IRELAND
BEYOND THE ORDINARY
THE WALKING DEAD’S
NORMAN REEDUS trades zombies for alligators
FUTURE TECH GAME-CHANGING INNOVATIONS From robotic arms to micro drones
THE RUGBY WORLD CUP Home nations stars reveal their tactics to win the trophy
SEPTEMBER 2015 € 2,50
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In the lead role: John Travolta, movie legend and aviation aficionado. Guest star: the legendary North American X-15 that smashed all speed and altitude records and opened the gateway to space. Production: Breitling, the privileged partner of aviation thanks to its reliable, accurate and innovative instruments – such as the famous Chronomat, the ultimate chronograph. Welcome to a world of legends, feats and performance.
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CHRONOMAT 44
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THE RED BULLETIN
32 CIRCUS OF PAIN
In their garish shirts and facepaint, rodeo clowns are the bodyguards of the bullring
Unusual combinations often produce the most interesting results, as you’ll see in The Red Bulletin this month. Ascot racecourse becomes a runway for the pilots competing in the UK leg of the Red Bull Air Race World Championship; we persuade home nations rugby rivals George North, Jamie Roberts, Simon Zebo and Owen Farrell to team up for an exclusive photoshoot; hardcore rodeo clowns take on raging bulls; and The Walking Dead’s Norman Reedus trades in his usual zombie foes for a rather more alive alligator (we now know he prefers the former). Plus, we get life advice from US rapper Ice Cube and party with A-list insider Mark ‘The Cobrasnake’ Hunter. We hope you enjoy the issue. 08
“I’ve always lived job-to-job. It’s nice to have a nine-to-five” NORMAN REEDUS, PAGE 64
THE RED BULLETIN
SEBASTIAN MARKO/RED BULL CONTENT POOL (COVER), SHAMIL TANNA (COVER), JIM KRANTZ, MICHAEL MULLER
WELCOME
SEPTEMBER 2015
42
TRYING HARDER
What will it take for one of the home nations to win this year’s Rugby World Cup?
AT A GLANCE GALLERY 14 GOOD SHOTS! Photos of the month
BULLEVARD 21 CRIME SPECIAL Profiling law-breakers – and the good guys who catch them
FEATURES 32 Rodeo clowns
Inside the dangerous, facepainted world of America’s bullfighters
42 Rugby World Cup SHAMIL TANNA, BALAZS GARDI/RED BULL CONTENT POOL, THE COBRASNAKE, UNIVERSAL PICTURES
Fighting talk from four of the home nations’ biggest talents
52
72
TOP FLIGHT
GRANDMASTER FLASH
As the UK welcomes back the Red Bull Air Race World Championship, the world’s top pilots revisit last year’s glories
52 Take 5: Red Bull Air Race Memorable moments from 2014
58 This month’s heroes
Who do the celebrities call when they want a photographer to shoot their parties? The Cobrasnake, of course…
The strokes guitarist turned solo artist Albert Hammond Jr, rapper/actor Ice Cube and son, and endurance adventurer Sean Conway
64 Norman Reedus
The Walking Dead star on celebrity, Slash and scary-looking ’gators
72 The Cobrasnake
Party photographer to the stars
ACTION!
60 RETURN TO COMPTON
Rapper/actor Ice Cube has high hopes for the NWA biopic – not least because his son, O’Shea Jackson Jr, is playing Dad THE RED BULLETIN
83 BEAUTY AND THE BEAST
Ducati have really raised their game with their new superbike – the pretty, powerful and clever 1299 Panigale S
79 SEE IT. GET IT. DO IT. The best travel, gadgets, films, games, music, cars and events. Plus how to fight a forest fire 91 FUTURE GEAR Tomorrow’s tech today 98 MAGIC MOMENT Big-seater BMXing
09
CONTRIBUTORS INSIDE THIS ISSUE
WHO’S ON BOARD
SOUTH AFRICA
BEYOND THE ORDINARY
GRAEME LENNOX
Actor Norman Reedus (right) with photographer Michael Muller
Zombie killer meets alligator “I feel like he could feel my fear,” said actor Norman Reedus after putting down a live alligator next to a swamp in Louisiana, USA. The 46-year-old is more used to slaying zombies as the crossbow-wielding Daryl Dixon in hit American TV series The Walking Dead, a role which brought him fame after stints working as a painter, photographer and video artist. His interview with The Red Bulletin took place in more civilised surroundings, at a hotel in New Orleans. Find out how he got to grips with that alligator on page 64.
The Scottish writer interviewed star triathlete Sean Conway. “This guy thinks nothing of swimming the length of Britain,” says Lennox. “He’s an inspiration to any wannabe adventurer.” The story’s on page 62.
THE FUTURE OF THE SPRINGBOKS
Blood, sweat and big data
LEAP OF
FAITH
RED BULL X-FIGHTERS is back! PLUS Meet Drake McElroy, the ultimate FMX maverick
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THE RED BULLETIN
AROUND THE WORLD
MARK HUNTER
LA-based photographer Hunter was only 17 when he started his nightlife blog, thepolaroidscene.com. Today he’s Katy Perry’s go-to snapper. “She was just a regular party girl and we got along,” he says. See more on page 72.
Jim Krantz was in charge of the camera, not the make-up, at the Clovis Rodeo
The Red Bulletin is available in 11 countries. This is the cover of this month’s South African edition, featuring Drake McElroy, the multi-skilled test rider of Red Bull X-Fighters. Read more: redbulletin.com
IN FOCUS BEHIND THE LENS
“They dress like clowns and move like athletes” JIM KRANTZ The reportages of Jim Krantz can often be found in The New York Times. For this magazine, the Chicago-based photographer followed three top bullfighters into the ring at the 101st Clovis Rodeo in California. Turn to page 32 to meet the men who dress up as clowns and save fallen rodeo riders from raging bulls.
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148 bpm 376 kmh 17meters
AT THESE G-FORCES, EVERYTHING IS “PRODUCT TESTED”.
Flying in a Red Bull Air Race means speeds up to 376 kmh and pulling up to 10Gs – or at least that’s what the G-Metrix overlays are saying. VIRB XE not only gives you rich, HD footage to relive the experience, it adds synched data overlays to tell a better story. VIRB XE, the official action camera of the Red Bull Air Race World Championship. ™
For more information visit garmin.com/virb.
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THE RED BULLETIN WEB HIGHLIGHTS
Channing Tatum’s survival guide In our exclusive web interview, the Magic Mike XXL star lets loose on his career as a stripper and his success in Hollywood. The 35-year-old also reveals the life lessons he has learned from his actress/dancer wife. redbulletin.com/tatum
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FUN SPORTS SPECIAL PICTURE PERFECT
Chessboxing, underwater rugby, competitive lumberjacking, extreme ironing – we bring you a lowdown on 10 sports that should be in the Olympics, with video clips of the action.
In his 12 years as a party snapper, Mark ‘The Cobrasnake’ Hunter has taken more than a million photos for Katy Perry, Steve Aoki and other celebrities. He talks us through his 30 best shots.
redbulletin.com/crazysports
redbulletin.com/cobrasnake
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THE RED BULLETIN
LUXE BODY WASH APPLE & BEARS True style starts in the bathroom Find out more at appleandbears.com
TALLI N N , E STO N IA
DROP BOX JAANUS REE/RED BULL CONTENT POOL
Drew Bezanson practises ahead of an impressive fifth victory at revered BMX battle Simple Session in April. The 26-year-old BMX park rider learned his skills in the remoteness of his native Nova Scotia, Canada, but after winning recognition much further afield with his genre-defining style – including two ‘Ramp Rider Of The Year’ awards in the US – trips home are a rarity. “I visit Nova Scotia once in the summer and once at Christmas,” he says. “At this point, I’m so used to being on the go, I get antsy when I don’t have stuff going on.” More bike news: redbull.com/bike Photography: Jaanus Ree
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ANAH E I M , U SA
POOL PARTY CARLO CRUZ/RED BULL CONTENT POOL
California-based photographer Carlo Cruz has been taking pictures of B-Boys for the past 10 years, but, even for him, this underwater project was a first. “Breakdance is too fast for the eye,” he says. “It’s easier to capture it beneath the surface.” Cruz sported diving equipment during the pool shoot, and used hand signals to direct Chicago-born B-Girl Ladie One (left) and Sacramento-based VillN. “I was a signlanguage expert by the end of it,” he says. See all the pics at: redbullphotography.com Photography: Carlo Cruz
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ALG H E RO, SAR D I N IA
FIA World Rally Championship organisers give fair warning about the hazards of the Sardinian leg, with its high temperatures, narrow, treelined roads that allow “no room for error”, and slippery gravel. And, like the world-class pros that they are, the competitors take it all in their stride. Here, Finnish driver Jari-Matti Latvala (VW Motorsport) shows how best to deal with the latter problem – by flooring it. wrc.com Photography: André Lavadinho
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@TWORLD/RED BULL CONTENT POOL
GRAVEL CONCERNS
NEW. TROPICAL WINGS.
THE RED BULLETIN BULLEVARD DO NOT CROSS!
CRIME SCENE NO SH*T SHERLOCK
PICTUREDESK.COM
Brilliant, awkward, cold, Benedict Cumberbatch’s narcissistic Holmes has set the gold standard for crime drama heroes You can group us in with the “Cumberbitches”, the legions of Benedict Cumberbatch’s selflabelled female fans who caught on early to the rangy actor’s rising star. Already a TV staple before his breakout as the super-sleuth in the BBC series Sherlock, Cumberbatch has gone on to roles in The Hobbit, been nominated for an Oscar in The Imitation Game, and is in Black Mass, the upcoming film about infamous mobster Whitey Bulger, starring Johnny Depp. But it’s his portrayal of the modern-day Sherlock Holmes that got us onto his bandwagon. After trying to kill him off, it seems the habit of shutting down promising shows (The Office, The IT Crowd) has finally been bucked and Holmes and Dr Watson (Martin Freeman) are back not just for a 2015 Christmas special, but for a whole Season 4, which starts filming in early 2016 . Elementary.
Cumberbatch’s Holmes has given up smoking and ditched the deerstalker
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BULLEVARD
THE RED BULLETIN CASTS...
CASTING THE HEADLINES
Johnny Depp could get an Oscar nod for his portrayal of Boston gangster Whitey Bulger in Black Mass. Who would play the other headline-grabbers? DZHOKHAR TSARNAEV THE BOSTON BOMBER The Chechen immigrant caused an American nightmare and landed on a controversial Rolling Stone cover seemingly as a sex symbol. To balance out the dreamy with the despicable, it’s time to give one of Hollywood’s moody young guns a shot. Right move: Adam Driver, on the heels of all that JJ Abrams Star Wars glory. Wrong move: Zac Efron trying desperately to gain some depth. OSCAR PISTORIUS OLYMPIC HERO TURNED MURDER SUSPECT
RETURN OF THE X-FILES Mulder and Scully are back. Here are a few more pairs we’d like to see
JOHN MCAFEE SOFTWARE MILLIONIARE ON THE RUN He’s in Belize. No, he’s in Guatemala. No, he’s on Vice right now. Wanted for questioning by Belize authorities in connection with the death of his neighbour, McAfee was the global personification of sex, drugs, money and violence for a few weeks. Now he’s existing quietly in Tennessee with a new wife.
SETH ROGEN / BETTY WHITE The potty-mouthed May/ December duo must choose between battling bad guys and… just firing up a big one and ordering in pizza.
Right move: It’s Aviator meets Blood Diamond as Leonardo DiCaprio hits Howard Hughes paranoia levels for a second time. Wrong move: Ryan Reynolds — too cute. RONDA ROUSEY / THE ROCK The World’s Most Dangerous Woman and the guy who can battle earthquakes: who’d mess with that?
The adaptive athlete runner on speed blades is accused of murdering his girlfriend. He says he thought she was an intruder. South Africa finds him guilty of culpable homicide. Someone who can balance athletic machismo with paranoia and arrogant self-delusion. Right move: Michael Fassbender, because the man can basically do everything. Wrong move: Bradley Cooper – just too damn likeable.
KEVIN HART / JANE LYNCH The hyperactive small American actor/comedian paired with the lofty, dry-witted best high school gym teacher in television history.
WE CAN DREAM
Depp in Black Mass: the film is in cinemas worldwide from September 17
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Season 1 made the Matthew McConaughey renaissance, with some fine acting by comrade-instonerhood Woody Harrelson. Season 2 was Colin Farrell (fine), Taylor Kitsch (fine), Rachel McAdams (great) and Vince Vaughn (errr…). So why not jump the shark? Tommy Lee Jones provides the gravel, Charlize Theron the gravitas, and Jack Black steals every scene.
