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 when he was in the X-games, and now they are hating on him in the present because he is not there competing.

After this topic, it rolled onto his tour that he did with his band through the Midwest, Bring the Noise. Since I keep in close contact with my local park, I knew that Rick had contacted the owner and talked to him around Christmas about making a stop in my area in late winter to early spring with his tour. When the schedule was drawn up, he could not make a date that would allow him to stop in my local area. When I asked him about it, he mentioned that the way the schedule worked out and with time, he was not able to make. I talked to him about how my local skate park had the only qualifier for the entire state of Indiana for the Vans Warped Tour skate contest and that there was also a new park, that is X-games huge near by, about an hour away. Rick mentioned about how there might be a possibility (a possibility, that it could happen) to do a 2 day event where they do a bike contest at the park an hour away and a skate contest at my local park.

You know what that means, it might or might not happen, but central Indiana prepare for an event where good times are to be had. If people want to see something go down anywhere in Indiana, it is going to be in the center, they need to contact Rick and let him know that they want him to come. With some people, the more positive feed back they get from an area, the more likely they are to make a stop there.

After we conversed about his tour a little bit, the conversation drifted from this to that and to a few random topics. He wanted to go ride the mini that was set up at the Vans Warped Tour skate contest for a bit and I asked him if he would be up for another interview, like the one I did last year. He was down for it, but I needed to get my stuff together.

As he rode the mini that was set up for the skate comp, I looked around for something to write on. I brought pens and pencils with me this year, but forgot the pad of paper back in the car. Oh well, it will not be the first time or the last. I went looking around and found some random poster that was blank on the back for some event or band called “For the Fallen Dreams”. I had never heard of them, but the back was blank, it was large enough for the interview, and it would work for the pinch I was in. The table that I wanted to write on was too coarse, hence I grabbed a random skate board to use so that I could have a smooth surface to write on. As Rick rode the mini, I scribbled down a few questions, same format as last year, a few serious, a few off the wall for humor, and a couple that were in the middle. While I was quickly writing down anything that popped into my head, security tried to kick me out, but Rick walked up just as I was getting kicked out and told “the man” that I was doing an interview with and that we would be out soon. We sat, chilled, cracked jokes, and got on with the interview.

What did you think about the interview that we did last year and what did you think of people’s comments?
Rick: I loved the interview that we did last year. On the other hand, I am not too affected by the negative comments that people had. A lot of new school kids forget where their roots lie, it was kind of expected. New school people will keep talking, but that has not and will not stop me doing what it is that I need to do. Overall, there is so much negativity in BMX, it just brings the whole sport down. People need to wake up and realize that it does not help the sport, it just brings it down. The one thing that I will do is to not let people take what I have earned.

What are some of the things that you have accomplished over the last year?
Rick: I had a supporting role in Mall Cop. Something else that I have done is my tour, Bring the Noise. It was band and contest tour done at skate parks across the Midwest where I gave back to areas that normally to not get exposed to sponsorships like Monster I recorded a new EP with my band, Good Guys in Black. I now have a podcast through ESPN action sports using I-tunes.

What is something that you have been slacking on, that you wished you would have done?
Rick: Enjoying my hair more before I lost it.

Indiana has a lot of humidity; does this cause you to miss Cali at all?
Rick: I am originally from Kansas City, Missouri, I know about humidity. Overall, I just like being on the road, I love to tour, and appreciate where ever I am.

What is something that you have been craving for a long time?
Rick: I have been craving music. I have been around it for a year and a half and I am hungry to tour. Another thing I really want to get into is Hollywood; I want to get into acting. I really do not want to get into commercials, or things like that, I want to be in movies. This is something that I have wanted to get into since I was a young kid.

Bagels or English Muffins?
Rick: Bagels… with vegan cream cheese. I am not a vegan, but the cheese is dope.

What are your plans for next year?
Rick: I want to do another tour of Bring the Noise. In addition, I also what to do more podcasts. On top of that, I want to write more songs. I want to take Bring the Noise to Australia, I want to make it bigger. I want to be in another movie. I want to be the first tattooed super hero in X-men, they need one.

Tell me about the concert series (Bring the Noise) through the Midwest and how did it go?
Rick: The places that I was able to make it to, the kids loved it. There is so much talent through out the Midwest and they do not get much exposure. The purpose of the tour was to give back to the people of the Midwest. The Midwest has a different kind of spirit. Overall, the kids were psyched to be part of the event.

What is the best city for street riding?
Rick: Kansas is one that sticks out, there seems to be something different each time I go back. The way things are now, I do not have a chance to get out much; my work schedule keeps me pretty busy. Yet, places like Kansas City, St. Louise, and Atlanta seem to be at the top of my list. These places have not had a chance to be scarred with stoppers that keep people from grinding. Now that I think about it, there is just something about Atlanta… I just can not put my finger on it. On the other hand, I can not forget NYC. That place is compact, more condensed, and there is something a little bit of everywhere.

Which city has the best food?
Rick: I would have to say L.A. – Hollywood. There is every style you could want. Well….. NYC, meets Hollywood, meets Kansas City. I love that Barbecue.

You know how to have a good time. Have you ever partied to the point where you woke up naked, in a ditch, in a foreign country, and can not remember how you go there?
Rick: No – laughter – I wish. I have woke up a few times where I was like “where am I ?” I have woke up several times in a deep dream and did not know where I was. Sorry to be so boring.

Last comments?
Rick: Never give up on your dreams. Try your best. Look for Good Guys In Black.


Interview done by Thomas Grawey at the Vans Warped Tour, Verizon Music Center, Indianapolis, Indiana.