Ray Barbee was my hero. If you can't see the poetry in this video clip, you need to wipe the smear of conformity and restraint from your shades and open your mind to the freedom expressed therin.
It's safe to say my days as a skater in high school had the biggest influence my style, music, friends, but most importantly my outlook. Skateboarding in the late 80's/early 90's had a much different face than what we are used to seeing now. This was pre-x-games, Tony Hawk did not have a video game, and skaters were considered to be the scum and waste of suburbia.
I believe the daring and creativity that exists in the independent spirit of music was resurected on the pavement, handrails, half pipes and pools that we blazed on hot summer afternoons with griptape snug under our Vans and Public Enemy blaring from our radios.
At 32, I still look for places to skate. I smile when I see the worn down curbs and handrails around the city in much the same way an adult smiles when he sees his name writen on some sidewalk that was paved years ago.
Thank you Red Hot Chili Peppers for "Mother's Milk". Thank you Public Enemy for "Fear of a Black Planet". Thank you Sex Pistols for "Nevemind the Bollocks".
And Thank you Ray Barbee for showing me it was ok...