CORBIS(5), WARNER, GETTY IMAGES(5)
True Detective Season 3
BULLEVARD
MISS MONEYPENNY
THE ULTIMATE BOND GIRL
Once relegated to being MI6’s most besotted assistant (“You always were a cunning linguist, James”), Moneypenny’s job description has been shaken and stirred with the times NAOMIE HARRIS 2012-current That mysterious Land Rover-driving, train-chasing, rib-breaking sniper babe at the start of Skyfall was revealed at the end of the movie to be none other than the modern iteration of Miss Moneypenny. She returns in Spectre, which hits cinemas in November. We presume she will again take sh-t from no one. SAMANTHA BOND 1995-2002 PTODD PLITT/CONTOUR/GETTY IMAGES, KOBAL COLLECTION(2), PICTUREDESK.COM
Said that “cunning linguist” line with a straight face. Types. CAROLINE BLISS 1987-1989 Wears glasses. Books travel. Goes to meetings. Carries a notebook. Types. LOIS MAXWELL 1962-1985 Makes calls. Puts on lipstick. Files paperwork. Begs for jewellery. Types.
Naomie Harris is the first Moneypenny who’s been given a first name: Eve
THE RED BULLETIN
23
BULLEVARD
LA’S WORST DAY
Sharon Tate
Murder In 1969 the actress, who was eightand-a-half months pregnant, was killed by followers of Charles Manson at her home in Benedict Canyon.
Mel Gibson
DUI Who would have guessed that downing too many cocktails at Moonshadows, then driving off and launching into an anti-Semitic rant was a career killer?
Lindsey Lohan
DUI This is the site of her second 2007 arrest for DUI and coke possession, not the site of her first 2007 arrest for DUI and coke possession.
Malibu
Santa Monica Bay
Die Hard
Terrorism Yippee ki-yay, motherf--ker! Bruce Willis’ Christmas is almost ruined as he fights terrorists at Nakatomi Plaza — actually Fox Plaza in Century City.
Santa Monica
CITY OF FALLEN ANGELS
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TOM MACKINGER
In both fiction and the real world, Los Angeles attracts its fair share of malfeasant creeps. But what if all of the city’s notorious crimes happened at the same time? Sorry, LAPD, being on duty for the crime apocalypse must suck…
THE RED BULLETIN
Wonderland Murder
Bugsy Siegel
Murder In 1947, mobster Bugsy Siegel was shot to death in his girlfriend’s Beverly Hills home. The crime was recreated in the 1991 Warren Beatty movie Bugsy.
Wonderland tells of four murders in Laurel Canyon, for which porn star John Holmes was tried but acquitted. Boogie Nights, starring Mark Wahlberg, was inspired by Holmes’ life.
CA
LA Confidential
Police corruption A sort-of good cop, played by Russell Crowe, uncovers a prostitution ring run out of a historic Richard Neutradesigned house in Griffith Park.
Griffith Park Nightcrawler
Led Zeppelin
Mayhem If you were in one of the greatest rock bands ever, would you ride your motorcycle through the lobby of the Chateau Marmont? Yes, you would.
Obstruction of justice Jake Gyllenhaal’s creeper Lou Bloom travels around the city collecting gory crime scene footage; his home base is in Echo Park.
Beverly Hills Mid-Wilshire
Downtown
Culver City The Notorious BIG
Murder The New York rapper was the victim of a drive-by shooting outside the Petersen Automotive Museum in 1997. The crime remains unsolved.
Heat
Bank robbery The movie’s insane 10-minute bank shootout scene features Robert De Niro and Val Kilmer marauding through downtown with assault rifles.
Drive Ray Donovan
Bribery Liev Schreiber’s fictional fixer commits quite a few crimes of his own to help his clients, including springing them out of jail in Culver City.
THE RED BULLETIN
Mob heist Driving a getaway car is no problem for Ryan Gosling’s stunt driver; neither is beating a guy to death. He and love interest Irene live near MacArthur Park.
Collateral
Assassination Hitman Tom Cruise holds taxi driver Jamie Foxx hostage as he completes his kill list around the city. The final chase occurs near the Staples Center.
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BULLEVARD
RUN AND GUN WHEN CRIME GOES THUD The world’s dumbest criminals
WAYNE WADE HOLLYWOOD, USA The burglar left his mobile phone at his victim’s home and called the number to ask for it back. A detective answered. You can guess the rest.
PAUL ROBERT BENSON BELFAST, NORTHERN IRELAND If you’re going to shoplift, make sure you’re not wearing a replica Manchester United shirt with your name on the back.
Guns, Andy Warhol, 1982
WHAT MAKES CRIME GO POP? Why does a case make headlines? These are the five characteristics that can make a crime go mainstream
CONFLICTING EVIDENCE The numbers don’t add up. What he said doesn’t line up with what she said. The cops couldn’t find the weapon. The DNA samples don’t match. “To me, these are the most interesting cases. You’re trying to weigh up the evidence and ask yourself, ‘Am I convinced by this, or more convinced by the other side?’”
2.
COULD HE BE INNOCENT? If there is even a glimmer of a doubt that the defendant is guilty, it’ll inspire widespread debate. “These cases really put your nerves on edge, because they could happen to any of us. You’re just in the wrong place at the wrong time.”
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WHAT WAS THE JURY THINKING? Jurors are thrown into a void where no outside thoughts or opinions are allowed, which often leads to a massive disconnect between public opinion and final verdict. “We get frustrated when we feel that a sense of justice has not been served. It’s when everyone in the world knows something, except the people on the jury. It’s hard to make a perfect system, but the US sure as hell doesn’t have it.”
KAINRATH
4.
THE MORE BLOOD, THE BETTER There’s something about excessive violence and the lurid accounts of a murder that taps into our base emotions. “One of the basic rules of the crime story is that we are looking inside the soul of human nature by looking outside our own experiences, and that’s why these cases are intriguing. When something is really unusual about a crime, people react to it.”
Crimes are… DIETMAR KAINRATH
1.
3.
5.
THEMES OF OUR TIMES Stories with socially relevant themes that stimulate national debate carry weight above almost all other ingredients. “A crime that strikes a nerve sets off a kind of cycle. It’s like we’ve hit a gold mine; because we’ve had this rush of stories about the deaths of black teenage males recently, every time there is a case that seems like it might fit that pattern, it gets into the media.”
…a matter of perspective.
THE RED BULLETIN
CORBIS, GETTY IMAGES
Celebrated American baseball writer Bill James is best known for turning the sport on its head with his stats-based approach to team-building. But in his downtime, the Moneyball pioneer reads true crime stories — more than 1,000 of them so far — and his book on the subject, Popular Crime, was published in 2011. In the age of Trayvon Martin and Oscar Pistorius, The Red Bulletin asked James what it takes for a crime to grab the masses by the throat.
PETER WELSH and DWAYNE DOOLAN BEAUDESERT, AUSTRALIA On New Year’s Eve, the pair tunnelled into what they thought was a jewellery store. It was, in fact, a KFC. They robbed it anyway.
BULLEVARD
SMILE FOR THE CAMERA
THEY FOUGHT THE LAW, AND THE LAW WON Which star was accused of which crime? Match the celebrity mugshot with the misdemeanour they were arrested for…
6’4”
6’4”
6’0”
6’0”
5’6”
5’6”
5’2”
5’2”
4’8”
4’8”
4’4”
4’4”
3’0”
3’0”
2’6”
2’6”
2’2”
2’2”
1’8”
1’8” WIZ KHALIFA 1
JENNA JAMESON 2
VINCE VAUGHN 3
REESE WITHERSPOON 4
MARILYN MANSON 5
A. FIGHTING IN PUBLIC — B. SUSPECTED DUI — C. CRIMINAL SEXUAL CONDUCT D. POSSESSION OF MARIJUANA — E. DISORDERLY CONDUCT Answers: 1D; 2B; 3A; 4E; 5C
HOT FUZZ
Queensland Police Department
Reykjavik Metropolitan Police Department
New York Police Department
Portland Police Department
Followers: 9.4k Antipodean badassery and a perhaps unhealthy obsession with arresting Captain Jack Sparrow. instagram.com/qpsmedia
Followers: 160k Cute chicks in uniform, officers pulling ollies on skateboards, and puppies. Let’s go to Iceland. instagram.com/logreglan
Followers: 30k See New York’s finest bust bad guys and confiscate evidence through all the right filters. instagram.com/nypd
Followers: 1.1k On patrol in Portlandia with the cutest K9 unit on the West Coast. Also: ironic doughnuts. instagram.com/portlandpolice
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THE RED BULLETIN
GETTY IMAGES(5), INSTAGRAM(4)
Four police department Instagram accounts to follow
IT’S GOING TO REQUIRE COLLABORATION ACROSS INTELLECTUAL, GEOGRAPHICAL AND ORGANISATIONAL BOUNDARIES. IT’S GOING TO REQUIRE EXPLORERS INVENTORS CREATIVES DESIGNERS TECHNOLOGISTS SCIENTISTS FINANCIERS AND ADVENTURERS OF ALL TYPES. SO TODAY I’M EXTENDING AN OPEN INVITATION FOR YOU TO JOIN THE PARTY, BECAUSE THIS IS AN EXCITING EXPEDITION. IT’S GOING TO BE BESET WITH PROBLEMS, WE KNOW THAT, BUT IT IS FILLED WITH POSSIBILITIES.
Unbroken by blindness in 1998, Mark Pollock suffered a catastrophic spinal cord injury in 2010 that left him paralysed. As Mark strives to walk again, his most complex journey is ahead of him — to find a cure for spinal cord injuries for him and the millions of paralysed people around the world. The Life Style Sports Run In The Dark plays a vital role in funding The Mark Pollock Trust’s mission to find and connect people around the world to fast-track a cure for paralysis.
