Heroes? What Heroes?

Today I am Tony Alva.

It wasn’t a difficult decision, really. Last sunday I was checking out Glen Friedman’s awesome photo work “Fuck you heroes” and, if anything, there are tons of spectacular Dogtown Tony Alva shots in there.

He’s in excellent company throughout the book, Mr Alva.

From Jay Adams to Stacy Peralta, almost all his mid-seventies Dogtown skateboard entourage posed for Glen. Moreover you’ll also get a brief look on the hardcore punk-rock universe as well. Henry Rollins [of the Black Flag], least to say my favorite Rock Poet, is among the many roaring shirtless with the microphone, whereas some humorless looking, no-nonsense hip hop icons such as Ice-T, Run DMC or Public Enemy seem to be on the top of their game. Oversize glasses, laceless Adidas shoes. Beautiful transition. Eighties nostalgia at its best.

Friedman's work is a living, working instrument of agitation and social transformation. Troops on the truly dangerous fringe of hard-core punk, surf, skate, thrash, rap and hip hop communities have been waiting for years for G.E.F.'s retrospective, Fuck You Heroes, but you can see from these brilliant photos - which literally changed the meaning of being young in America - that Glen's process was much more incendiary than it was documentary. (Via Wikipedia)

The seventies, especially the decade’s second half, will not be remembered as a stereotype of a rebellious or a revolutionary era. It was merely the wild hangover after the turbulent sixties as cold war peaked and financial worries overwhelmed the zeitgeist. Other subcultures emerged, with imprudent, irrational interests, and above all, numerous empty swimming pools to be occupied.

Alva, Adams, Peralta, Smith and Co. didn't think twice about skating an illegal pool or running from the cops. Armed with their “search, skate and destroy” attitude their entire style of skating contrasted to the industry standards, plus the crew always pulled off trick shit that left others looking stupid. Glen captured some of the most memorable shots from this era. The one of Tony Alva doing a frontside air at the Dogbowl is a classic example. This book is a must-buy.

Tony Alva, Skateboarding’s first World Champion in history, was the leading force among the Z-Boys. He showcased the first aerials, founded the first Skateboard company at the age of only nineteen. Thanks to the Z-Boys, skating in empty pools became mainstream as well as the Vans shoes, which they all wore.

Whatever opinion you might have of this seminal subculture or its pioneering members, it is hard to ignore the innovative spirit behind their actions. It’s not skateboarding alone, which owes a great deal of popularity to these guys today, it is a whole new suburban lifestyle that dominates our neighbourhoods, our language, our homes, garages, closets, TV-screens, Play Stations among many others.

Heroes? Well, f*ck you!