The Union tapes Episode 24 with ex S&M UK rider James Cox, we go back to the start of his BMX journey coming out of Portsmouth in the mid 90s and the routes he took a long the way.
Got a little bonus going on here, and some thing a little different. Coinciding with the release of our zine 5 and Nails in the Coffin on DVD, ex Uk Fit pro Marv (Nicholas Martin) who was a young 16 years of age and a fan of Nails in the Coffin when it came out back in the late 90s, he wanted to know a few things about it, so came in and asked me some behind the scenes questions about the goings on in and around the making and riding in the video.
The latest episode of the Union Tapes is live now featuring Nick Phillip.
"We finally caught up with Nick Phillip, and we get deep into it on many topics that he had hands on involvement with. This one gives us all a deep dive into much of the mystery for most of us, meeting Jess Dyrenforth, Rom trips back in the early days, starting AA as a mail order from his bedroom, landing a job at BMX Action bike, working with Dave Curry, and talks about what an influence Curry had on the scene.
We talk all about the behind the scenes of BMX Action bike RAD magazine, the early Southbank scene, Mons jam, being a rider rep for the UKBFA, AA becoming a clothing brand, the rise and focus of street riding in the magazine, the style change within BMX as it evolved away from its constraints. The push for evolving the character of BMX, moving to California in the good ole USA to work for Freestylin Magazine, Homeboy and Ozone, getting into the early rave scene in the late 80s, right up to what he’s up to today."
Riders mentioned: Jess Dyrenforth, Dave Curry, Craig Campbell, Alisdair Mckenzie, Damon Nicholls, Eric Steel, Billy Stupple, Marco Lara, Andy Ruffell, Tim March, Dave Slade, Craig Grasso, Andy Jenkins, Spike Jonze, Maurice 'Drob' Meyer, Dave Nourie, Eddie Roman, Dave Vanderspek Skateboarders: Bod Boyle, Dobie Campbell, Joe Lopes, Todd Swank
We finally caught up with Nick Philip, and we get deep into it on many topics that he had hands on involvement. This one gives us all a deep dive into much of the mystery for most of us, meeting Jess Dyrenforth, Rom trips back in the early days, starting AA as a mail order from his bedroom, Landing a job at BMX Action bike, working with Dave Curry, and talks about what an influence Curry had on the scene. All about the behind the scenes of BMX Action bike RAD magazine. Early Southbank scene, Mons jam, being a rider rep for the ukbfa, AA becoming a clothing brand, the rise and focus of street riding in the magazine, the style change with in BMX as it evolved away from its constraints.
The latest episode of the Union Tapes is live now featuring none other than BMX legend Taj Mihelich. In this episode: "What can anyone say about this guy that hasn’t been said? I'm not even going to try, you know why you're here and this is a good deep dive into some of the mystery surrounding Taj. Topics we cover on this one besides the usual stuff are first sponsor, how he got into jumping, the sponsor line up throughout the years, multiple S&M Holmes frames, moving around the USA, the infamous UGP Face Value part, going from Standard Bykes to Hoffman Bikes to starting T-1 with Joe Rich, where the name Terrible One originated.
Some of the ideals behind T-1 Airwalk shoe sponsor, Small bars, Primo signature parts, Backyard jam experiences, Etnies shoes BMX programme and signature shoes. Multiple trick inventions, his approach to riding BMX and how it should feel, injuries, riding for Giant and almost everything else you’d want to know!"
Click the link below to watch it now.
This is one that goes back to the creation of BMX, Maurice was there at the start when this BMX thing first started. We get into it all here, the early days pre BMX, the influential golden gate park scene and the day Bob Osbourne came to cover it for Freestylin'.
So we've jumped forward a couple of decades for this episode of The Union Tapes. But this is equally as fascinating as the rest of em. Dan Benson started out riding in Sheffield in the mid 90s aboard an 80's BMX frame.
Dave Young was a top name pro in the mid 80s. Coming from Gateshead way up north the odds were stacked against the riders from up there, but thanks to the talent of himself, Pepi Winder and Steve Laidlaw, they shone a light on their scene and left a lasting impression as guys to look for at the contests and in the magazines. We get into the early days of the BMX scene in the north, working at a BMX shop at that time.
Starting out in the early 80’s Jess Dyrenforth became a staple name in the mid to late 80s BMX scene. From the first time anyone had seen him featured in BMX Action bike magazine's track in the woods article in '83.
Rooftop sprung into the BMX spot light in 1993 and scored the last part on the game changing VHS dirty deeds, which was the ground breaking video in 94.
From there he established himself as a solid fixture in any BMX media or event.