01 in association with
This publication was edited, designed and assembled by Ben Haizelden of DOGPISS MAGAZINE, working with Clown Skateboards.
SINCEREST THANKYOU TO
JEFF BOARDMAN SIMON SKIPP LUDO
VIKAS MALIK
SUNIL PAWAR
MICHELLE RUSHBROOKE
CHRIS OLIVER
KAI ETHERIDGE
JACK WALLBRIDGE JORDAN LIGHTOWER
OWEN GODBERT
LEO SHARP ANDREW HORSLEY PERCY DEAN
STYLEY RICHIE HOPSON
WIG WORLAND
KEVIN PARROTT STEPHEN 'KINGY' KING DANNY BULMER
JOSH COX
MATT SWIFT TED CUNNINGHAM
MONKEY GLOVE MATT
RAFAL WOJNOWSKI
JAMES GRIFFITHS
BRYAN HAMILL TOMMY FACHIRI
All images contained within are copyright of their respective authors.
No reproduction of this publication or the intellectual property within without expressed permission.
01
A NOTE FROM THE EDITOR. This publication was made through the fostering of new friendships and a shared passion to tell a story worth sharing. It’s a tale about a brand done right; of a team of riders who skate together, and a company whose infrastructure is designed to help those who support it. And those who don’t.
The Clown Family’s rekindled mission to spread the joy of skateboarding and its culture as far as possible whilst still retaining principles of integrity and responsibility towards both skateboarders and the world as a whole is one that I wholeheartedley support. Any expectations I had of remaining impartial when I was commissioned by Jeff (Boardman) to undertake this project soon crumbled to partisanship; an effect I can see them having on many as word spreads of their continued positive endeavours.
I’d like to personally thank everyone that contributed to this, it was a truly rewarding experience.
Ben Haizelden. Dogpiss Magazine.
JEFF BOARDMAN
CLOWN SKATEBOARDS CURATOR.
ART & MAKERS
Since its formation in 2000, Clown has worked with a plethora of artists. From Banksy to Pete Helicar, MAU MAU to Jock of 2000AD; Clown has sought out a wide range of artists working on their own terms to contribute their vision to the Clown Art Programme. In 2005 the brand took 'a break'. A break that lasted until 2020. Since resurfacing there has been a return to fostering these relationships with like-minded artists, firstly Ludo.
I took some time to speak with Jeff Boardman of Clown to find out what's in the works for the Guest Artist Program and to chat about the legacy of the previous program.
Hi Jeff. Must feel good to be back! Before we discuss what's in the near future it'd be great if you could tell us about the first artist series you did. Who was the first artist?
Our first was Banksy. It was because Banksy was a mate. We worked on several things together – from doing the Rivington Street show in London, his first London outing and
INTERVIEW
helping him sell works and put up. We needed a logo and first graphics, so he
BY BEN HAIZELDEN
supported us by doing it for us. It was a great time. It feels how things should be done; support and create.
PRINTED BY
DON BRIDER
ORIGINAL BANKSY TEST PRESS SERIES FROM 2000
BANKSY TEST PRESS SERIES
TOMMY FACHIRI
REPRINTED FROM ORIGINAL ACETATES BY
Ouija Board Deck by Pete Helicar I really loved the Ouja deck that Pete Helicar did. What's the story with that? I'm surprised no one hadn't done that before. So good!
We were shocked we were the first to do it too. The board was first conceived on our first ever Clown skate trip. It was on a mental trip to Paris before Clown was actually officially open for business. Myself, Chris Oliver, Simon Skipp, Chris Parrot and Stephen King had a long weekend in Paris skating and drinking far too much. On our first night staying in a real crap hotel we got onto the fact (not sure it’s true) that Paris is the most haunted city in the world. Being loaded and a little stoned we thought let’s find out and contact the dead. We kept the board and in about 2002 I found it and asked Pete (Helicar) to rework it slightly so we could release it.
It’s been great to bring it back this year. Pete Hellicar did us another board the following year which was also very dark.
You also had Jock from 2000AD! How did that come about? I grew up on Judge Dredd. You must have been so stoked to get him on board?
Vikas the other founder of Clown is a comic nut! He got to meet the guys at 2000AD and they asked us to do a board for them. We came up with the idea of Clown Vs Judge Dredd and then Jock came onboard to bring it to life – would love to do a 2021/22 update. So watch this space.
Clown deck by Mau Mau
Can you tell me about some of the other artists that joined the fold. It must be hard to pick a favourite?
For me, it was Mau Mau and Adam Neate. Mau Mau is a long time mate and done us a graphic around the consumerism of McDonalds; it was a great design and is more relevant now than it was in 2004. I am unfortunate to say that I don't have a copy for the archive – if anyone does, please get in touch. Adam and I were getting to know each other through a friend, and when we asked him to get involved, he said yes. I think the Adam Neate 100 hand-drawn boards was probably one of my favourite projects to have worked on, each board was shit hot, and it was amazing to see all of them hanging in one place. I would love to see how many there are left of those and borrow them back for one more show. Now we are back, the art side of things will hopefully get even more substantial – it's a vital part of the Clown DNA. I have spent the last 15 years away from Clown doing arts, culture and causes projects. It is my strongest passion. I want to take what I have
Clown vs Judge Dredd deck by Jock
learned over those years and feed that back into Clown and our Community works. My official title this time is Clown Curator. It's a joy of a job for me if you can call it a job. I get to pick and work with the artist, makers and organisations. I have the fantastic task of finding and bringing the makers together and working out how we realise the art as a team.