WEDNESDAY 8PM 11TH NOVEMBER 2015 5K & 10K DUBLIN BELFAST CORK MANCHESTER LONDON PLUS POP-UP EVENTS WORLDWIDE
S I G N U P AT W W W. R U N I N T H E D A R K . O R G
SEND IN THE CLOWNS YOU CAN BE A HERO REGARDLESS OF HOW RIDICULOUS YOU LOOK. BULLFIGHTERS IN ABSURD COSTUMES STOP FALLEN RODEO RIDERS BEING KILLED BY CHARGING BULLS WORDS: ANDREAS ROTTENSCHLAGER PHOTOGRAPHY: JIM KRANTZ
Bullfighter Josh Daries at the rodeo in Clovis, California: “If you’re not scared, you’re crazy”
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JOSH DARIES’ TRANSFORMATION BEGINS ON A SUNDAY MORNING IN A STIFLING TRAILER ON THE EDGE OF THE RODEO IN CLOVIS, CALIFORNIA. Daries is 26 years old, slim, and has aquamarine eyes. He slips on a jockstrap and wraps bandages around his wrists. He then ties a body protector made of hard plastic onto his upper body and, with both arms fully outstretched, rotates them to check that it’s on properly. This first part of his transformation is the normal part. For part two, Daries climbs into a pair of washed-out jean shorts. They are three sizes too big for him – XXL – and the ends are frayed. Then he fishes an orange batik shirt covered in dabs of russet pink watercolour paint out of his trunk and buttons it up over his body protector. All that’s needed now to finish the job is some make-up. Daries draws purple circles under his eyes and onto his chin which he colours in using white finger paint. He takes a selfie with his iPhone to assess the results… Perfect. The transformation is complete. Daries is a gladiator in a clown outfit. His working day starts an hour from now. Rodeo riders in Clovis are fighting for prize money of $300,000
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Bullfighters Daries (left) and Eric Layton on their way into the arena. They both wear hard plastic body protectors under their floral shirts
“YOU CAN’T TELL HOW BRAVE A MAN IS BY WHAT HE’S WEARING” Daries, a former bull rider, is a bullfighter and a bodyguard for rodeo cowboys. When a bull bucks its rider off, Daries offers himself up as a more enticing target, giving the cowboy time to get to safety. When it all goes according to the script, at least. If things don’t go to plan, the cowboy either gets caught up in the retaining straps and gets dragged along by a 900kg bull or he’s lying unconscious on the 36
floor, in which case a second bullfighter has to distract the bull while Daries hurls himself at the cowboy to protect him, hoping that he doesn’t get trampled to death himself in the process. Bullfighters are the quiet heroes of any rodeo, colourfully dressed men in huge trousers risking their lives to save cowboys. The reason bullfighters still wear outlandish outfits today is because their predecessors, the rodeo clowns,
used to entertain spectators with gags back in the early 20th century. “It’s part of our history,” says Daries as he clambers down out of his trailer in his painted shirt and white make-up. Daries arrived in Clovis, a farming town at the foot of Sierra Nevada, a fourhour drive north of Los Angeles, two days earlier in his Dodge pickup truck. This town of 100,000 people is rodeo THE RED BULLETIN
Daries distracts a bull: “They pay attention to their name�
Above: bareback rider R C Landingham in a splint. This picture (from left): bullfighters Tim O’Connor, Eric Layton and Josh Daries warm up for the final of the 101st Clovis Rodeo
Daries works as a bullfighter at up to 50 rodeos a year. The make-up is part of the sport’s history. It harks back to a time when bullfighters entertained the crowd as rodeo clowns
mad. Competitions have been held here for more than 100 years. A cowboy adorns the Clovis official seal. With 20 minutes to go till the rodeo begins, Daries is standing by the side entrance to the arena and stretching his adductor muscles. “Quick legs are my life insurance,” he explains. Daries has to charge at the bull’s rear at an acute angle so that the huge animal will have to turn round before it can take up pursuit. Centimetres here make all the difference. “If it catches you with its hoof, it can knock you out or break your ribs,” Daries reveals. In 1989, rodeo rider Lane Frost died after a bull attacked. The broken ribs he suffered had severed an artery. Daries has been lucky so far: two knee
DARIES SPRINTS. THE SWEAT RUINS HIS MAKE-UP THE RED BULLETIN
operations and various dislocated joints. Two years ago, a bull slammed its left horn into his chin. Daries was dazed and could barely stand – but he soldiered on. Five minutes to go. Daries gets down on one knee and prays. “God, protect me, my colleagues, the rodeo riders and all the animals in the arena.” There are three bullfighters today. Daries’ colleagues are wearing canary blue and tulip pink. It is the final of the main event: bull riding. The Clovis rodeo is 150m by 40m and the longer sides are flanked by steel stands. There are 7,000 spectators here and pop music is blasting out of the loudhailers. At the bull rodeo, riders have to stay on the bucking animals for eight seconds with only one hand on the reins. The judges give scores based on how elegantly the riders ride and how wild the bull is. The Clovis Rodeo forms part of the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association series, and there’s $300,000 in prize money up for grabs this weekend. On the rodeo ground, Daries and his colleagues have begun dealing with the riders at a rate of knots. The man in the tulip-pink shirt dashes around between snorting bulls. The bullfighter in canary blue drags cowboys out of
the danger zone. For the riders, the danger is over in eight seconds. But for Daries there are another 19 riders to go. The sweat ruins his make-up. A bull called Crystal Deal provides the most spectacular throw of the afternoon. It bucks and stomps hard on the ground. The cowboy holds on tight, but it’s no use: he goes flying off the beast’s back after 4.2 seconds. His colourful bodyguards are on hand immediately. Canary man gets the rider upright. The cowboy totters into the safety of the enclosure. The rodeo winner goes on to receive a cheque for $5,696. But what about the bullfighters? “Not as much as it should be considering the risk,” says Daries. His reward is no one getting injured. Occasionally a cowboy buys him a beer. Two hours after the rodeo, Daries is back at his Dodge, freshly showered and wearing a neatly pressed denim shirt. He has transformed himself back into the person he was before. And what has three years of lifethreatening work wearing clown costumes taught him? “You can’t tell how brave a man is by what he’s wearing.” For rodeo news, go to: prorodeo.com
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Left: Layton (left) distracts the bull. The cowboy makes a run for it. Below: The bullfighters each cover 180 degrees of the animal’s field of vision
“IF THE BULL CATCHES YOU WITH ITS HOOF, IT CAN BREAK YOUR RIBS”
Above: The rodeo riders call their bulls “animal athletes”. Here we see animal athlete Crystal Deal throwing cowboy Christopher Byrd. For bullfighters Layton (second from left) and Daries (right), that means work Left, top: It’s tough at the top – rodeo riders tend to their wounds. Top PRCA stars earn five-figure sums Left, bottom: Josh Daries drags himself back to his trailer after a hard day’s work in Clovis. He’ll soon get into his Dodge pickup truck and make his way to the next rodeo
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HOW TO JAMIE ROBERTS
GEORGE NORTH
WIN
SIMON ZEBO
THE RUGBY WORLD CUP AS THE COUNTDOWN TO ENGLAND 2015 BEGINS, FOUR OF RUGBY’S TOP STARS REVEAL WHAT IT WILL TAKE TO BRING THE TROPHY BACK HOME WORDS: RICHARD JORDAN PHOTOGRAPHY: SHAMIL §
OWEN FARRELL
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ith 20 teams from across the globe battling for supremacy over six weeks of gruelling scrums, crunching tackles and heart-stopping penalty kicks, the Rugby World Cup is one of the most intense and bruising competitions on the international sporting calendar. Since its inception in 1987, the tournament has been almost exclusively dominated by sides from the Southern Hemisphere; aside from England’s emphatic win in 2003, the Webb Ellis trophy has been passed around between New Zealand, Australia and South Africa. This year, though, the tide could turn as the competition takes place on British turf. Since the 2011 World Cup, teams from the home nations have been leading the fight back, with England, Wales and Ireland all chalking up strong wins against their Southern counterparts. But it’ll take every ounce of our heroes’ strength, skill and determination if the North is to prevail once again. Here, four of rugby’s brightest talents – Irish winger Simon Zebo, English fly-half Owen Farrell, and Welsh backs George North and Jamie Roberts – share their unique insights on preparing for the biggest test of your life. 44
1/ EMBRACE NEW WAYS OF TRAINING The home squads are known for their innovative training camps, and this year they’re exploring new territory. Take Wales – as well as eight days of cold conditioning at bootcamps in Spala, Poland, pre-tournament prep included a fortnight of intensive training in the Swiss Alps and nine brutal days at the worldrenowned Aspire Academy For Sports Excellence in Doha, Qatar. A regular haunt of Pep Guardiola’s multi-championship winning FC Bayern Munich, the Doha facility pushed the Welsh to their limits with high-altitude training in hypoxic chambers (which replicate conditions at 4,500m above sea level) and on-field tactics in temperatures above 40°C. The end result? Bodies used to functioning in extreme conditions, giving them the edge in a physically demanding competition. “We’ve done the cryotherapy for a few campaigns now, so the coaches have gone, ‘What’s the opposite of cold? Piping hot!’” says North. “That’s a prime example of using a new stimulus to challenge the boys and their bodies. It’s important to switch it up. These camps are unbelievably tough and massively intense, but they really help. We’re always trying to better ourselves. I like waking up and being able to say, ‘I challenged myself yesterday. Can I do it today?’”
“WE’RE ALWAYS TRYING TO BETTER OURSELVES” GEORGE NORTH
2/ STAY CALM UNDER PRESSURE The intense match-day atmosphere could put even the most seasoned player out of step, so staying calm and composed is key. “First and foremost, you’ve got to back yourself,” says Farrell. “You’ve got to have confidence in your ability, and with that comes calmness. If you’re not frantic, you can clearly see what’s in front of you – and unleash your strengths.”
3/ KNOW YOUR LIMITS Rugby is one of the world’s most punishing team contact sports, and players will inevitably pick up serious knocks along the way. But to win the tournament, short-term sacrifices have to be made. North is a prime example. Earlier this year, he picked up three concussions in a row and, following medical advice, took an extended rest period to ensure he was fighting fit for the World Cup. “It’s a brutal game,” he says. “Concussion isn’t as well understood as more obvious injuries, so a lot of it was about following the right protocols. I was advised to take some time off and I was fortunate my club and my country were able to give it to me. There was a lot of hype in the media about [the concussions] and pressure from external sources, so just taking the time to nip it in the bud was key. I’m feeling great now.”
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“THE FANS ARE LIKE THE 16TH PLAYER” SIMON ZEBO 5/ LEAD BY EXAMPLE
4/ CRANK UP THE TUNES Ask any player what the first thing is that he packs in his match-day kit bag and the answer will probably be an mp3 player. “Music plays a big role in my prematch preparation,” says Zebo. “If I need to chill myself out before a game, I’ll listen to Andrea Bocelli; if I need to get myself fired up, I’ll listen to Kendrick Lamar. Every match is different – I just try to listen to my body and how I feel.”
At just 28, Jamie Roberts is already a rugby veteran. With two Lions tours and Wales’ 2011 World Cup campaign under his belt, he’s the man with the international experience, the one who the new talent will look to learn from. “I’ve gone from being one of the youngest players in the squad to one of the most senior in the blink of an eye,” he says. “But I thrive on responsibility. The more I’m given, the more empowered I feel and the better I perform. It’s not about dishing out advice to the new guys, it’s about setting examples in training and being vocal on the pitch as a motivator. Communication has always been a big part of my game – the idiot in me doesn’t wear a gum shield for that reason.”
6/ ENJOY YOUR DOWNTIME Given the intensive preparation schedule, rest time is a precious commodity for players. “I think it’s as important as your training time, without a doubt,” says Roberts. “Once you get into training, you’re playing rugby for 11 months, so your off-season is crucial. It’s important you get away with your friends. I’ve always had a bit of a blowout with mates, gone and partied somewhere, forgot about training for a few weeks and really switched off. I feel I have to tick that box to restart that 11-month cycle and love rugby again. It can be quite a monotonous job – you’re in the gym doing the same things, day after day; you’re on the pitch doing the same drills… Obviously that bond and the banter you have with the players keeps you sane. But that off-season is crucial. It means you can spike again.”
7/ GET THE FANS ON BOARD One key advantage the home nations have over their Southern Hemisphere rivals is that this year the tournament is taking place in England, meaning their fans will be out in force. “Playing a big match can be daunting, but the fans help spur you on,” says Zebo. “They’re like the 16th player. They’ll make a massive difference in this tournament. It’s a short distance for them to travel, so there should be an unbelievable atmosphere. The last time the World Cup was in the Northern Hemisphere was in France in 2007 and England got to the final. If we want to be one of those teams, we have to play well from the start, and a great fanbase will help.”
8/ BE READY TO BEAT THE BEST There’s one thing all national rugby sides can agree on: winning this World Cup will be tough. England’s 2003 victory is the only time a Northern Hemisphere team has managed it, and reigning champs New Zealand – who’ve been top of the world rankings since 2009 – won’t let it go without a fight. “The tide hasn’t turned yet,” says Roberts. “Whether there is a watershed moment this year remains to be seen. But every team is moving forward. Rugby is changing year on year and all the teams are developing bigger, faster, stronger players. You have to keep evolving. It’ll be a challenge to beat those guys, but I don’t see it as pressure – I see it as an opportunity.”
9/ MAKE THE MOST OF YOUR EXPERIENCE George North witnessed one of rugby’s biggest lows early in his career when Wales suffered a crushing semi-final defeat to France in 2011. “It was pretty crappy,” he says. “But that experience was important. You will lose some games. I hate to lose, but you have to move on – you have to analyse what went wrong and make sure you know what to do and what not to do in the next one.” Having performed a key role in the successful 2013 Lions tour, and moved away from home to play his club rugby with Northampton Saints, North has built on that experience to give him a much bigger arsenal to draw from this time around. “I’m more mature now than at the last World Cup,” he says. “All those experiences have forced me to grow up a bit quicker and adapt to the game and what it requires of me. It’s helped me to find out who I am, what skills I’ve got, and what I can do in the heat of the battle.”
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“COMMUNICATION IS A BIG PART OF MY GAME” JAMIE ROBERTS
“AT THE END OF THE DAY, IT’S FUN. JUST ENJOY IT” SIMON ZEBO
10/ GET TO KNOW YOUR TEAM The home teams’ World Cup preparation involves spending weeks together at training camps in the lead-up to the tournament. “That time together is key,” says Roberts. “Rugby’s a team sport and as much as you want to have 15 great individuals on the park who are peaking fitness-wise, you have to be ready to sacrifice yourself for the guy alongside you. That comes from being good friends with these people and wanting to go that extra yard for your teammate. It’s important that element remains. [Wales coach] Warren Gatland advocates that old-school ethos and knows these camps are a great opportunity for the players to get to know each other. In terms of performance, team bonding might even be more important than peak physical fitness.”
“YOU’VE GOT TO HAVE CONFIDENCE IN YOUR ABILITY” OWEN FARRELL
11/ PREVENTION IS BETTER THAN CURE Losing key players to injury can be disastrous for a team’s momentum, stopping a successful campaign in its tracks. No one can predict on-field mishaps, but the right preparation can prevent niggles becoming something worse. “I train for 45 minutes to an hour every morning on injury prevention and recovery,” says Roberts, who is also a qualified doctor. “I’ve had reconstructive surgery to my ankle, wrist, shoulder and knee, and I know that if I don’t do my work with those four joints, my career will be shorter. The rehab is buying me a few more years. At 20 you don’t really appreciate the importance of stretching, but as you reach your late 20s you realise how crucial it is to keep your body in sync and train effectively. Doing my medical degree has served me well, certainly injury and training-wise – it’s given me a lot of knowledge that I can apply in the workplace.”
