I don’t do many strictly music posts lately, but this one really appealed to my love of all things postmodern and post-punk. And of course, toys. It’s a recreation of Joy Division’s TV appearance on the BBC show Something Else. Compare it to the real thing after the jump – Thanks to SteveB for the tip. [Source: Kottle.org]

Nardwuar the Human Serviette had a guest DJ Roger Allen on his radio show to present the history of Skate Rock. It’s was an entertaining show to be sure, but I think Roger confused Skate Rock with music that a lot of skateboarders listen to. He started off on a high note with a soundtrack clip from the 60’s film Skater Dater, and a few good skatesploitation tracks from the 70’s before getting derailed by Led Zepplin, the Red Hot Chilli Peppers and a bunch of other bands that certainly were listened to by a lot of the skating population, but can hardly be considered authentic “skate rock,” Bad Brains included. It’s something I’d actually enjoy getting into a scholarly debate about with Allen. It’s a good listen anyway. 80’s centric but bookended by decades on both sides. Check out Nardwuar vs. Roger Allen. I love Nardwuar. – Thanks to Dale Pidlisny for the tip. [Photo: William R. Jans]

December 2010 was a great month on eBay. There were lots of great decks: some classics and some more unusual ones that don’t get seen too often. I’ve left out some of the “classics” this month, because let’s face it. How many more times can I show a PP Lance Mountain Future Primitive? Yes it’s a great, classic graphic, but after a while it gets dull for me to write about, and probably for you reading this. If I see one in a truly outstanding colorway then perhaps I will show it, but otherwise it has gone the way of the Hawk. And I don’t care if it did fetch over $1000, if I’m not excited about showing it then it’s not in here, whether that be due to over saturation or a poor photograph. I often get emails asking why I didn’t feature a certain auction. Normally it’s because the photo sucked. If the photo is super small, fuzzy and has bad color, then it’s not allowed in here. My readers have to be able to look at the deck as well as read about it. That’s part of the deal.

Tito from Team Pain sent in some pictures from the Quicksilver All 80’s All Day Vert Challenge, and because some of you will ask, it had a 9.5 foot radius and a foot and a half of vert. Team Pain built the ramp and donated it to Grover’s back yard after the event. Ha ha, just kidding. They did build the ramp though. Photos and a good Quicksilver video recap after the jump. All kinds 80’s faces coming out of the woodwork.

I gaped. I couldn’t believe what I’d seen. He’d ridden the wall. I jerked my head around to share with everyone else’s amazement, and no one, not one single person seemed to have even noticed what Christian had done. Stecyk knew though, and said, “You’ve got some catching up to do.” There’s an excellent in-depth interview with Jim Fitzpatrick interview on I Skate, therefore I am blog. It’s five parts long ( 1 – 2 – 3 – 4 – 5) ! Fitzpatrick has seen some interesting times in skateboarding, including being involved in two hugely influential companies like Makaha and Powell Peralta, and spearheading the fight to have skateboarding classified as a hazardous activity. For those of you who scratch your head at that one, it’s one of the reasons that municipalities don’t have to carry massive skateboard-specific insurance riders for skateboard parks. Because, as an inherently dangerous activity, the rider assumes a certain amount of risk while engaging in the activity. The interview covers other aspects of Jim’s life as well, from surfing to being a Montessori school teacher. There’s even a Surf Punks reference. Definitely worth reading if you enjoy learning about key figures in skateboarding history.…

No, not another Surf Punks post. This is Hugh Holland’s new book published by Ammo Books. A couple images and a few words after the jump.

Mike McGill, Kevin Staab, Tony Hawk and Christian Hosoi in a promo for The Quiksilver All 80’s All Day Vert Challenge on January 7th, 2011 at SurfExpo in Orlando, FL. The video is mildly amusing, coming off better than most of the skits in Animal Chin, yet highly reminiscent of course. Skaters committed to show so far are Tony Hawk Christian Hosoi ,Mike McGill, Kevin Staab, Andy Macdonald, Mike Frazier, Ben Schroeder, Buck Smith, Henry Gutierrez and (wait for it….) Rodney Mullen????? Apparently. No word on whether his parents will let him skate vert yet. Video plus one with slightly extended highlights from last year, after the jump. – Thanks to Bob Mechtly for the tip.

It’s the Ice Surfer, the invention of Willard Gebien from Libertyvlle, Illinois. Debra Fischler sent in a picture of the device from 1966. An auction for a mint condition Ice Surfer showed up about a month ago, I sent it to Neil but I guess he forgot or wasn’t interested. I believe it went for about $150, I was tempted but I just don’t have the extra cash floating around. I’d never seen close up pictures of the actual Ice Surfer board before then, but when it rains, it pours. There’s another one on eBay right now. It’s well worn and slightly damaged, so the opening bid of $149 is pretty steep considering the condition. Peep some pics of the pristine version after the jump.

Things get back to normal this month. Bargain Section? Check. Assorted Crap? Check. 5,000 words? Check. Lots of great looking decks and some surprises? Checkmate. But before we get to the meat I want to look at a couple of things that left me amazed and disgusted in November.

This is from a February, 1980 National Geographic article on the Apache Indian Reserve. Genius. Simple, yet effective. Pure. Enlarge-o-rama. – Thanks to Ryan Mann for the tip.