One of 100 hand drawn Adam Neate decks
What’s the deal with the Guest Artist Project going forward?
The Guest Art Project has been great to get going. It's about us working with like-minded artists who want to help communities in skateboarding, art and beyond. It feels like it was back in 2000 when it’s everyone helping each other out. Working with LUDO on the first release has been amazing – it was a bit nerve-wracking as it was the first to be released. We had all eyes on us as the BANKSY test press has received such great feedback on how they were delivered. Picking the artist is more than just liking what they do. We have to connect as people and also be up for putting back into the community. We are pleased to say that all the artists we have spoken with want to be involved and go out of their way to help.
Clown Skateboards are all screen printed, and the Guest Art Project has to be identical but on steroids. We are finding other ways and forms of applications and production of boards. I am a fan of people who take great pride in their craft, so we have brought Tommy on board for the UK and Bryan in the USA. They help us realise and push the boundaries a little with how we apply artwork to boards.
The Guest Art Project plays a massive part in raising funds for ‘In Action’(see the back of this publication for more information on this).
LUDO PRINTED BY
GUEST ARTIST PROJECT
BRYAN HAMILL
I can totally see why you wanted to work with him, but could you tell us a little about how LUDO came into the picture? And why he was chosen as the first artist in the program?
I have always liked LUDO’s work. I didn’t know him, but I liked the attitude his work portrayed. When I started planning the Guest Art Project, I just reached out to him. We had an amazing chat about loads of stuff; he is such a nice person.
I wanted to start the program with someone people wouldn't expect, and after our initial conversation, he seemed the ideal person and more importantly, he was into it.
As this was the first outing for the Guest Art Project, I wanted to work with someone relaxed to find our feet on this. LUDO has been perfect, and what we have achieved with him and the makers we are so proud of. Everything has sold out now and going out to people worldwide from Japan, China, Korea, the USA, UK and our mates in the EU.
LUDO
GUEST ARTIST PROJECT T-SHIRT BACK PRINT
LUDO GUEST ARTIST PROJECT DECK
In the past you have chosen to work with many different artists, with very differing approaches; yet
PRINTED BY
TOMMY FACHIRI
Clown still retained its identity as a brand. What do you think it is that has allowed you to do this? It's quite a unique postition to be in. Are you going to continue to work with such a diverse group? Any plans you can let slip?
It's about attitude and not just aesthetics. I believe in the 6 degrees of separation idea. For us, it's about finding a common purpose of why we should work together – not just how it will look but what it can achieve. With a common goal, it means we can have fun with bringing the work alive. It's the same with the makers we work with. It's more than work; it feels like a family working together to create something that can have further impact.
continued on next page.
There are three artists this year, and now LUDO has landed, we are working on the next one. We are going back in time a little with this one and working with an old friend who is a great person, and I feel an incredible artist, Adam Neate.
His works 'The Family' really summed up how gender is not essential, but love and support are – how true is that! I am enjoying what will be achieved with this idea and how we can translate that into our IN Action programs. I think we all sometimes forget how much of a great support network and loving community skateboarding is. It’s now time to take that love wider, as so many people can benefit from it.
We are in the process of how his idea will be delivered. I am having great fun working out the method and also getting the right makers onboard. We will be working with Tommy and Bryan again. The boards are being made for this by an amazing carpenter in the USA, Tod from Dead Broke. And young people in the UK from Far Academy. It feels like a real family effort. I cannot let loose who number 3 is. All I can say: to me, the person is a New York Legend. When I first spoke with him, I was shocked – I was meeting one of my idols who was so into what we want to do, it was super humbling!
I'm really excited to see how things
The Family by Adam Neate
develop Jeff! Cheers!
BRYAN HAMILL
PEPPER SPRAY PRESS CLOWN FAMILY USA
Based in Albany, New York. USA. INTERVIEW
PHOTOGRAPHS BY
LARK STREET PHOTO
BY BEN HAIZELDEN
Hey Bryan, thanks for taking time to talk. Could you tell us a little about how you came to be working with Clown?
I'm a collector of all sorts of stuff, one of which is graffiti ephemera. I picked up a large, 20" original Clown Skateboards decal many years ago that I had recently gotten framed.
If I'm
remembering correctly, I think I reached out to Jeff through social media to ask him for some history on it, and we stayed in touch. with Pepper Spray Press.
We got along well and he was a fan of what I've been doing
When they decided to relaunch Clown they hit me up to see if I'd be
interested in working with them.
I had never printed on skateboards before, but I'm always up for a
challenge and I was very excited about all of the social initiatives that they were trying to accomplish with the relaunch.
Can you tell us a little about how you came to screen printing?
I got into screen printing through the punk scene. I've been playing in bands since high school, and was always fascinated about the artwork just as much as the music.
The DIY ethos
always spoke to me. Passion over profit etc. One of the bands I was in wanted to put out an LP and like most bands, we didn't have money to hire a printer.
One of our band
members worked at a screen printing shop and was able to burn us some screens. We made the album covers, then moved on to patches, shirts... just whatever we had laying around.
Seeing
the adaptability of screen printing, I was hooked right away.
Detail of screen used in printing Ludo's Guest Artist Project decks.
That's rad! A can-do spirit! What is it you love about it? The process itself?
So like a lot of artists, I got into it out of necessity but it didn't take long for me to realize that a lot of the art I had always loved was produced through screen printing.
There's just something
about the repetition and imperfections.
When you see
something screen printed, you see something made by hand, and all that goes into it.