12/ REMEMBER WHY YOU’RE PLAYING Amid the madness of the World Cup, it’s easy to get swept up in the hype. But remembering why you’re on the field in the first place can have a grounding effect. “At the end of the day, it’s fun!” says Zebo. “There’s no better feeling than getting the ball, making a break, scoring a try and having a positive influence on the game. My advice to anyone coming into the squad would be to just enjoy it and do what you did when you first started playing rugby. There’s no point trying to reinvent the wheel.” Match info: rugbyworldcup.com
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TAKE 5: A STORY IN FIVE PICTURES
HIGH FLYERS THE RED BULL AIR RACE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP COMES TO THE UK
WORDS: RUTH MORGAN 52
JOERG MITTER/RED BULL CONTENT POOL
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CLIFFHANGER
British pilots Paul Bonhomme (closest) and Nigel Lamb (yellow plane) lead German pilot Matthias Dolderer in a fly-by over the cliffs of Dover, ahead of last year’s Red Bull Air Race World Championship stop at Ascot. “We got up at 5am for the best light for this shot,” says Bonhomme. “The white cliffs of Dover are iconic. It was a great way to mark the start of our home race.”
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RIGHT FLIGHT
JOERG MITTER/RED BULL CONTENT POOL, BALAZS GARDI/RED BULL CONTENT POOL
Reigning champion Nigel Lamb aces the Ascot qualifying round at over 250mph, taking first place. “Air racing will always be impossible to predict,” he says, “but qualifying well helps. I didn’t manage a win that day at Ascot, but I went on to take the 2014 title on my seventh attempt. That was a sweet, indescribable moment. It’s a thrill for spectators too, whether they love planes or not. It’s man, machine, clock – the ultimate adrenalin sport.”
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ARCH RIVALS Austrian former champion Hannes Arch gets to grips with the Ascot course during training. “We learn the course in our minds for two weeks before a race,” he says. “Then we have around 20 minutes in total to test the course for real. For us pilots, the first training run is the start of the competition. With such tiny margins for error, we watch each other’s runs closely.”
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SMOKE SIGNAL “Air-racing tracks are three-dimensional,” says Nigel Lamb, pictured at Ascot. “Imagine a rope weaving between air gates – it can move in any direction. There’s no racing line marked out. It comes down to muscle memory and analysis. Hours are spent each evening, searching for the perfect line. If the wind changes on race day, so does the geometry of the track. It’s tough. Five pilots can be within 0.1 seconds of each other, so one wrong move ruins a run.”
THE RED BULLETIN
SAMO VIDIC/RED BULL CONTENT POOL, BALAZS GARDI/RED BULL CONTENT POOL
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HOME WIN Two-time Red Bull Air Race World Champion Paul Bonhomme celebrates taking victory from Nigel Lamb by 0.2 seconds in front of 29,000 spectators at 2014’s dramatic Ascot stop. “I came last in qualifying,” says Bonhomme. “So for the race I thought, ‘Hell, I’ve got nothing to lose.’ Winning at home was special. It didn’t sink in until afterwards, when everyone else had left. I went to the top of the empty grandstand and watched the sun set over the grass.”
On August 15-16, the Red Bull Air Race World Championship returns to the historic Ascot Racecourse in Berkshire for a second year. Will Bonhomme make it two in a row? Witness all the airborne action live! To buy tickets, go to redbullairrace.com THE RED BULLETIN
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HEROES
“I PREPARE FOR TOURS LIKE AN ATHLETE” ALBERT HAMMOND JR After rock ’n’ roll stardom
almost killed him, The Strokes guitarist got clean and rediscovered his creative mojo
the red bulletin: Kicking an addiction is one thing, but how do you get the creative process working again? albert hammond jr: It took a while. There was a two-year window from when I stopped using [drugs] to when I began to feel normal. I doubted everything I did and I didn’t think I’d play music again. It was really hard. I would have to schedule seeing a movie in my calendar so that I wouldn’t just end up isolated in my room. It sounds a little silly, 58
but my therapist told me to use my eyes as a camera – not to judge anything, but simply to take everything in, like an archaeologist arriving on an alien planet. I did it at parties. I did it when I went out. It became this thing I did, where I would just absorb information. And, ultimately, that was what helped me regain my curiosity. Would you say that going through all the tough stuff helped you rediscover the talent inside? When you’re reduced to being on autopilot and then have to
preparing for it as an athlete would in order to win the championship. I practise playing my guitar. I practise singing. I keep my body in shape. I ride my motorcycle and I go scuba diving. But it’s not just about keeping physically fit, because the mind can go sooner than the body when you’re travelling on the road. You really need to keep your morale high. Do you miss partying like a rock star? When I look back on those days, sure. There are times when I even miss the darkest moments. But when I think back to that time, I don’t imagine doing what I did then. I think about how
“I TRY TO REMAIN FOCUSED ON SETTING POSITIVE THINGS IN MOTION, AND I’M CONSTANTLY IN SEARCH OF NEW RITUALS” find your way out of it, there can be learning. I had to take baby steps just to want to have fun again. But you have to, because fun is what keeps you from doing the things you shouldn’t be doing. I also had to create more discipline in my life. I wake up, I practise, I exercise. I try to remain focused on setting positive things in motion. These days, I’m constantly in search of new rituals, and that goes for my songwriting, too.
just connecting. And then, after I’d listened to some song or another enough times, I’d hear a line and it suddenly had something to do with a moment in my life. It was like they knew me. I want to have that effect on people. One way to look at addiction is that you’re pushing your body (and your mind) to its limits. But there are healthy ways to do that as well… When I’m getting ready to go on tour, I feel like I’m
great it would have been, back then, to be where I am now. If I could travel back in time, I’d take that over all the partying any day. I’m also happy no longer being thrown left and right emotionally. You can live in the middle. You can understand both sides of your emotions, but think about them and grow from them. I’m more centred right now. Duff McDonald alberthammondjr.com THE RED BULLETIN
JASON MCDONALD
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hen Albert Hammond Jr wasn’t performing to stadiums packed with adoring fans as guitarist with millennial post-punk phenomenon The Strokes, he was ingesting a colourful array of drugs. And then the predictable happened. But after pulling back from the brink and getting clean, Hammond Jr has tapped into a deep creative vein as a solo artist. Following the release of his third album, Momentary Masters, the 35-year-old talks recovery and rediscovery.
So, have you reconnected with the reasons you started making music in the first place? Absolutely. I wanted this record to be multilayered, so you can put it on in the car, with friends, wherever. More than that, though, I wanted it to hit you somewhere, make you feel something, so that you connect to it. When I was 15, music changed my life. Nothing at school made sense. Everybody had everything so planned out. It was all about money. And then – boom! – I discovered The Beatles and The Velvet Underground, I connected to their music in such a deep way – it wouldn’t even be thinking,
The title of Hammond Jr’s new album, Momentary Masters, was taken from a book by the late astronomer/ author Carl Sagan
HEROES
“THEY WERE TRYING TO FIT A CUBE INTO A SQUARE” ICE CUBE In the NWA biopic (released this month),
the role of Ice Cube is played by his son, O’Shea Jackson Jr Here, Cube offers some fatherly advice
the red bulletin: O’Shea, why was it important that you took this role? O’Shea: Because as big as the movie is to everyone, the story of NWA is bigger to me. It’s 60
my family’s legacy, so it was important to get it right. I wanted some input into the portrayal of my father – after doing my research for 20-plus years, I felt I was qualified. Then it was about getting my acting tools sharpened… cube: I couldn’t be prouder. I told him what I was feeling and thinking back then, and he used it as ammunition. He had my temperament perfect in every situation. It was great. O’Shea, what did you learn from your father? O’Shea: I learnt courage from watching him lead by example.
rather see Nice Cube than Ice Cube any day. O’Shea, what inspiration do you take from your father’s career? o’shea: That no matter what they tell me, I should always be true to myself. Cube, does hearing that warm your heart? cube: I don’t want him to feel like he’s got to live up to anyone but himself. The more you try to please others, the unhappier you become. Did Hollywood try that with you, Cube, fitting a square peg into a round hole? cube: They were trying to fit a Cube into a square, yeah. O’Shea, how often does he drop these gems?
“PEOPLE SAY THAT BECAUSE YOU DID THIS MOVIE, YOU MUST BE THIS PERSON. THEY’D RATHER SEE NICE CUBE THAN ICE CUBE” He told me about confidence at a young age. I remember him saying, “It’s what the girls look for. Know what you’re doing.” You’ve got to have that look. Did it matter that you didn’t grow up in Compton? O’Shea: I wasn’t trying to do ’hood research or anything like that. As an actor, what’s important is what your character is thinking. I have so many parts of my father’s character and his mannerisms that a lot of the time it’s
cube: I’m not surprised that I’m now doing movies. My movies are great, they do good, and people watch them over and over again. On my records, that’s not a character or an actor you’re hearing, that’s real life. But in a movie, I can be anybody because it’s all just makebelieve. What’s astonishing is how people say that because you did this kind of movie, you must be this kind of person. People would much
O’Shea: Man, all the time! I was going to the zoo one time and he said to me, “Even a lion knows when there’s too many hyenas,” meaning that you should always be aware of your surroundings. He’s got a bag full of them. I love it. Cube: Be good to your kids. You gonna be old one day and they’re gonna have to take care of your ass. Andreas Tzortzis straightouttacompton.com THE RED BULLETIN
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in the late 1980s, rapper Ice Cube was at the height of his fame with hip-hop pioneers NWA when film student John Singleton approached him about a role in his movie. Cube was receptive, but he had doubts as filming approached. “I didn’t think I was qualified,” he says now. “But then I saw my first dailies [raw footage from the day’s filming] and I knew I could do it if I worked at it.” What NWA’s blistering tunes were to radio, Singleton’s Boyz N The Hood was to cinema, and writ large across both was Cube, who bristled with charisma. His transition from rap to film was seamless, and he went on to set up his own production company, Cube Vision. Now, with Cube’s son, O’Shea Jackson Jr, set to play him in the NWA biopic Straight Outta Compton, the pair talk about how risks can pay off.
not about acting. It’s about making it as real as it can be. cube: When you black in America, you getting the flavour of everything. People look at you like you don’t have nothing, or you come from “the ghetto”. No matter how much money is in my son’s pocket and no matter that he never grew up in the ’hood because he didn’t have to, he’s young and black so he’s seen as a ’hood person. He still feels that pressure. And then some people make you feel not as cool because you don’t come from Watts or Compton. But it ain’t where you’re from, it’s where you’re at. When you look at your career arc, are you surprised?
O’Shea Jackson Jr (left), aka rapper OMG, is taking the leap into movies – just like his father, Ice Cube, did at the start of his career
HEROES
“LIVING A NORMAL LIFE SCARES ME” SEAN CONWAY The triathlon athlete, endurance kayaker and professional photographer has dedicated his life to adventure. And, says Conway, so can you
rather than the usual 12 hours. The location is top secret for now. Can anyone become an adventurer? Yes. I’m 5ft 8in tall and weigh 65kg. I’m not an Olympian or ex-army. I’m just this hairy kid who wasn’t any good at school sports. Luckily, the bad decisions that I made in my 20s forced me to go in search of something better.
Have any of your missions ever scared you? Living a normal life scares me. But adventure isn’t always about rowing across oceans and climbing mountains – it’s a way of thinking. You don’t have to quit your job: you have the nine-to-five, but you also have the five-to-nine. Graeme Lennox seanconway.com
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imbabwean-born adventurer Sean Conway recently became the first person to complete the Ultimate British Triathlon. Having cycled the length of Britain in 2008, then swum it in 2013, he finished the running stage – the equivalent of 38 consecutive marathons – in May. But the 34-year-old, who now lives in Cheltenham, is far from your stereotypical extreme athlete.
