July 10, 2005
Free Pinball, Security, and Missing Balls:
The 7th annual Classic Pinball show
By Rob Brink
GameRoom March 2003
Saturday, September 14 was beautiful. Birds were singing, the sun was shining, children were frolicking and giggling, and all was right with the world. One couldn't ask for a more pleasant day to host or attend a pinball show in the lovely town of Wayne, NJ. This was Kevin McHugh and Classic Pinball's 7th annual show. Aside from being the roving reporter, I was an attendee, and fairly excited to go play free pinball and video games all day. Of course, walking around and taking notes of the ridiculousness at an event like this is also something I enjoy. On a side note, Kevin had been holding my Williams Fire machine hostage for a few months trying to sell it for me—and dammit it was time for me to collect my hot, stinky, dirty cash.
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July 10, 2005
Lesbians, Celebrities, Beer, Radio, and, Oh Yeah—Pinball
By Rob Brink
GameRoom July 2002
The History
So one day, I hear about Classic Pinball (Clifton, NJ) from a commercial on the radio and decide to head down to the showroom to have a look. I was delighted to see so many vintage (and modern) arcade games and pinball machines for my viewing and purchasing pleasure—and so close to my home.
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July 5, 2005
Heather Christensen was voted Playboy's Lingerie Model of the Year for 2001. She was also my first feature interview for Stance (and ever for that matter). If you search hard enough online, you'll find some lovely photos of her "modeling" lingerie.
Much like with my Rachel Perry feature, I had the idea to have Heather advise the Stance audience on how to score with hot chicks like herself and a few pointers for the ladies in the audience who might want to start skateboarding. However, the advice column got the axe, but I have included it here.
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July 5, 2005
Jonathan Davis' Serial Killer Museum
Rob Brink
Stance December 2002
Jonathan Davis is the front man for one of the most influential metal bands in recent times. He is adored by millions, he is dating the adorable porn star Devon, he has his own record label, he is rich, and just when you though he couldn't get any cooler—he goes and announces the opening of his serial killer museum in Los Angeles.
As if the time he spent working in a morgue when he was younger wasn't enough exposure to the grotesque, Davis has been accumulating art and other items by serial killers for years. He is now collaborating with artist Joe Coleman and true crime artifacts collector and archivist Arthur Rosenblatt to build a home for his extensive collection of murderer memorabilia.
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July 5, 2005
Catharine Lyons
Founder/Co-owner, Rookie Skateboards
By Rob Brink
SG August/September 2003
With no specific or prior business education, Catharine Lyons and friend Elska Sandor started Rookie Skateboards in New York City in the summer of 1996. Sick of her retail job and ready to bring something new to skateboarding, Lyons admittedly conducted minimal business research and dove in head first without much serious planning before taking the plunge. “We simply felt we had something to offer the skateboard industry and thought it might be fun to start a company of our own. We share an attitude of ‘do this while it's fun and have fun while we're doing it.' There really is no point if it's not fun,” says Lyons.
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July 2, 2005
This article took months to do and a lot of time in front of the TV rewinding and fast forwarding many many skate videos. It also inspired a column called "By the Numbers," which Skateboarder now runs monthly.
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July 2, 2005
15 Things You Didn't Know About Lance Mountain
By Rob Brink
Skateboarder September 2004
- Lance is really Lance's middle name. His first name is actually Robert.
- Lance rejected his first graphic that Powell drew for him because it was a drawing of Lance's head exploding. He didn't think his head on a skateboard was something appealing to him or others and asked them to change it. The result was the now-famous “cave drawing” graphic.
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July 2, 2005
Jack Curtin
By Rob Brink
Strength August 2003
Despite the fact that San Francisco doesn't seem to be the “Skate Mecca” it used to be (the demolition and skate proofing of many famous spots and all), it remains a city that skaters from all over the world can go to and gain acceptance, land sponsors, hone their skills, and get famous.
Jack Curtain is a Dirty Ghetto Kid from Washington DC who has done all of these things. On top of that, he is one of those kids who lands such impressive maneuvers that word spreads through the skate industry grapevine just as fast as a retirement announcement or your favorite pro quitting his long-time sponsor. Not too shabby for a 19-year old who started skating in Indonesia, transplanted to San Francisco to go to college full time, and is trying to squeeze in nights at the bar and a few games of basketball.
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July 1, 2005
Darrell Stanton
By Rob Brink
Strength June 2003
It's amazing that, in skateboarding, there is the potential for a young person to virtually blow up overnight. Maybe not on the same scale as say, 50 Cent or Avril Lavigne, but anyone looking for that kind of attention and success would most likely never pick up a skateboard and commit to it in the first place.
Darrell Stanton has achieved a different kind of success. He picked up a skateboard only five years ago, rode it for the fun of it, got really, really good at it, and is already about to become a professional. More noticeably than with other skaters, Darrell's sponsors (especially Real and Volcom) seem to support him with unconditional love and have done a great job of putting him on the map. But not as good a job as he did himself in June 2002 by getting his first photo coverage ever in a skate mag—which happened to be the cover of Thrasher.
You all know the trick and the spot, now get to know the skater.
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July 1, 2005
Deadsy is another interview I pushed for with Stance really hard. They graciously agreed (probably just to shut me up) and I was pretty psyched. The band ended up putting this piece on their site after it ran in the mag. I have included the actual print article followed by the full unedited, and lengthy (but Deadsy fans will be stoked I'm sure) interview with Elijah Blue Allman (Deadsy's founder and frontman).
Deadsy
By Rob Brink
Stance Magazine August 2002
Ordinary people must wonder how it is growing up the child of celebrities, and how it could propel one into stardom instantly. Elijah Blue Allman (son of Cher and Greg Allman) doesn't deny the perks, but explains, "Privilege definitely doesn't lend any credibility to your existence, so you better have something special to attract people into your life."
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