There’s definitely something special about the process. Any other aspects of working in the industry you cherish?
There are a couple of specific things about screen printing (and printmaking in general) that makes it so special to me.
The first is
the collaborative process.
I've
always tried to surround myself with creative people.
The more
creativity around me, the more inspired and motivated I feel.
I used to run a 501(c)3 non-profit arts and community action organization, and honestly, it was the best time of my life.
Just working everyday with poets,
artists, musicians, weirdos etc.
And in
some way, I feel like I'm always trying to get back to that place in my life.
The second is, ironically, the solitude.
I'm a natural introvert.
After putting all of the planning and work in with the artists, then it's just time to lock myself in my studio and get to printing.
I throw a record on and
just start. It's almost meditative. Just me, my thoughts, and a squeegee. No distractions.
No phones or computers.
It's the best.
Well the decks have come out amazing! Thanks for taking the time to speak with us mate. Look forward to seeing more of your work soon!
PHOTOGRAPHS BY DANNY BULMER
TOMMY FACHIRI
BACK & FORTH PRINTS
CLOWN FAMILY UNITED KINGDOM
INTERVIEW BY BEN HAIZELDEN
FRONT BLUNT IN THE DEEPEST PART OF DUCK LANE (BOURNEMOUTH).
How did you come to be working with Clown?
Don B originally printed all the decks back in the day, i think Jeff goggled his name to get in contact with him, and my instagram or website popped up with a donbrider hashtag. Don and I have been friends and shared our passion of printing for several years, i also printed him a pro deck for same-old! I forwarded Don's details to Jeff, Don then recommended me to print for Clown .
Can you tell us how you came to screen printing?
I took on work experience with my uncle Stephen @harveylloydscreens back when i was 14.
What is it about screen printing that you love?
The process of printing, its all hands on, the finish and quality of the overall product. Screening decks is by far the best!
Beyond the physically act of screen printing are there any aspects of working within the industry that you particulary enjoy?
Working with people within the skateboard industry, because skateboarding is my passion! Its really great to be able too be surrounded by it. I love the creatively minded people I get to work with. I also like how its a skill thats allowed me to work for myself in setting up Back and Forth and have enjoyed seeing it grow.
SUNIL PAWAR
on the Bullet Boy typeface.
At one point in the early 00's, it seemed like every street in East London was covered with the Clown Skateboards logo in some shape or form, stickers, decks. paste ups, flyers.. It was, and still is well known and loved. For the second chapter of Clown I wanted to carry on the legacy, taking on the notorious torch and blazing it to the future.
Studio time and the finest vodka led to the revised logo. For this the font 'Bulletboy' was created, a sans serif typeface featuring an invisible bullet trail running through the centre and incorporated into the original logo, respectfully remixing and taking things to the next level. The font is also a stand alone typeface, unique to us, used for various applications and more importantly on the team decks and tees.
Sunil Pawar
A IN G I OR
L
The Clown Team Recollections from Simon Skipp & Kevin Parrott
Introduction by Simon Skipp. I knew Jeff (Boardman) from when he was the Howies team manager, when he left we continued to hook up and work on all sorts of weird and wonderful guerilla advertising outings. We had discussed doing various skate projects in that period but nothing had really come of them. When he approached me about getting involved with Clown I grabbed it with both hands. I had ridden for a few different American brands through a few different distributors so to get the chance to ride and put together a team for a homegrown project was really appealing.
We had a few people in mind for the team really early on. At the time it was a bit of a golden era for British brands and there were a fair amount of them so the cream of the crop guys were already taken. We kind of went down a slightly different route as we didn’t really have the pulling power or the desire to poach people from other teams. I think a bit of luck and just being out there constantly made it work in the beginning as we managed to get some fresh faces on the team, complete unknowns at the time. People hadn’t seen the likes of Benny (Fairfax) or witnessed the danger levels that Mattias (Nylen) brought to the table or for that matter what potential Chris (Oliver) had up his sleeve.
I think from around 97- 98 we had been going up to Edinburgh quite frequently and doing the Livi fun day when it came around, we had some really good times with good people, either staying with Pete Turvey or Vicksy and Sean from Odd Man Out. I think Clown had some really strong support in Scotland from the beginning.
To list all of the events, trips, demos competitions would be really long winded but it’s safe to say that during the first few years things were pretty sketchy and trouble was always just around the corner. The first trip we got kicked out of the hotel, the second trip we all ended up in handcuffs in the back of a German meat wagon.
The first year of doing demos at Deadbeat was nearly over before it began with Chris borrowing a security golf buggy with numerous guards in hot pursuit. The third deadbeat we got asked to stop picking on the security after a few guards entered a soft play area to stop a crew of Swedes smoking weed inside. The only way in or out was via a tube slide. The slide exit was quickly blocked by a huge plastic frog leaving the guards and the stoned Swedes inside for a good half an hour. As a TM it was always quite stressful just trying to keep everyone on the straight and narrow. Clown was almost a home for the challenged youth. Luckily things smoothed out over time and never lost focus on what brought us together, red hot skateboarding .
As time went by and things began to pick up we could add to the team and in doing so we ended up with a good selection of riders spread out across the UK. It was a pretty good thing to have in a time before social media. That and a pretty heavy support network of friends allowed us to be really mobile and get the team and the brand out there despite a nonexistent budget.
