according to Broadway News, because now days every artistic, branded entertainment vehicle needs to be set to music — thank you Lin-Manuel. If you haven’t read the book (and you should) here’s the jist:
Next week (December 13, 2018) Tony Hawk’s mobile game (created by 
Tony Hawk announced today (November 14, 2018) that he is dropping in on the “agency” business model with 
