We received a mail from Dylan Close who asked if we wanted to review the Physical Graffiti DVD. Yup, no problem, just send it over. I didn't really know what to expect but was hoping for some sort or graffiti art video.
Turns out that Physical Graffiti has more to do with tattoos, piercings and pain. The DVD has a documentary feel to it and that is a good thing because the footage is pretty old. Neal Wood, Dave Mirra and Jay Miron are in it too. Jay's on his Hoffman bike and Dave on the Blammo. Turns out this video hail from 1998 but has been re-released.
Here's the official press release regarding the DVD so you can decide yourself if tattoos, piercings and pain are your thing:
Physical Graffiti
Physical Graffiti is a no nonsense DVD that contains some of the most groundbreaking extreme sports and self-mutilation footage to date. The film is widely seen as playing a defining role in the establishment of this genre.
Set against a backdrop of mesmerising music, the film takes the viewer on a raw and honest journey through the mindset of those who crave an adrenaline rush through either extreme sports or intense acts of self-mutilation.
For a feature of this length, Physical Graffiti covers a lot of bases. Touched on throughout the documentary are a wealth of dubious deeds such as human suspension, DIY Surgery, extreme tattooing and the true art of projectile vomiting. As well as containing many understandably shocking scenes, the DVD is also interspersed with some beautifully shot surf, skate and snowboarding footage in order to highlight the creative nature of these acts.
With its rich narrative and focus on true underground legends such as skateboarder Jason Jesse, freestyle motocross rider Seth Enslow, and snowboarder Shaun Palmer, Physical Graffiti stands out as one of the true original extreme videos. Whilst many extreme films on the market today might be considered more ‘pop friendly’, Physical Graffiti stands true to its roots through aggression and the most important aspect of all. Style!
With the constant ongoing commercialisation of board sports it would be easy to forget that the roots of these cultures are deeply subversive. Physical Graffiti reaffirms this fact nicely by linking inherently creative sports with a vast selection of what could be perceived by some viewers as anti social behaviour. From Jackass to the X-Games, it ultimately helps explain why board culture spawns some of the most spontaneous creativity and irrational behaviour known to man. Did I also mention that it contains a shot of a dude hammering a nail through his balls?
Whether you’re at home on the slopes, sea or skate park. Whether you prefer your kick flips to your carves or if you simply enjoy people hurting themselves in a spectacular manner then check this DVD out. You won’t be disappointed.
Un-successfully banned when it was first released in the late nineties, the DVD release brings this classic, uncensored documentary kicking in to the 21st century.
For more information contact Dylan Close: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
After doing a BMX 'zine for ten years (1987 - 1996) FATBMX made it on the internet. The year was 1998. Here to stay.