I look back and couldn’t be more proud of the amount of work that the team put in. Everyone was pushing themselves constantly. I think the thing that really does me is seeing how the younger guys have turned out, Dom (Henry) is absolutely on fire and has a pro board of Cafe, Dave (Watson) has seriously got his shit together with June store and Mark is on top of the dancing game. Bob (Baillie) is grafting hard for his fam and when he’s not he’s grafting on his backyard ramp. It’s a shame that it came to an end as we didn’t get around to producing a real video project showcasing the younger guys as they really were capable of delivering the goods and it would have really turned some heads as they were all virtually unknown and total weapons.
Dean
off a skateboard, absolute thriller on one. I think he provided the inspiration to change the way people looked at all the old concrete parks in the UK, Rom in particular took a severe hammering in the process. The backside smith cover was one of the first things he shot there. The sequence was later when he had become better acquainted with the place. The magic that Mattias brought to any situation was something else. He travelled around in a cloud of surreal matter infecting any situation he would encounter. I remember getting a phone call on a sunday afternoon “i’ve just seem Mattias doing front blunts on vert in wellies and on mushrooms”
Simon Skipp.
Photograph by Kingy
Photograph by Percy
MATTIAS NYLEN
Document Mag June 2003
"One of the best guys on the planet, way too calm and placid
Dark Tales Deck Art by Simon Skipp
Hopson Sequence by Richie "There’s a load of footage I have of this on a tape. My Hi8 had been nicked so I borrowed a Mini DV cam for a bit. The footage looked so good, but he just couldn’t ride away. Finally, the make was shot at last light just as I had to change the angle up as it was so dark, it was no longer registering. First try, new angle – done. Footage looks like shit. I saved up for lights after that. I also reckon this was the first coverage of that pool in over a decade which wasn’t a slash grind or rock n’ roll. If that stuff even got coverage."
Kevin Parrott.
"Gorgeous Dave was known as the Lakeside Shadow before i met him. He would appear in the corner of your eye and disappear before it registered or you’d see a phantom apparition at the other end of the car park that would slink away with a rumble of urethane on the down ramp. The last man on the team, he reminded me of a young Benny, he brought something new to the table. Possessed with a heart breaking switch/nollie pop and flick to go with it, he soon settled in and began to show what he was capable of, quickly getting on Vans in the process."
Simon Skipp.
DAVE WATSON
Photographs by
Styley
"Conor Charleson also did this for a photo and as a guest trick in a Daryl Dominguez Vans video part years later. It was good in that part, so doing it a decade earlier felt pretty heavy to me. I wish we’d seen more of Dave. Knee injuries plagued his sponsored career. However, without that we wouldn’t have the June Store, which is a dope skate shop he owns in Essex."
Kevin Parrott.
Clown European Tour from Document Mag Jan/Feb 2001 Photograph by Kingy
"The Paris trip was the first of a two part affair and probably the more mellow one of the two, even if we got kicked out of the hotel for doing life size portraits of each other on the mattresses. It’s also the place that the ouija board graphic was born on a drunken evening in."
Simon Skipp.
CHRIS OLIVER Chris and looking like I’m terrified of loud noises. Killer. Side note: I’d just been on my first ever “professional” skate trip right before this one; shooting a full UK street/demo tour for Osiris. I’ve got the shoes they gave me on here which nearly never made it to my feet. I didn’t really understand that they were being given to me to wear as we’d be in demo crowds, etc. So - as a penniless 19 year old - as soon as the product was handed to me, I was trying to sell them round the back of the tour van at the first demo to make sure I had money for dinner. I got caught by the Osiris staff though. I felt even worse when they told me they’d be paying for dinner everyday. Not sure why I’ve still got them on here, though. No excuses. They were awful."
Kevin Parrott.
Dark Tales Deck Art by Simon Skipp
"This might be my only ever full page photo in a mag. Not skating. Holding down a sign for
Sidewalk December 2003 Photograph by Andrew
Horsley
"This trip was an excellent experience and also a bit of a gamble. It could have gone wrong as soon as we went through customs and the officers found a freshly used bong. After calling their mates over and having a laugh they let everyone go. The destination was picked by use of blindfold, finger and map. What Sorrento lacks in number of spots it makes up for in quality of spot. The port area was the best with small transitions and that monster rail. It had a problem run up and the thing was high. Chris set up a sketchy makeshift run up made of various bits of street debris and banged it out. The timing of it was crazy as a ferry was disembarking and there was a big crowd of people heading his way on the landing. I think we all found out that Benny would be leaving for Stereo on this trip. It was a bit of a kick in the sweets but at the end of the day it was a great opportunity for him. Hats off."
Simon Skipp.
WOODY
Gasworks Ollie Photograph by Leo
Sharp
"I'm pretty sure the gas works ollie was an NBD at the time, absolute beast. Fun fact I’ve never been there sober or with a skateboard. "
"To start with I would like to say that Woody is gnarly and can rip absolutely anything and knows how to have a bucket load of fun at the same time. The first time I met Woody was in Marseilles at the bowlriders comp when Cardiel done the 360 transfer. There was a guy going round stealing everyone's stuff, really blatantly, if you just sat there for 5 minutes you'd see him taking all his booty over to a big flap of cardboard. Someone had made a human chocolate croissant and tinkle lemonade/coke infusion to wash it down. Across the sea of people chilling next to the bowl we could set up and watch it get planted, stolen,stashed along with other stolen goods and consumed. About ten years later Woody attended a party dressed as the most perfect human turd complete with nutella face mask but the best bit was that he had persuaded a girl he met earlier that day to join him as a pair of human shits. Proper non wiper."