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Sean’s no sheep: Conway doesn’t follow others in his quest for adventure
JAMES CHEADLE
the red bulletin: Huge congratulations for your latest success. Did you ever consider giving up? sean conway: I was in a lot of pain, but I knew I could keep going. Physical pain subsides, but the emotional pain of failing stays with you. How did you become a professional adventurer? I became sick of just existing and I wanted to push myself. I cycled 16,000 miles around the world and got into a lot of debt, but I persevered and my life was transformed. How have things changed? I still live a simple life. I don’t have a mortgage; I live on a 60ft former RAF boat that I bought on eBay for £2,000. It means I can be more creative with my ideas and run a scholarship that helps fund other people’s adventures. How will you top the Ultimate British Triathlon? I’m competing in an Ironman, but it runs over three months
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Norman Reedus has taken an unconventional path to acting success, steered by a relentless curiosity. Now, even though he’s made it, the Walking Dead star remains an outsider who not even Hollywood can tame. We head to America’s Deep South to meet a man unfazed by fame, but unsure about alligators
NORMCORE
Words: Noah E Davis Photography: Michael Muller 64
Self-confessed “city kid” Norman Reedus takes to the Louisiana swamps in search of ’gators
How has Reedus remained so unchanged by fame? Because he was an established man before he was an established star
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Having heard how handy Reedus is with a crossbow, the alligator wasn’t planning to hang around and take any chances‌
N orman Reedus screams through the back roads of Georgia atop a motorcycle. It’s summer, but he’s dressed all in black, looking like a man willing and eager to take on the zombie apocalypse. The actor is riding to the set of The Walking Dead – the hit TV show in which he stars as crossbowwielding Daryl Dixon – from Senoia, Georgia, his home-from-home during filming. The speed and freedom of the ride produce a familiar blur, the constant motion of Reedus’ life. Right now, the 46-year-old star is as close to settled as he’s ever been. His myriad other projects, including a nascent art career, have taken a backseat to the regular paycheck and filming schedule that come with being the best-loved character in a global hit show. But the pace of life is still hectic, with every gap in TWD filming filled. Reedus stars alongside Kate Winslet and Woody Harrelson in crime movie Triple 9, to be released early next year, after TWD returns for a sixth season at the beginning of October. Fame has come late to Reedus, which is a good thing. It has made him a rarity in the acting world – successful and famous, yet still very much the Hollywood outsider with his feet on the ground. “I’ve never been spoilt,” he says in a hotel on the edge of New Orleans’ French Quarter, looking more skate rat than screen star in the ubiquitous trucker hat and black clothes. “It wasn’t in my game plan to ever think like that, and it still isn’t. I still put potato chips and bread in the refrigerator because I’m used to my apartment having bugs. “This is the first job where I’m making money and I know I’m going back. I’ve always lived hand-to-mouth and job-to-job. It’s nice to have 68
a nine-to-five instead of trying to find a job to pay the rent this month and doing an art show to cover the next. I’m still that guy… but I made it.” This is a guy who’ll stop every few steps for selfies in the Loews Hotel or on the streets of New Orleans. A guy who’ll hop on his bike for a spontaneous solo road trip, or spend an evening shooting a compound bow [the modern, levered type] in his backyard. A guy who is as keen to interact with an increasingly star-struck barista as he is with his rock-star buddy Slash, the former Guns N’ Roses guitarist. “Norman’s genuinely curious,” says TWD co-star Melissa McBride, who plays Carol. “He’s always seeking input, and he loves stimuli. He’s so observant of what’s going on around him, of people, of the way things work and what people are into.” This curiosity is an instinct that has fed and shaped Reedus throughout his life. It could also explain how he’s resisted the changes that so often come with fame: he was an established man before he was an established star. Reedus is the product of a lifetime of international adventures. During his childhood, he bounced from city to city with his mother as she chased work after her marriage split. When she moved to Japan and married a geochemist, Reedus left high school to join her. (She later taught kindergarten in Harlem, high school in the Bronx, and ran an orphanage in Kurdistan. As badass as Reedus is, his mum might be even more so. He compares her favourably to Mothra, the giant, winged force of nature in the Japanese Godzilla movies.) In Tokyo, he fell in with a French guy, then a band moved into the apartment the two were sharing. Soon, they all took off for London and moved into a squat near Clapham Common, doing shifts at a postcard shop in Piccadilly and making just enough to keep themselves in beer and potatoes. From there, Reedus moved to Sitges, a city 35km south-west of Barcelona. Today, it’s the West Hollywood of Spain, says the actor, but back then Sitges wasn’t up to much. Neither was his apartment, where saltwater flowed from the shower head. “The place was as big as this,” he says, referring to the two-person dinner table in front of him. “But it was paradise. It was a cool little escape for a while.” Local women would buy his paintings of stray cats. So are there dozens of Norman Reedus
“I put bread in the refrigerator because I’m used to having bugs. I’m still that guy”
He may look tough, but Reedus admits he’s not cut out for ’gator hunting. “I feel like he could feel my fear,” says the actor
“I’m one of those people who doesn’t want to talk to anyone when work is over. It’s not, ‘Let’s go out for drinks.’ It’s, ‘F--k you, guys, I’ll see you in the morning’” paintings hanging in Sitges? “They’re probably in the garbage,” he says. “They weren’t that good. Everything was unfinished. I think the women felt sorry for me. They’d just throw me some coins.” Next, a girl he’d met in Tokyo called to say she was in Los Angeles and that he should join her. He did, but when she began dating an ex-boyfriend, Reedus was on his own. Then he got fired from a job fixing motorcycles. It was at this point that, as has been the case throughout Reedus’ resolutely open-minded life, the next adventure presented itself. While drunk and mouthing off at a party somewhere in the Hollywood Hills, he was asked to appear in a play. On the first night, he was spotted by an agent, and the rest is history. For eight months of the year, during filming for TWD, Reedus’ day-to-day existence couldn’t be further from the Hollywood stereotype. While the rest of the cast choose to stay in the centre of Atlanta, Reedus retreats south to Senoia, a place he describes as a hippy commune for rich, old white people. Senoia is a small, isolated town where he knows the neighbours, who have been known to tell any visiting fans to get off his lawn. “I live in Manhattan, so the woods are paradise to me,” says Reedus. “I ride motorcycles, set off fireworks and shoot my bow from the back patio. It’s magical.” He’s still living a private life. “There’s that part of him that loves that solitude and absorbing what’s around him and taking it in,” says McBride. For Reedus, the choice is simpler: “I’m one of those people who doesn’t want to talk to anyone when work is over. It’s not, ‘Let’s go out for drinks.’ It’s, ‘F--k you, guys, I’ll see you in the morning.’” He smiles as he says this, genuine and mischievous in equal parts. THE RED BULLETIN
Reedus’ low-key, tree-loving lifestyle belies the fact that he’s hugely famous. At the last count, he had 2.4 million followers on Instagram, 1.8 million on Twitter, and was the subject of reams of digital fan-fiction. “I’ve seen myself kissing Shawn [Travis Charpentier], Glenn [Steven Yeun], Rick [Andrew Lincoln], Carol, Beth [Emily Kinney]…” he says. And yet, far from becoming insular, Reedus is keener than ever to interact. At dinner in New Orleans, the star engages the maître d’ and the server in separate conversations about the Warhol-esque paintings on the wall. He wonders if the woman pictured is Jerry Hall; it’s actually the restaurant’s former owner. Later, he compares notes about Dubai with a serviceman who politely interrupts an interview. Reedus opens the conversation with a sweet and disarming, “Thank you for your service.” This is the same Reedus who describes holding up a Kiss concert in Atlanta because the rock band wanted to take a pre-show selfie with him before their make-up wore off, but his TWD shooting schedule had made him 15 or 20 minutes late. So there he was, racing up the highway to the gig with Slash, as one of the biggest bands in the world – and, as a consequence, their legion of fans – waited for the duo’s arrival. Like any celebrity, Reedus exists in his own world, but frequently – and intentionally – it crosses into the world of regular people. Part of the reason is that he’s always been his own man, making art, running around Manhattan’s Lower East Side with his cool art-world friends, dating supermodel Helena Christensen with whom he has a son, Mingus. Another factor is his status as a latecomer to the showbiz party. Reedus was a relative unknown until he was in his early 40s. “It’s weird that the show is successful,” he says, considering how his life would be if TWD hadn’t happened. “I really like that idea of flying and making art. I’d probably still be doing that, to be honest. I really liked that time – it was great. And that was up to five years ago.” And then came the alligator. Reedus stands in the middle of a Louisiana swamp, on a tenuous platform that holds two ramshackle trapping huts that have clearly seen better days. He’s accompanied by a photo crew and a group of animal wranglers, one of whom is a beautiful young blonde woman who was carrying the gator when an ancient plank gave way, plunging her leg into the water below. Reedus is hardcore, but not that hardcore. “I’m a city kid,” he says. Now he’s holding the animal, arms shaking from the exertion of keeping it aloft and maybe something more. Photos taken, Reedus puts it down. “I feel like he could feel my fear,” he says. It’s time to depart. As Reedus rides away on the airboat, he turns and waves, cupping his hand like a Miss World contestant, hamming it up for the amusement of not only those who have temporarily been left behind, but also himself. After a powerful blast from the large open fan, he disappears from view, heading for the next adventure. Triple 9, which stars Norman Reedus, Woody Harrelson and Kate Winslet, is out in March 2016
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Mark Hunter: “Besides Tokyo, Seoul is the party capital of Asia. The whole scene is insane. Especially when it-girl Mademoiselle Yulia is DJing”
FACE TO FACE WITH
A COBRA “When Steve Aoki threw a cake in Las Vegas, he accidentally knocked the flash off my camera into the crowd, too. That’s the danger of photographing him. My equipment ended up covered in champagne and frosting”
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“Model Ingrid launching Jacques Smith’s eye bikini at Swim Fashion Week in Miami. She’s reaching for the on-off switch on the crotch of her bikini. The show can begin!”
WHEN STARS LIKE KATY PERRY AND STEVE AOKI GO ON TOUR, THEY CALL MARK HUNTER. NO PHOTOGRAPHER CAPTURES A PARTY BETTER THAN “THE COBRASNAKE”, BECAUSE HE SNAPS AWAY WITHOUT MISSING A BEAT WORDS: FLORIAN OBKIRCHER PHOTOGRAPHY: MARK HUNTER
“This group of four friends had got separated at the Fuck Yeah Festival in LA. They were so happy to find each other again that they were rolling around on the floor”
“Me with my trademark moustache and Hawaiian shirt. The two models are wearing T-shirts from my collection”
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ark “The Cobrasnake” Hunter was 17 when he launched polaroidscene.com, a photo blog on which the amateur lensman would post pictures of wild party nights with friends and celebrities. At the time, 12 years ago, the idea was as new as it was exciting. The site was soon attracting half a million visitors a month, and pop stars began to employ Hunter as a personal party photographer. The secret of The Cobrasnake’s success? His radical, wartsand-all approach, which gives you the impression you’re right there in the thick of it.
“Shaun Ross [left] is albino, and Winnie Harlow [right] has vitiligo. Both models have done a lot for people’s confidence in the way they look, and in being different”
THE RED BULLETIN
“This young woman got caked by Steve Aoki in Tokyo. The frosting is so slimy it’s not that easy to clean off. I’ve seen people lick it off each other”
“I love this shot – she’s just in the moment. Everything looks perfect, and the pink bubblegum matches her lips. Just what any photographer wants”
“I’D RUMMAGE THROUGH BINS OUTSIDE CLUBS, LOOKING FOR DISCARDED BACKSTAGE PASSES” “Every year, fashion king Jeremy Scott throws a Coachella party where you bump into celebrities such as Ferras and Katy Perry”
“When I snapped these two ladies at a party in LA, someone was holding an apple bong in front of their faces. ‘Fancy a drag?’” THE RED BULLETIN
“DON’T ASK PERMISSION. JUST DO IT” Twelve years, 5,000 parties and a million photographs. Mark “The Cobrasnake” Hunter talks us through his journey from bintrawling music fan to personal photographer to the stars… the red bulletin: So, how do you become the world’s most sought-after party photographer? mark hunter: By following my motto: “Don’t ask permission, just do it!” When I got started in photography, I was about 17 and too young to get credentials at concerts, so I’d sneak my camera past the bouncer and into the mosh pit. And you started the world’s first photo blog devoted to nightlife… It was out of necessity, because at parties other kids would ask me to email them my photos and eventually there were too many requests. So I started a website and just gave out flyers. Now you’re Katy Perry’s official tour photographer and regularly take pictures at the fashion parties of star designers such as Jeremy Scott… I’ve taken pictures at 5,000 parties over the last 10 or 12 years and you get to know a lot of people. In 2004, Katy Perry was just a regular party girl who I photographed when I was out, and the two of us got along. Then, as her fame grew, she wanted me on tour because she was comfortable with me and knew that I would get great shots. There are online tutorials showing others how to take Cobra-style photos. What’s your secret? I never ask for permission when I take a picture at a party. I just shoot. The best shots happen when people don’t even notice I’m there, when the DJ plays some hit and everyone goes mad on the dancefloor. It would be awkward to interrupt their moment and say, “Hey, I’m going to take photos.” I like to add myself to the chaos of an event. What if someone doesn’t want to be photographed? If someone blocks my camera, I don’t shoot. It hurts me a little bit, but I’m not a pap. I want to catch the night’s magic moments and show the most wonderful and wild side of the revellers. How do you get the girls to lift their T-shirts for a photo? I don’t encourage people to act wild. They’re the ones encouraging me to take pictures of them while acting wild. I only document it. The funny thing is, I’ve never smoked or taken any drugs in my entire career. 76
“Fashion star Jeremy Scott [left] with CL [centre], she’s a huge pop star in Korea. Remember that name. She’s about to take the West by storm”
“Cara Delevingne and Kendall Jenner at the Chateau Marmont in LA. Even though she’s in all these Hollywood movies, Cara still makes goofy faces”
“Only moments to go before the start of Jeremy Scott’s New York show and it’s chaos. Only the Hilton sisters, Iggy Azalea and Terry Richardson retain an air of calm”
Still, why do women feel comfortable letting loose with you around? Mostly I’m in shorts and a Hawaiian shirt. I look silly and unthreatening, not like someone who’s trying to pick up women and take them home. That’s why they have fun acting out around me. You get paid to hang out with models and stars. Any downsides to your job? Lots of annoying travel and late nights. And I hate it when people pose for me. Any tips for aspiring party snappers? Be proactive. Early in my career, I’d root through bins outside clubs, looking for discarded backstage passes. Instead of asking magazines to let me photograph a party for them, I created my own blog. What does a party photographer do during the day? I run the Cobra Fitness Club with friends. We organise group hikes and other outings. I play music, and we dance in the sun. You don’t feel like you’re working out, even though you are. thecobrasnake.com; Instagram: @thecobrasnake
“This is a rave in LA at 3am. The club was a sweatbox, full of people dancing half-naked. It was a debaucherous setting – but this girl still looks flawless, which is amazing.”
