A new feature we’re going to do around these parts is feature some of Mike’s older skate video parts and get some of his commentary and history behind these clips. Kicking it all off is the rare “Vallely Promo Video” from Powell Skateboards. Read on…
“The ’97 Powell Promo is significant for several reasons. One, it came packaged (VHS) with my first pro model board after going some three years without a pro model board. Two, it served as a reintroduction to the skate community of who I was and what my skating was all about — originality and creativity. And three, it was the first board of mine to incorporate the lightning bolt logo that I continue to use to this very day.”
“When Powell decided to restart their pro model program everyone inside the company thought it was high time for me to return to my ’88 classic elephant graphics except for me, I just didn’t want to go there — I wanted something new. I felt it was the beginning of a new chapter in my career and wanted to go with something different and the lightning bolt graphic was the kind of bold and simple symbol I wanted to use to represent my skating and myself.”
“The lightning bolt logo is something I lifted from Elvis Presley but is also influenced by Ace Frehley and countless super heroes of my youth.”
“The video was filmed mostly by Kirk Dianda and edited by Josh Friedberg at 411VM. It’s probably my best work of the ’90s.”
– Mike V
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excellent video, love bob dylan. was that the original song on the video?
Love watching it again! and again! Some day I will have that deck for my collection. Just beautiful!
Floorless skating Mike, shame about the Dylan.
Yea, the Dylan track was the original track we edited to.
I’ve always loved watching you skate cause you always do your own thing, since you never really care about what’s popular.Really good video too!
I just wanna tell you that you are kind of a rolemodel to me (maybe even your northliest fan?, I’m from Luleå in Sweden) Anyhow, I’m really interested in the skull that’s on the Glory Bound CD cover, where’s that from and what’s it called? I’ve seen it alot in punk music but never knew what it really means. (If it does mean anything) Keep the good work up! And I hope you will keep releasing new records, everyone sofar has been really good!
Thanks Rob. The skull with top hat was influenced by tattoo flash… We just did our own version of it for the band. I don’t know what it represents or is suppose to represent… we just thought it looked cool and was the right vibe for our music.