Simon Skipp
Dark Tales Deck Art by Simon Skipp
Photograph by Leo
Nosepick
Sharp
Backside Kickflip Photograph by Leo Sharp
BRYAN JONES "Bryan was a demo machine, with a huge trick bag and mega consistent delivery you could take him anywhere and set him loose. Also gifted in the music department whether it be DJing or producing music for himself or others, heavily multi talented guy with a very no nonsense approach to skateboarding. We were asked to do demos at an experimental music festival, Deadbeat, the first year we done it the ramp was set up in the pool room, I’ve never seen anything like it, imagine an indoor tropical type fun pool with a ramp a few meters away, Skitz and Rodney P providing the sounds and the pool suitably rammed with people armed with cans of red stripe and massive party joints. Don’t get me wrong when I say he’s not the kind of man to wear trousers, but I don’t think I’ve ever seen him in anything other that shorts." Simon Skipp.
Ollie Photograph by Graham
Tait
BENNY FAIRFAX
"Wasn’t there for this one, but I think that’s Karim down there – and I’ve definitely had a few people over the years who know my association with Benny claim to have been in that photo. It’s like the Clown version of Penny at Radlands ’95. Everyone claims they were there."
Kevin Parrott.
Backside Lipslide Photograph by
Wig Worland
"Benny's approach to life is so refreshing with a proper good attitude and with loads of time for people, it's not surprising this shot made the mag as to me it represents his impact in moving to London and forging deep bonds with what would become the Palace guys."
Simon Skipp.
"This nollie heel was the moment that announced that Benny had arrived. The gruesome party twosome of Benny and Chris had gone turbo the night before and were still completely spannered when this went down on a lovely Sunday morning. The raw nollie power that Benny had was not often seen back then."
Simon Skipp.
Nollie Heel Photograph by
Andrew Horsley "This was my first visit to the infamous Penny/Mouly Oxford Uni spot. We’d all gone up to stay at Horsleys for the weekend and party/skate. I shot this trick on my very first mini-DV camera with an awful plastic fisheye which was as wide as I could find. I think it was a few months later when someone said to me that you can film skating without the fisheye too. Up until that point, I don’t think it had ever occurred to me. Benny also switch frontside flipped them amongst other tricks. For an unknown kid (at the time), he was coming in pretty heavy."
Kevin Parrott.
Dark Tales Deck Art by Simon Skipp
Portrait by Kingy
SIMON SKIPP "2001, around a contest weekend in Malmo. However, Skipp wanted to spend a bit more time there skating spots rather than just show for the comp - and I’d been the previous year so was keen to return, too. We hatched a plan and got a list of good areas to explore for spots and went for a week or so. Skipp actually did this fairly fast with just me there the night before and when we showed Ben Powell, Leo Sharp and the rest of the Soletech crew the clip the next day, Leo basically dragged Skipp back as he had to shoot it. Malmo was so expensive for us back then but I think we treated ourselves to two falafel wraps after this one."
Photograph by Leo Sharp
Kevin Parrott.
"This spot in Sorrento was banging, someone had a photo on it in the last couple of years. Probably the first time it’s been skated since we were there in late 2003. One of the highlights of the trip was getting over to Pompeii, it was way bigger than anticipated and in places stunningly preserved. To get the time to visit somewhere like that on a skate trip was rare and very welcome. Another highlight was Mattias going into comedy overdrive for the week and managing to destroy himself in what was essentially an ancient bird bath."
Simon Skipp.
Front Crook Fakie Sequence by
Andrew Horsley
BOBBY BAILLIE Kickflip Photograph by Graham
Tait
This shot by Gaham Tait was originally printed as a business card size Focus advert. When I first saw it I was super stoked, everything about it ticked my boxes. The spot, the lighting, the crust, the simplicity of the trick selection every single thing about this gets me fired up. Would have been a perfect shot for a dps/contents page in my book. Bobby is raw Scottish power, everything done proper and at full blast. Really stoked that Graham still had the image and also to have the opportunity to print this at an improved size.
Simon Skipp.
MARK CALAPE Mark would send tapes filled with tech MK steez, the polar opposite to Bobby. A good contrast with the young crew. Tech vs gnar. He would always include a section of him banging out mad Bboy moves; little did we know that later in life he would turn out to be one hell of a pro dancer. What a mover!
Portrait by Kingy
DOM HENRY "I first met Dom in the Post Office down the road from my house in Reading. I was in the last year of University and Dom was a little sprog with his mum. He recognized me and I’m sure I signed a copy of Sidewalk in the shop. I was pretty blown away as years later when a mystery sponsor me tape came through the door with Dom killing the spots that were my local in years past. It definitely wasn’t some form of sentimental connection that we added him to the team as his technical prowess was already evident. It was kind of funny when he got picked up by DC and his name was on the ads, no one knew who he was for a little while as we hadn’t really done a team video project for a couple of years."
Simon Skipp. Portrait by Kevin
Parrott
JOEL O'CONNOR
Sharp Photograph by Leo
Joel was a guy that always stood out to me, super smooth style. I had met Howard and Adam Cooke a few times over the early years in the most random places and the Liverpool scene/way to do things has always inspired me since day one. I was stoked to have a bit of that represented in having Joel on the team.
Simon Skipp.
The Clown Team: Reborn. Simon Skipp Chris Oliver
INTERVIEWS BY BEN HAIZELDEN
Josh Cox Kai Etheridge Jack Wallbridge Jordan Lightower
"This time round ? Every so often Jeff would comment " wouldn't it be good to have a reunion". I've always thought that would be sick but as time went by every time he mentioned it I could tell the love was still there and that there were cogs turning in his mind. To be honest I was a little hesitant about having time and obviously my age. Did I want to do it all over again? Times change, skating has changed, it's a lot more open to ideas and way more accepting. When I heard about the community work I thought I can't turn my back on that. I'm in."