“At the Moschino fashion party in LA, there was this big teddy bear that people were hugging. My friend AJ tried to steal its T-shirt, but failed miserably”
“I LOOK SILLY AND UNTHREATENING, NOT LIKE SOMEONE WHO’S TRYING TO PICK UP WOMEN”
“The Purple Fashion party in New York was wild. Just after this photo was taken, the ATL Twins were taking girls back to their room. You can’t beat that lifestyle”
Today’s essential music makers tell the stories behind their beat: Fireside Chats on rbmaradio.com
See it. Get it. Do it.
AC T I O N !
TRAVEL
THE LONG WAY DOWN
Train like a movie stuntman
EIRIK GUSTAVSEN
Ever wondered what it’s like to freefall several storeys, à la Alan Rickman in Die Hard? That’s just one of the extreme new experiences on offer at Copenhagen’s European Stunt School – a place where, in just seven days, you can learn everything from how to fight like Jason Bourne to how to act while engulfed in flames. Be warned, though: it’s not for the faint-hearted…
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TRAVEL
GEAR
WHEELS
CULTURE
HOW TO
EVENTS 79
ACTION
TRAVEL DENMARK
Clockwise from below: Locking swords at the European Stunt School; the aptly named ‘partial to full burns’ workshop; how to disarm a movie gunman with an air punch; a student receives some hands-on training
More to explore High rise
Looking for more thrills? The Urban Ranger Camp, located in a disused shipyard 10 minutes from central Copenhagen, has the world’s highest indoor high-roping course. Climb and traverse ropes at a dizzying 50m above ground. urbanrangercamp.dk
THE INSIDER
“The most important thing is that you’re up for a challenge, because you will be challenged,” says Jacob Sebastian Malm, founder of the ESS. The intensive stunt workshop is aimed at total beginners, meaning that anyone can learn the tricks of the trade – although you’ll need a decent level of fitness to complete it. “You’re training for seven days straight in a high-tempo, high-level environment,” Malm explains, “so it’s important that you’re used to physical stuff. You’ll also need the mindset that still finds it fun even when it starts to get painful!” So many skills are crammed into the course – including martial arts, high falls (from 11m up), acrobatics, sword fighting, firearms, parkour and the daunting ‘partial to full burns’ – that even regular gym bods will find themselves pushed beyond their limits by Malm and his team. “You could be able to do an Ironman triathlon but still struggle at the aerial work with a harness and wires, because it involves
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Copenhagen, Denmark Copenhagen Want to learn how to perform stunts like a pro? Visit: europeanstuntschool.com
isolating completely different muscle groups,” Malm explains. “Dancers will find it much easier looking graceful in the air.” Of course, it’s the star attractions that participants find the most challenging, not to mention the most exhilarating. “The burns and the falls are where we really try to minimise the stress,” says Malm. “They’re super-dangerous, even with all the safety precautions we have in place. You have to stay absolutely focused, and you can end up mentally exhausted after a day of it. But people love it!” According to Malm, around 70 per cent of his students return to the ESS to do more advanced courses, or even start searching for work in the stunt industry. “It’s important for us that people really benefit from it and build a solid training base so they can start putting themselves out there,” he says. In other words? This isn’t just an action-packed week of adrenalinpumping thrills and adventure – it could be the beginning of a whole new career.
Drop zone If learning to throw yourself off a building wasn’t enough, try a bodyflight jump at the Copenhagen Air Experience. Scandinavia’s only vertical wind tunnel simulates the thrill of skydiving – without the parachute. airexperience.dk
Hot spot Celebrate your new-found status as an action hero with a cocktail at Pussy Galore’s Flying Circus, one of Copenhagen’s most popular café bars, inspired by James Bond’s female foe in Goldfinger. pussygalore.dk
EIRIK GUSTAVSEN
DON’T BE AFRAID OF GETTING A FEW BRUISES, ESPECIALLY DURING THE FIGHT TRAINING. “YOU DON’T TRAIN TO HURT ANYONE, BUT THERE WILL BE POINTS WHERE YOU ACTUALLY GET PUNCHED,” SAYS MALM. “IT EMPHASISES THAT THERE’S CONTACT BETWEEN THE PEOPLE FIGHTING.”
THE RED BULLETIN
ACTION
GEAR
CITY SLICKER Revive the working day with this urban-friendly kit
Quella One 2015 Black fixed-gear bike
The Quella One’s steel frame weighs just 9.4kg, making it easily manoeuvrable and perfect for a city commute.
This sleek edition of Quella’s fixedgear staple will have you zipping through traffic in style. If Batman rode a fixie, it would probably look like this. quellabicycle.com
The Atom battery pack
Skullcandy Grind headphones
Arduboy console
Clip this device to the back wheel of your bike and it will use the energy generated by your ride to charge your mobile devices. Talk about pedal power. sivacycle.com
These low-profile but immersive cans allow you to pause, play and skip tracks, and answer calls easily with just a tap on the ear cup. Ideal for confined spaces. skullcandy.com
Make your commute more fun with the endearingly retro, 8-bit distractions of this credit-card sized Game Boy throwback. Just don’t miss your stop. arduboy.com
Gunnar Vinyl glasses
Powell & Hyde jacket
Morpher helmet
Sit in front of a computer all day? These clever lenses filter out the harmful artificial blue light that emanates from the screen, reducing eye strain. gunnars.com
Laugh in the face of impromptu downpours with this lightweight jacket from Helly Hansen, complete with a bike-friendly helmet hood and reflectives. hellyhansen.com
This award-winning helmet folds in half when not protecting your noggin, taking up little more space in your bag than an umbrella. Handy for bike renters. morpherhelmet.com
THE RED BULLETIN
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GEAR
BACK TO THE FUTURE
Swatch’s new automatic classic By Gisbert L Brunner Back in 1983, Swatch released its firstever watch – a trendy little number with a mechanism consisting of just 51 parts. Over 30 years later, the quirky Swiss watchmakers are honouring their streamlined heritage with the Sistem51, a beautifully simple timepiece with the same number of components as the original, all held together by one central screw. Unlike the ’80s classic, though, the Sistem51’s tech specs are bang up to date. The watch boasts an ingenious self-winding movement, meaning there’s no battery required; the automatic motor is powered by the slightest of wrist flicks and will keep ticking for up to 90 hours, even when it’s lying on your bedside table. Of course, this being Swatch, design is a top priority: the collection boasts 12 styles – from the atomic ‘Pink’ to the striking blueand-black ‘Class’ (right) – and each has a transparent back panel that lets you see those 51 parts working together in perfect harmony. swatch.com
FACE VALUE
Premium self-winders that won’t break the bank By Gisbert L Brunner
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Longines HydroConquest
MeisterSinger Neo
Sinn 556 I
The steel HydroConquest with screw-in crown can resist water pressure of up to 30 bar. Divers will like the unidirectional rotating bezel with distinctive indexes, and the reliable ETA 2824-2 self-winding movement has a power reserve of about 38 hours. longines.com
With only one hand, which marks the hours, the German MeisterSinger Neo is a wristwatch for relaxed timekeepers. The steel case, water-resistant up to 3 bar, contains a Sellita SW200-1 self-winding movement, very similar to the ETA 2824-2. meistersinger.net
The sporty-looking Sinn 556 I focuses on essential functionality. The 38.5mm diameter, stainless-steel case contains the same trusty ETA 2824-2 mechanism as the Longines HydroConquest and is comfortably water-resistant up to 20 bar. sinn.de
THE RED BULLETIN
ACTION
WHEELS MOTOR MERCH
Pretty powerful: the Ducati 1299 Panigale S has got the lot
Authentic additions to the journey
Ferrari Store Milan Ferrari fans: flock to the new store in Milan’s Palazzo Ricordi for the Scuderia’s full range of merchandise. Plus F1 simulators. ferrari.com
STREET SMART Bremont Jaguar Collection Bremont have teamed up with Jaguar to create two watches themed on the iconic E-Type. The Mk I and Mk II timepieces take styling inspiration from the dashboard of the ’60s legend. bremont.com
The Ducati gets a tech overhaul We expect superbikes to be powerful. And pretty. But few can claim to be as powerful or as pretty as Ducati’s latest. The 1299 Panigale S smooths out some of the less desirable features of the 1199: a bigger engine, yes, but also more comfort and, with the S specification, a host of electronic whistles and bells. Compared with the standard model, the S has forged Marchesini wheels, an LED headlight and, crucially, a smart semi-active suspension system. The electronics suite is a large part of the 1299’s appeal, making the most of any rider’s ability. Linked to clever inertial sensors, the bike constantly adjusts suspension settings and brake parameters in line with rider-selected modes. The big L-twin engine delivers 205hp, but the on-board intelligence is there to tame it with lean-angle sensitive cornering ABS, wheelie and traction control. It’s a bike that will appeal to Panigale enthusiasts and also bring more riders into the Ducati fold. They’ve raised their game with this one. ducati.com
BEST OF BOTH WORLDS
The new 911: an easy decision Bentley Collection Bentley is a byword for craftsmanship and it shows in the brand’s latest range of racing goods, from lambskin leather jackets to luxury cashmere scarves. bentleycollection.com
THE RED BULLETIN
In recent years, the joke has been that Porsche release a new 911 whenever there’s an ‘r’ in the month. There are certainly plenty out there, catering to every sub-niche in what’s already a fairly niche marketplace. Now welcome the new 911 GT3 RS – the 911 for drivers who can’t decide whether they want a track car or a road car. The GT3 RS has as much motorsport potential as Porsche believe they can cram into a road-legal model, with a 4-litre, six-cylinder engine producing 500hp, and a bespoke version of Porsche’s PDK gearbox. It’ll do 0-100kph in 3.3 seconds, but perhaps the more significant benchmark is a lap of the legendary Nordschleife circuit in 7m20s. That knocks the Carrera GT into the proverbial cocked hat. porsche.com
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CULTURE COMING ATTRACTIONS
Global hit: Rupert Friend as Agent 47
The best new entertainment to binge on
TV Legends Of Tomorrow This series – a spin-off from Arrow and The Flash – stars Doctor Who’s Arthur Darvill as Rip Hunter, a timetraveller who assembles a team of present-day superheroes and villains to take on a future threat. dccomics.com
FILM
DRESSED TO KILL
The Hitman video game franchise gets a bigscreen reboot with Hitman: Agent 47. We tracked down its British star, Rupert Friend The Red Bulletin: Who is Agent 47? Rupert Friend: He’s an assassin who’s been genetically engineered to be faster, stronger, more intelligent… But he also has a freak anomaly in his genetic make-up that makes him a little more human – just enough that his owners realise he’s a threat and try to shut him down. I found that very exciting, the idea that this so-called flaw could be his greatest strength. The film is based on a successful video-game series. Did you feel pressure from fans to do the character justice? There is pressure, but I think pressure is a good thing. The fact that there is a huge and very loyal fanbase for this character sets the bar high, and that’s as it should be. How did you cope with the physical aspects of the role? You have to be fit, otherwise it just doesn’t work. Audiences are savvy and they know when you cut away to a stuntman. So I was pleased to do as many of the stunts as the insurance would allow. I trained in boxing, Muay Thai, judo, Krav Maga… It kept me engaged in a way that was very helpful. What was the hardest stunt you had to perform? There’s one scene where my character is handcuffed to a table and has to climb up another man’s body, wrap both legs around his neck and bring him to the floor. I had to do it about 50 times. You get very familiar with your most intimate parts. Hitman: Agent 47 opens in the UK on August 27. For more, go to redbulletin.com/RupertFriend
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BOOK Trigger Mortis
WHO IS AGENT 47?