Simon Skipp.
SIMON SKIPP Age: 47,000 years
Where are you from/where are you at?
I'm from Romford, and somehow I'm still in the Romford area.
How did you find skateboarding?
I think back to the future was partly responsible or it could have been the guy that used to ride past my junior school at lunchtime, or maybe the fact it looked much better that doing wheelies on a bmx.
What's so good about skateboarding?
The best thing is having fun with your friends and coming home with a sense of achievement at the same time.
How did you come to join the Clown Skateboards family?
This time round ? Every so often Jeff would comment " wouldn't it be good to a have reunion". I've always thought that would be sick but as time went by every time he mentioned it I could tell the love was still there and that there were cogs turning in his mind. To be honest i was a little hesitant about having time and obviously my age. Did i want to do it all over again? Times change, skating has changed, it's a lot more open to ideas
and way more accepting. When I heard about the community work I thought i can't
turn my back on that. I'm in.
What's next?
Spending some time with the team and getting some footy logged, get an art exhibition sorted. I'm just hoping for a time when we can all get out and really crack on with the things we love doing but have been held back. But at the same time I really want to hit up a couple of spots before things get too normal and they are off the menu.
Switch Crooked Grind to Regular Photograph by Monkey
Glove Matt
CHRIS OLIVER Crooked Grind Photograph by Rafski
Age: 39
Where are you from/where are you at?
I grew up in Bridport, Dorset. Moved to London around 2000, still 'ere.
How did you find skateboarding?
My mate had a Don Brown trick board who lived opposite me, he got bored of it so I kept it and got busy.
What's so good about skateboarding?
The fact it’s so damn difficult and keeps you focused coz it will come for you, and secondly it keeps me out of trouble.
How did you come to join the Clown Skateboards family?
Well I knew Jeff and Skipp before when Jeff hooked me with Howies when he drove to Bridport in a Bedford Rascal to drop me some product out the side door, some time later Clown was born and that was it, so hard to remember exactly of how it all came to be, I already knew Benny from New Milton so was rad to be on with him.
What's next?
Hopefully a meniscus transplant to give me a few more desperate years of a toy I can’t seem to give up haha.
JOSH COX Age: 31
Where are you from/where are you at?
Well I’m from Leytonstone, East London. I’ve always lived in Leytonstone but now I’ve bought a place 5 minutes from my parents.
How did you find skateboarding?
I’m not gonna lie, I’m part of the ‘Tony Hawk’ generation. At the time I used to play ice hockey. But then my two brothers started skating, I would go out with them and share their boards until a few weeks later I got my own and never looked back.
What's so good about skateboarding?
For me it’s definitely about exploring, whether it’s going down every little alley way when we’re out skating or trying to figure out new tricks for hours on end. I always enjoy seeing new places, I can sit on google maps for hours too just looking for new stuff to skate.
How did you come to join the Clown Skateboards family?
Simon Skipp basically gave me a holla out of the blue and asked if I’d be interested. It was definitely a tough one after being with Science for 5 years but it was hard to pass up the chance to skate with Simon and Chris, both of whom I’ve idolised since childhood. I grew up skating The Rom (Romford) so I’d seen Skipp many times in person. Truly incredible! And if you’ve ever witnessed Chris in the flesh you’ll know he’s still progressing, even now.
What's next?
Not too sure...I feel like as we leave this pandemic (hopefully) that some opportunities will arise to travel again and get out and film a bit more in the streets, and hopefully get involved with some of the charitable causes the Clown are supporting! So lots of skating, basically!
5050 Wallie Photograph by Rafski
KAI ETHERIDGE Where are you from/ where are you at?
I am from a small Essex town called Thundersley, but I am currently living in the seaside town of Leigh on Sea; which is very close by. I love this place, the skate scene is amazing and it really feels like home only having been here for 2 years, also the skatepark is really good. What’s so good about skateboarding? How did you find skateboarding? Skateboarding with friends, meeting new people and just My brother had a PlayStation 2 and used to have Tony
having fun. There’s nothing better than a session with your friends; it’s like a whole life thing. Watching
Hawk's Pro Skater 2. I was obsessed with that and eventually persuaded my mum to buy me a skateboard. I skated for about 2 years with my friend Charlie out the
it, the music, talking about it, it’s the best, no clue where I’d be without it!
front of my house. My dad built me a ledge and a How did you join the clown family?
quarter pipe and I never skated a skatepark haha.
Frontside Tailgrab Photograph by Monkey
Glove Matt
Simon Skipp called me one morning and I was very surprised asking if I wanted to be on the team. I was very chuffed. it’s really cool to be part of a family like Clown, especially getting to skate with the other riders, they're gnarly.
What’s next?
Meeting loads of new people and having fun on the board. Trying to film and having good times with friends old and new.
Hopefully I'll get to travel too
because I love travelling, and there’s so much more to the world than just home.
JACK WALLBRIDGE Age: 13
Where are you from/where are you at?
Just outside Southampton.
How did you find skateboarding?
I think someone bought me one of those tiny little boards with plastic trucks for my 10th birthday which I skated maybe twice before some of the locals at Bartley told me about my local skateshop, JJs which I brought a complete from and started skating properly.
What's so good about skateboarding?