The latest James Bond thriller, written by Anthony Horowitz with original material from 007 creator Ian Fleming, serves as a sequel to the 1959 novel Goldfinger and features the return of the most famous Bond girl of them all, Pussy Galore. orionbooks.co.uk
Three need-to-know facts about the suited assassin… He’s an enhanced clone The barcode tattoo on his neck (640509-040147) holds clues to his origins. The first part is his date of ‘birth’, 04 is his series number, 01 his model class and 47 his manufacture order. He’s well travelled Over the course of five games, 47 has carried out hits all over the world, including Russia, Japan, the Netherlands and Colombia. He’s a sharp shooter The hitman is skilled in a variety of weapons, but his favourites are his two customised AMT pistols, known as ‘Silverballers’.
GAME Mad Max Build the ultimate war machine and take on the role of Mad Max in his fight to escape the Wasteland. Expect vicious vehicular and ground combat in this movie-inspired actioner, released this September on PS4, Xbox One and PC. madmaxgame.com
THE RED BULLETIN
CULTURE KING OF CLUBS In his book Electrochoc – finally published in English this month – French DJ legend LAURENT GARNIER looks back on a 30-year career that’s seen him play all the best nightclubs on the planet. Here, Garnier picks his current favourites…
Panorama Bar, Berlin “This is the only place on earth where time warps completely. You enter at midnight and suddenly it’s midday. The reason is that people are not supposed to use their phones, which helps you to cut yourself off from the rest of the world.”
Concrete, Paris “Right now, the French techno movement is stronger than ever. If you want to experience the scene’s best young DJs, you need to pay a visit to Concrete’s legendary Sunday afternoon parties on their club boat on the Seine.”
Womb, Tokyo “If you’re invited to play Womb as a DJ, it’s a big accolade like a knighthood, because this futuristic club – think the Blade Runner film set – houses one of the best sound systems on Earth. Besides, the dance-crazy Japanese audience is second to none.”
THE PLAYLIST A$AP FERG New York’s A$AP Ferg embodies a new prototype in rap music. He and his Harlem collective A$AP Mob, led by head honcho A$AP Rocky, are not only changing the face of the genre by injecting trippy leftfield beats into mainstream hip-hop, they’ve also made a successful foray into the world of high fashion. Ferg recently teamed up with menswear designer Astrid Andersen to write the soundtrack for both her spring/summer 2016 catwalk show and a bespoke fashion film, Water, in which he also appears (watch it at redbull.co.uk/ catwalkstudio). The Red Bulletin asked the 26-year-old rapper to talk us through some of the tracks that have influenced his career, plus his own musical milestones.
A$AP Ferg
DMX
Work
Ruff Ryders’ Anthem
“I got into writing poetry as a kid, because I could recite it in front of the classroom and I knew it would make all the girls smile. It was just for fun at first, up to this song, which started my career. This was my first piece of music that resonated with people all around the world. I think that’s because I spoke a lot of truth about my father who died: ‘See my daddy in heaven, he be the realest G…’”
“I get nostalgic every time I hear this track, because it reminds me of my youth. I was about 10 years old when it came out. My friends and I, we would ride through Harlem on our bikes, doing wheelies like the guys in the music video and reciting the lyrics. DMX’s style was innovative at the time. Regardless of what he’s doing now, he planted the seed in me and helped me find my own voice.”
Mary J Blige
A$AP Rocky
You Remind Me
Peso
“In the ’90s, my father designed logos for big hip-hop labels such as P Diddy’s Bad Boy Records. So he had all the new CDs that came out. This was one of the first songs from his collection that really resonated with me when I was growing up. I love the music video where the girls are wearing baggy jackets and cool kneepads. It was the first time that I saw hip-hop and style coming together.”
“Rocky and I have known each other since we were teenagers. He was always very talented, but he created a totally new genre with this song. The way that he pitched down the vocals sounded completely fresh. In the music video, we wore black high-fashion clothes mixed with streetwear. It was a monumental time, because I felt like we were doing something big. Turns out I was right.”
THE GADGET
Here Active Listening These wireless earbuds will change the way you hear the world. Connect them to your smartphone via Bluetooth and they’ll tune out specific noises – crying babies, train engines, office chatter – as you listen to music. They’ll also improve your live music experience: you can turn down the volume if you’re standing too close to the speaker, or boost the bass if a club tune isn’t heavy enough for your liking. dopplerlabs.com
ACTION
A$AP Ferg Dope Walk “One recent song that’s had an impact on my career is my current single. It has the line ‘My walk meaner than Cara Delevingne’s’, which sparked a fun battle on Twitter between her and me, and then we decided to shoot a FaceTime video together. In the video, I show her the ‘dope walk’, which is when you see dope heads winding off into dreamland and then they wake up and jump up.”
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ACTION
HOW TO
FIGHT A FOREST FIRE Last summer, firefighter Morgan Reilly tackled a blaze that raged across about a million hectares of Canadian forest – an area almost as large as Jamaica. Reilly leads a crew of four, working with a ‘fire boss’ (“the chainsaw guy who can cut out a helipad in a forest in 20 minutes”) and two ‘swamp donkeys’ (“the crew members on the pumps and hose”). Of the million-hectare fire, Reilly says, “There were hundreds of four-person crews working for months to put it out.” Forest fires are unpredictable. Reilly’s crew, based in Sioux Lookout, Northwestern Ontario, can go months without seeing flames, or do six months of 19-day field tours with only two days at base in between. “I’m excited about fires,” says the 23-yearold, “but it’s my job to put them out. And I love my job.”
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Stoke the flames “One exciting part of our job is performing prescribed burns: lighting up certain parts of the forest – for example, areas of tornado damage with lots of dead wood – to prevent future fires growing. For the bigger fires, we use a helicopter with a drip torch hanging below it, dripping burning diesel fuel onto the forest.”
Call in air strikes
“We set up pumps on the ground, but we also have aircraft – waterbombers that I can call in to drop 6,400 litres of water per load. As the crew leader, I communicate with everyone on the ground and also in the air. It’s a lot to have to think about at the same time.”
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Be a people person
“We’re ready to go out to a fire for up to 19 days with everything we need: food, clothing, equipment. There’s no cellphone reception and our satellite phones can only be used for work. In these situations, the crew become your family – you’re with them 24/7.”
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Know when to say no
“The hardest part is keeping your cool; if everyone is able to do that, 90 per cent of the time it works out. My first fire, in 2011, was in the other 10 per cent. They flew us to an island on a lake, 500m from shore, where a huge fire was burning. For about an hour, we watched smoke billowing towards us. There was nothing we could do, so we got flown out. By next morning the entire island was burnt out.”
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Feel the burn “The job’s tough on your body. We have to pass an annual fitness test: 31 laps of a 40m course, going up and down V-shaped ramps, carrying 28kg pumps or 25kg hose packs. All in under 14-and-a-half minutes. Not easy.”
THE RED BULLETIN
MARK THOMAS
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ACTION
EVENTS
At the age of just 22, Marc Márquez is already a two-time MotoGP champion
MotoGP returns to the UK’s most famous racetrack for the British leg of the 2015 World Championship. Sunday’s big race will see reigning champion Marc Márquez (pictured above) hoping to repeat last year’s win here and add to his points tally – but he’ll face stiff competition from Italy’s Valentino Rossi and fellow Spaniard Jorge Lorenzo, who holds the record for the most MotoGP wins at Silverstone. With the bikes hurtling around the track’s eminent twists and turns at speeds of over 170kph, and plenty of off-track partying for spectators, there’s no doubt this will be a weekend of high-octane action. silverstone.co.uk
September 3 Next test
August 17-20 Sound and vision
The Ageas Bowl, Southampton
Red Bull Studios, London
The drama isn’t over yet for England and Australia as the 2015 cricket season draws to a close with a series of one-day internationals between the age-old rivals. Stuart Broad and co retain home advantage after hosting The Ashes and will be hoping to recreate the magic that brought them a ODI series victory against New Zealand earlier in the year. ageasbowl.com
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British rapper Little Simz is dropping her debut album this summer, and to celebrate she’ll be hosting an exclusive art exhibition at Red Bull Studios. The tracklist-inspired designs will showcase work from the UK’s hottest young artists. redbullstudios.com Little Simz, aka 21year-old Simbi Ajikawo
GOLD & GOOSE/RED BULL CONTENT POOL, RUTGER PAUW/RED BULL CONTENT POOL, GETTY IMAGES, JAMIE TANNER, SAM NEEDHAM/RED BULL CONTENT POOL, CAMPHOTOGRAPHIC
August 28-30 Full throttle Silverstone, Northamptonshire
SAVE THE DATE
September 4-6 High voltage Stradbally Hall, County Laois
Billed as Ireland’s answer to Glastonbury, Electric Picnic celebrates its 12th birthday this summer with a line-up that’s bigger and better than ever before. Fresh from a celebrated Glasto set, Florence + The Machine will headline a diverse and impressively A-list roster to sing out the festival season. Blur, Sam Smith, Manic Street Preachers, Underworld, Grace Jones and FKA twigs are among those lending stellar support. electricpicnic.ie
Three competitions keeping the Olympic legacy alive
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September London Legacy Volleyball Cup Eight European teams are vying for victory in this inaugural two-day volleyball contest at the iconic Copper Box Arena in Stratford’s Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. volleyballengland.org
Electric Picnic has grown since its debut in 2004
August 29-31 Party people
September 4 Street smart
Notting Hill, London
Cinemas nationwide
August Bank Holiday weekend means only one thing: Carnival time! Thousands of locals and tourists will once again descend on W11 to celebrate London’s brilliantly diverse cultural heritage – with all the music, dancing and tasty treats that entails. thelondonnottinghillcarnival.com
Executive-produced by Puff Daddy and Pharrell Williams, Dope is the coming-of-age tale of three teens who become caught up in a major drug deal and have to use their smarts to get out of it. This buzzy indie movie was a hit at Sundance and is sure to win over audiences in the UK, too. youaredope.com
CLUB OF THE MONTH Steam and Rye City of London
Dinas Mawddwy, Gwynedd After its inaugural success last year, Red Bull Hardline is back to challenge some of the world’s best mountain bikers with one of the toughest downhill courses they’ve ever encountered. Designed by biking legend Dan Atherton, the course mixes terrifying man-made runs with gnarly natural obstacles. Who will survive… and what will be left of them at the finish line? redbull.com/hardline
THE RED BULLETIN
September ICF Canoe Slalom World Champs Feast your eyes on some fast and furious boating action. You’ll find it at Hertfordshire’s Lee Valley White Water Centre, which hosted the canoe slalom during London 2012. canoeicf.com
Saddle up: hardcore biking in mid-Wales
September 12-13 Rock and a hard place
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Created by club maestro Nick House (Mahiki, Whisky Mist) and model/actress Kelly Brook, this homage to The Great Gatsby-era Americana is one of the boldest, most eccentric bars in London’s Square Mile. The concept – brought to life by Hollywood production designer Jonathan Lee, who has worked on everything from 24 to Star Wars: Episode II – was inspired by the historic building’s former life as the Bank of New York. It features a main hall modelled on Grand Central Station, a stage for live entertainment, and there’s even a mechanical bucking bull just waiting to challenge your dignity… steamandrye.com
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September Rugby World Cup The biggest event in international rugby is coming to England, with several matches (including Ireland’s group-stage clash with Italy) being played at the 54,000-seater stadium in the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. rugbyworldcup.com
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Daniel Ricciardo for Pepe Jeans London
TOMORROW’S
WORLD A S S T A R T U P S A N D I N N O V A T I O N S M U LT I P L Y A P A C E , W E TA K E A L O O K AT T H E L AT E S T T E C H A N D I T S M O S T I N T E R E S T I N G A P P L I C AT I O N S
JOHAMMER J1 What? A revolutionary electric motorbike you’ll be proud to ride Why? It’s time electric bikes got stylish When? Now This electric motorbike has a bold design that makes it stand out – in a good way. It runs on a lightweight Li-ion battery, and is available in two models: the J1.150 and J1.200. The latter, top-of-the range model covers 200km between charges, and weighs just 178kg. Plus it generates 15bhp and has a top speed of 120kph. Electric just got sexy. johammer.com
THE RED BULLETIN
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I N N O VA T I O N S