The people I've met through it, the adrenaline, the community (after I'd completely destroyed my first complete some of the locals at Bartley gave me a board made of their old parts), the experiences and things it has taught me and the places it has taken me.
How did you come to join the Clown Skateboards family?
Jeff messaged me asking if I'd like to be flowed a couple of boards and be on the team and I said yes.
What's next?
Lots more skateboarding, meeting everyone on Clown in person, and getting back to skate nights at Skaterham!
Tuck Knee Photograph by Ted
Cunningham
Stalefish Photograph by Ben
Haizelden
JORDAN LIGHTOWER
Age: 24
Where are you from/where are you at?
I'm from tipton (midlands) originally,lived in worcester for ten years and have been in bristol for the past 3
How did you find skateboarding?
My mom bought my first skateboard for me from a carboot sale and since then i have always been into it
What's so good about skateboarding?
I dunno, it hurts haha But i've met some amazing people through it and it's taken me on some journeys i'll never forget. personally I think thats the greatest thing about it, the friends you make through it
How did you come to join the Clown Skateboards family?
You (Ben Haizelden) put my name forward to Clown and we went from there.
What's next for you Jordan? Any plans?
Session down the deaner?
AN INTERVIEW WITH
MICHELLE RUSHBROOKE
CLOWN 'IN ACTION' COMMUNITY OFFICER So Michelle, how did you come to be in the position of Community Officer for Clown? Well I got this call from Jeff (Boardman) asking if I’d be keen to help out on the re-launch of Clown Skateboards. I’ve known Jeff since the late 90’s, having worked with and been roomies together in East London. He ran through his plans to finish what they started and having witnessed the original Clown Skateboards domination in the early 2000’s, it was a no brainer.
What are you trying to achieve in this capacity, is there a focus? In reigniting Clown Skateboards, we are focused on reaching out and supporting the skate and creative communities. Particularly those that help encourage and inspire others to get involved despite any financial or emotional concerns they may be experiencing. There’s a whole heap of incredible people that are part of these communities and I have the most fortunate of opportunities to be able to extend our support to help them continue to do the good work they have already begun. Skatepal Palestine Photograph by Owen Godbert
How are you funding this support? Is it just a case of giving a portion of profits, or are there specific initiatives in place?
To kick off the financial investment needed to support the beginning of the program and following the limited release of the Banksy Test Press Series, Clown were able to offer me the role as Community Officer and start reaching out. Using a percentage of the profits generated from the releases and from the launch of the new Clown products, investment continues to grow with ‘Clown Tokens' which in turn funds skateboard set-ups. So far this has equated to 200 set-ups that will be allocated and distributed through 2021. In addition, we are generating funds which will enable us to financially support grassroots projects and communities in their efforts. Clown also put £30,000 in the In Action pot.
Moving forwards with our community program, we named it ‘In Action’: the act of us actually making a practical commitment, seeing it through and realising the outcomes from our actions, with three main aims to achieve.
1. Find and work with organisations or individuals who need equipment and support. Skatepal Palestine Photograph by Owen Godbert
2. Work with grassroot DIY projects to help fund some of the build and give equipment so they can teach kids.
3. Work with like-minded organisations on the challenge of mental wellbeing within our younger generations.
The challenge lies in reaching out to help out but we are already finding in speaking to folks, they’re sharing the love and wanting others to know the help is there.
Skatepal Palestine Photographs by Owen Godbert
Can you give us a rundown of some of the organisations you have been working with? Everyone On Boards, a community interest program from Waltham Forest, London, mobilising and empowering young people and families through action sports. Their drive to help young people equip themselves with the necessary skills to have the confidence to make healthy, informed choices and achieve their full potential is inspiring. They push learning through vocational opportunities, outdoor experiences, free skateboard sessions and creative workshops whilst promoting equal opportunities, positive mental health, a sense of community and most of all respect. All with a sustainable outlook and volunteers championing the new generation in a rolling cycle of inclusivity and longevity. We’ve already sent some products over to help support those who are teaching the kids and looking at ways we can financially support their program of activities. Skate set-ups for the lessons will also be provided, as well as extras for those kids who deserve it through their dedication and commitment.
Keep Rolling is a skateboard company focusing on making original content, promoting a fairer representation of womxn, LGBTQI+ and POC skaters, believing that skateboarding is an inclusive sport for all. They offer coaching at Unitas Youth Zone in North London, aimed at 8-18 year old kids classed as vulnerable and running a free monthly Womxns event that aims to provide a safe and inclusive space for members and allies of the LGBTQI+ community. We were keen to support them financially through a private donation to In Action, which we match funded, for them to secure their own ramp, equipment and set-ups to continue the good work they’re doing. There’s also plans towards a self-funded film project they’re working on that any extra funding can be put towards. We’re also supporting a community skatepark and art space project called Keep Growing in Tottenham that will include an on-site screen printing facility. PHOTOGRAPHS KINDLY PROVIDED BY EVERYONE ON BOARDS
Working with Keep Pushing who are behind the project, they’ll look to combine skateboarding and artistic lessons, workshops and events, forming a community of skateboarders and artists who support and inspire each other regardless of age, gender, race, sexuality, ability etc. To help with raising funds for the skatepark and art space we have supplied 100 Clown t-shirts to print with a Clown Skateboards w. Keep Pushing logo and print designed by them to feature on the back and have worked with them on the launch and release of these. The funds from the sale of the t-shirts will go straight back into the costs of building the shelter, security and insurance costs for the site,
PHOTOGRAPHS KINDLY PROVIDED BY EVERYONE ON BOARDS
Everyone on Boards Founders Aga & Josefin Photo by Robin Sinha
equipment and screen printing materials etc.
Free Movement Skateboarding Athens Photographs by Owen Godbert
You have extended this assistance beyond the Uk though right? Yes! There’s a few organisations abroad we have reached out to.
Free Movement Skateboarding, a refugee non-profit project which focuses on integration, empowerment, physical & mental health and gender equality for those who need it most in Athens, Greece. They’re actively developing a wide and diverse community through skateboarding; their outreach program takes their mobile skatepark to teach workshops in various locations, working in partnership with community centres, squats, housing shelters and refugee camps; aimed at kids of all ages and nationalities. We’ve been supporting where we can through social support, a donation to their #GivingTuesday campaign, gifting product samples for volunteers / instructors plus sending skate set-ups to support the lessons. Additionally we have partnered with SkatePal, a non-profit organisation supporting communities throughout Palestine, promoting the social, health and wellbeing benefits of skateboarding. They have been running skate classes in a centre for migrants in North London and we’ll be supporting them initially with skateboard set-ups as soon as those classes are back up and running. We have also been working closely with Concrete Jungle Foundation who have been fundraising to build two new skateparks in Peru. After a successful round of fundraising we helped get them over the line with a €1000 donation and social push that not only supported the skatepark build but helped provide skate programmes to 300+ kids in Peru. In addition we organised a very special raffle for their future projects releasing one of our Guest Art Project LUDO w. Clown Skateboards boards raising a further £830 which has gone towards completing their annual budget for programmes in Jamaica. It will be directly used for Edu-Skate programmes, a positive youth development programme that utilizes skateboarding, group discussion and community activities to empower and provide psychology education to underserved children ages 6-16 and there’s further plans on the horizon.
Hackney Bumps London Photographs by James Griffiths
Hackney Bumps London Photograph by James Griffiths
Hackney Bumps London Photograph by James Griffiths
Can you shine a light on some of the other organisations closer to home you have been working with too?? There’s an amazing grassroots community project regenerating the Hackney Bumps Skatepark in Daubney Fields, London. We’re looking to work with them to provide set ups for the lessons and offer further support through our DIY fund.
You’ve also contributed to the Ben Raemers Foundation right? Yes. In launching the first Clown Manifesto boards, we ran a £10 raffle ticket to win the full skateboard set which culminated in us raising £2130 - all the profits from this campaign was then donated directly to The Ben Raemers Foundation in October 2020.
Photograph by Ben Haizelden
M32 DIY Bristol
You mentioned earlier support for grassroots projects. Are there plans to support more of the people in the burgeoning DIY skatepark community? I know a few projects here in Bristol that would really appreciate the support.
We set up and launched a UK wide DIY fund accessible to home-grown individuals, DIY or community groups dedicated to creating, renovating or adding to a local outdoor spot and supporting the next generation of kids getting into it. We created 10 grants to include a sum of £500 each, which can be used for concrete and materials or tools needed to build & maintain the spot. Every successful applicant is given 5 complete skateboard set-ups to gift to 5 local kids who they can involve in the project and support with skating. The response has been amazing from those looking to keep creating and progressing skating in their local areas and we can’t wait to visit, document and follow their progress and the impact it has on the local skate community and the kids inspired by it. We felt that in partnering with Confusion Magazine whose continued focus on skater built/DIY skate spots has been incredible, we could really offer the best opportunities and support for those developing their own spaces. We started out with 10 grants and 4 boards but with the response we got and looking at the impact it could have right across the UK, we decided to dig a bit deeper and will be supporting double that.
M32 DIY Bristol
Photograph by Ben Haizelden
Here’s a shout to all those we’ll be working with: Hackney Bumps, London Kingston DIY, Glasgow Pumf, Greater Manchester The Forgotten Road, Inverness Barrercvlt DIY Owlside, Cumbria York DIY, North Yorkshire The Grove DIY, London Meanwhile Gardens, London Milk DIY, North Devon El Birdsh*t, Ukraine BunkerSide DIY, East Cheshire The Valley DIY South Row 2.0, Milton Keynes DIY Skate Spots Map, Sheffield The Waste DIY, Newcastle Upon Tyne Noyce Gardens, Bournemouth M32 DIY, Bristol Leith DIY, Edinburgh Delside, Essex Keep Growing, London
We’re also amidst a new initiative aimed at giving under 18’s the opportunity to do something good to benefit their local
Photograph by Ben Haizelden
M32 DIY Bristol
community. We have an inspirational ambassador called Olly Crockford, who alongside studying for his Year 11 BETEC GCSE is taking the time to input into the project and steer its direction with our support.
That's amazing! Thanks for taking the time to talk Michelle.
Thank you for taking the time to flip through our first ever publication – hope you all like it. We have to say a massive thanks to Ben who has pulled this together and all that contributed – we owe you one. It’s been amazing to see all the old photographs and we are stoked to have some old faces and some new Clowns being part of the circus. This year Clown comes of age, being 21, ok with a bit of power nap in the middle. When we started this the first time around way back in 2000, we did so for the love of skateboarding, art and music. Now we are back and 21; our DNA is the same, but our outlook and aims are different. Being able to set a fund to help people was a major part of why we had to come back. We have to hold our hands up high and say that the people we are working with, talking to and creating things with in the In Action Program makes the return a dream come true. The love, respect and support that the skateboarding scene offers is exceptional, and we are proud to be back and a part of it. The Clown Family
CPUB01 PUBLISHED BY CLOWN SKATEBOARDS 2021