A LIKEABLE ELECTRONIC C O M PA N I O N T H AT H E L P S YOU FORM POSITIVE HABITS
MOTI What? An adorable deskmate that acts as a motivator Why? To help you achieve your goals When? In the near future Moti is an electronic companion that vibrates and flashes with glee whenever you complete a task or learn a new habit. But be warned: Moti employs the human tactic of emotional blackmail when you stray from the right path, looking sad and buzzing angrily. Just try not to reach for the off switch… moti.io
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HANDIII
R E L AT I V I T Y
What? A bionic arm controlled by muscle signals and a smartphone Why? To change people’s lives When? In the near future This is not a prop from a futuristic sci-fi movie – bionic limb technology is here, thanks to the wonders of 3D printing. Japanese company Exiii have developed this smart arm, which uses sensors to capture electric signals from the user’s muscle movement and translate them via a smartphone app. What’s more, the Handiii is expected to cost considerably less than a conventional prosthetic arm when it hits the market. exiii.jp
What? A craft beer ‘teabag’ Why? To make beer taste better When? Now There’s been a microbrewery boom over the last decade, offering drinkers more choice than ever. But now there’s an alternative to forking out on pricey craft beers to drink at home. Baltimore-based startup Hop Theory have created Relativity, a teabag-like sachet that transforms any beer into a quality brew in just four minutes. hoptheory.com
LUUV What? An attractive stabiliser for your camera that eliminates hand shake Why? For great footage When? Now If your YouTube videos look shakier than the action scenes in a Jason Bourne blockbuster, give this innovative steadicam device a try. The LUUV is a smart handheld camera stabiliser with universal mount that, thanks to its three-axis, counter-weighted movements, enables you to capture perfectly smooth action footage. Hold it upside down for dramatic shots just centimetres from the ground. luuv-is-awesome.com
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THE RED BULLETIN
I N N O VA T I O N S
I K AWA H O M E ROASTER What? A digital micro-roaster Why? For top-class coffee at home When? Next February This digital micro-roaster takes home coffee-making to the next level: just download an app and roast a batch of IKAWA’s ‘green’ beans at the touch of a smartphone icon. Ten per cent of the revenue from the beans goes back to the farmers, too. ikawacoffee.com
AUDI PROLOGUE PILOTED DRIVING What? A futuristic driving system that puts you in complete control Why? To make your ride sleeker – and safer When? TBC Audi’s prototype ‘car of the future’ stole this year’s Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas with its incredible piloted driving system. Its laser scanner, video cameras and ultrasound sensors make parallel parking worries a thing of the past. The ‘digital cockpit’, meanwhile, has a touchscreen display that controls everything from diagnostics to music with a swipe of the finger. Switches are so 2015. audi.com
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NO MORE DRAGGING A CASE OF DIRTY LAUNDRY AT T H E A I R P O R T
DUFL
MICRO DRONE 3.0 What? A tiny camera drone that fits in the palm of your hand Why? To capture the ultimate group selfie When? November Anyone can join the camera-drone revolution with this little fella. Sturdy, manoeuvrable and customisable (frame designs include a ‘ferocious dragon’ and a ‘terror wasp’), the Micro Drone 3.0 streams HD images and video to your smartphone or virtualreality headset. Expect to see it buzzing around you in the pub some time soon… igg.me/at/micro-drone
What? A digital valet service Why? To take the pain out of travel When? Available now in the US and internationally in the near future This service saves frequent travellers the hassle of lugging cases of clothing to and from the airport. Send DUFL your clothes in the branded case and a virtual wardrobe will be created. Before you set off on a trip, select the items you want, and DUFL will deliver them to your destination. When you leave, your clothes will be collected, laundered and then stored, ready for your next trip. dufl.com THE RED BULLETIN
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I N N O VA T I O N S
L I F E PA I N T
O R B I TA L I N S I G H T
What? A reflective paint in a can that increases the visibility of cyclists to other road users at night Why? To increase road safety and save people’s lives When? Now “The best way to survive a crash is not to crash,” reads the strapline for Volvo’s latest innovation, and it’s hard to argue with that. The stats on the car company’s website reveal the bleak truth: every year in the UK, more than 19,000 cyclists are involved in accidents. With this in mind, Volvo have developed Life Paint, a spray that makes cyclists more visible to drivers at night. The paint, which contains reflective particles that are invisible by day but show up brightly under the glare of car headlights, can be sprayed onto bikes, clothing, helmets and bags – and even dog leads and collars. It lasts around a week, but can be washed off at any time, leaving no trace. volvolifepaint.com
What? Technology that monitors deforestation Why? To protect the world’s forests When? Now Californian startup Orbital Insight has partnered with Global Forest Watch to create a system that monitors and flags up suspicious changes around forested areas, such as unexpected new roads. As the system’s neural network recognises more and increasingly detailed patterns, it will become more accurate at detecting changes and helping to prevent illegal deforestation. orbitalinsight.com
U GA N D A
Mabira Forest Reserve
27 Nov 2001
I N N O VA T O R : JUERGEN FURIAN Meet the Austrian co-founder of the Pioneers festival, a conference celebrating the ideas of tomorrow, held annually in Vienna. It‘s no surprise to find that the man behind a startup shouting about startups is full of advice for young innovators and entrepreneurs… THE RED BULLETIN: A total of 1,600 startups from 96 countries applied for the 2015 Pioneers Festival. How do you choose who gets to present themselves? JUERGEN FURIAN: They have to deal with ideas that will define our futures within the next five years. At the Pioneers Festival, all we talk about is the future. We have given ourselves a broad range
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TRAGO What? A smart water bottle with its own app Why? Perfect hydration When? Pre-order now Two Texan brothers who are “passionate about hydration” have, via a Kickstarter push, proved that a lot of other people are, too. Trago, their smart water bottle, knows how much you should be drinking. It links to a smartphone via Bluetooth and accurately measures and logs water intake against your calculated ideal for that day. It also takes factors like sleep, weather and exercise into account (it pairs with fitness wearables). Plus Trago predicts how much water you’ll need before a football match or marathon. twitter.com/drinktrago
U GA N D A
Mabira Forest Reserve
25 Jan 2006
OMNI PRESENT What? An interactive system for gift-giving Why? To share a moment When? TBC – in testing When the recipient of a gift opens its box, the lightactivated Omni Present contacts the sender and lets them hear the reaction. frolicstudio.com
KURT PRINZ
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of topics: aerospace, biotechnology, energy, robots. That’s what the industry appreciates about us. Which industry has the most exciting startups right now? Biotechnology. That industry has small startups achieving incredible things with not much money. The huge pharmaceutical giants used to invest billions in research to produce a pill 10 years down the line. Now, small startups are bringing good ideas to fruition themselves. For example? Hampton Creek, who are based in San Francisco. They make eggs out of bean proteins. No chickens, no factory farming. I had breakfast with them recently, and their fried eggs are great. Startup founders are professional ideasellers, and you know loads of them. Can you give us a tip, like how to ask your boss for more money? If you have a minute, prepare for that minute. Argue from your boss’s point of view. And most important of all: be passionate!
THE RED BULLETIN
I N N O VA T I O N S
I N N O VA T O R : VISHAL SHARMA The former Google vice-president created one of the world‘s most complex virtual assistants in Google Now. But, says Sharma – currently working on a secret startup – the revolution is yet to come…
HEXO+ What? An autonomous camera drone that does the arty close-ups for you Why? So that all you need is your flying friend When? Later this year The brainchild of professional snowboarder and filmmaker Xavier De La Rue and tech team Squadrone System, Hexo+ removes the need for a second person to monitor the shots when filming action scenes with a camera drone. Simply select your preference (close-up, panoramic or circling flight) on the Hexo+ app and the drone keeps you in the frame by following your smartphone’s GPS signal. hexoplus.com
A C L E V E R A L A R M C L O C K T H AT WA K E S Y O U B U T L E AV E S Y O U R PA R T N E R U N D I S T U R B E D
WEINBERG-CLARK XX EDITOR PHOTOGRAPHY ILLUSTRATOR
WA K É What? A clever clock Why? Relationship saver When? Pre-order now This alarm clock eases you into the day with a beam of light and gentle sounds that grow brighter and louder. But that’s not what makes this device essential for couples: controlled via a smartphone app, Waké’s heat sensor detects your exact location in bed, and its parametric speakers focus the alarm sounds in a narrow beam at you only – leaving your other half in peace. Plus it switches itself off when you get out of bed. luceralabs.com THE RED BULLETIN
THE RED BULLETIN: Even the most advanced virtual PA can’t communicate in a convincingly human way. Why is that? VISHAL SHARMA: There’s definitely a way to go. A virtual assistant has two choices when it doesn’t understand: it can make a joke out of it and distract you with a new conversation, or it can say, “I’m sorry, I don’t understand what you just said.” So it’s all about speech recognition? Human language is so
enormously flexible and expressive – there are millions of expressions and emotions. Virtual assistants try to break down the input and match it the best they can. Some people say speech recognition is a technology that’s always five years away. I’m not that pessimistic. How do machines learn? There are two different models. Say you want to teach a robot how to move: you could create some elements of movement in the robot and embed algorithms that tell it how to use them. Or there are selflearning robots: the robot is given abilities, but it doesn’t know what they are. So you give it a limb with three degrees of movement, then give it a task of getting a ball closer to a goal. The robot has to figure it out. Over time, it builds a model of its limb and what it can do. In some ways, the robot grows conscious of what it is. What was the last tech that amazed you? It happens constantly. When I’m late and my phone tells me about the traffic, it somehow predicts my future and that’s astounding.
SEALEAF What? A floating hydroponic growing pod for food crops Why? To reduce food imports When? 2016 Many of the world’s coastal megacities – Singapore, for instance – import up to 90 per cent of their food due to a lack of local arable land. UK-based scientific team SEALEAF have devised a solution: hydroponic growing pods that sit out at sea and let the sun and rain do the work. This opens up more space (available at lower-thanaverage rents) for local farmers to grow affordable fresh produce for the population. And because of the reduction in imports, it means a smaller carbon footprint, too. swolzak.wix.com/sealeaf
Keep up to date on the world’s latest innovations with Springwise; springwise.com
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WIN WITH MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE - ROGUE NATION
To celebrate the release of Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation, in cinemas now (cert 12A tbc), we are offering three readers the chance to win some amazing Mission: Impossible Rogue Nation merchandise including a camera drone copter, USB cufflinks, Bluetooth speaker, a video spy pen, an iPad case and a drinks flask with hidden compartment. With the IMF disbanded, and Ethan (Tom Cruise) out in the cold, the team now faces off against a network of highly skilled special agents, the Syndicate. These highly trained operatives are hellbent on creating a new world order through an escalating series of terrorist attacks. Ethan gathers his team and joins forces with disavowed British agent Ilsa Faust (Rebecca Ferguson), who may or may not be a member of this rogue nation, as the group faces their most impossible mission yet. Directed by Christopher McQuarrie (Jack Reacher) and also starring Jeremy Renner, Simon Pegg, Ving Rhames and Alec Baldwin.
To enter simply head to www.redbulletin.com/missionimpossible and answer the simple question Visit the official site at www.missionimpossiblemovie.co.uk facebook.com/MissionImpossibleUK | twitter.com/ParamountUK | #MissionImpossible #RogueNation Š 2015 Paramount Pictures. All Rights Reserved.
MAGIC MOMENT
“It was a trip back into my childhood” In its 40-year history, the Silverdome in Pontiac, Michigan, has been the home of the NFL’s Detroit Lions and even hosted a Papal Mass. Since 2011, the stadium has fallen into disuse. But then BMX pro Tyler Fernengel went exploring in one of his trick sessions. Watch the video: redbull.com/bike
THE NEXT ISSUE OF THE RED BULLETIN IS OUT ON SEPT 8 ALSO WITH THE IRISH TIMES ON SEPT 7, AND WITH THE EVENING STANDARD ON SEPT 25 98
THE RED BULLETIN
JOE GALL/RED BULL CONTENT POOL
PONTIAC, USA, May 12, 2015
BMX wizard Tyler Fernengel used to come here as a fan of American football; now he uses the abandoned Silverdome as an obstacle park
All-New
Renault KADJAR Dare to live