Massive, massive influence for myself and Neil. I didn’t get to see them live until ’91 or so, but those records were on heavy rotation for so long… still are. – Randy

Dennis Dragon died unexpectedly yesterday. It hasn’t been reported officially, but rather through friends and relatives of his on Facebook. Skateboarders know and love him as a founding member of the Surf Punks, and musical director for those famous Bones Brigade movies. He also appeared uncredited in the movie Skateboard Madness as the character Dick Damage. I can tell you, as a high school age kid who grew up in the Midwest, the Surf Punks had an abnormally large impact on me. I knew that he lived in Southern Oregon and had often thought about trying to locate him and meet him. I’m sure he would have been annoyed, but maybe not. A sad day on Skate and Annoy, enough to get me out of retirement and make a post again.

Wear your helmets kids. [Source: WKOB, Albuquerque]

David Bowie dead at 69. R.I.P.. [Photo]

Larry Gordon, the surfing pioneer who more or less invented the foam core surfboard, and was the co-founder of Gordon & Smith surfboards and skateboards passed away on January 1st. UPDATE: I originally reported Larry as the possible inventor of the foam core surfboard based on information published by the San Diego Tribune, which has since been revised to: “He was one of the first people to bring polyurethane foam boards to San Diego. Picking up on a nascent trend in the industry, he started experimenting with foam materials at his father’s factory, Gordon Plastics.” [Source: San Diego Tribune.]

Lemmy Kilmister dead at 70, two days after being diagnosed with cancer. His bandmates have explicit instructions on honoring his life. Long live Lemmy. [Photo: Independent]

Brooke McCarter died from a genetic liver disorder yesterday. To pedestrians he is best known as a vampire in the Lost Boys, but skateboarders of a certain age will recognize him from his supporting roll as a Ramp Local in Thrashin’. [source: People. Photos: Left – Lost Boys Sanctuary, Right – Chiveta]

Actress Rose Siggens who played “Legless Suzi” in “American Horror Story: Freak Show,” died over the weekend. The picture above is from an American Horror Story screening in LA. Rose is the only one with a skateboard from that shoot, and she must have really liked it because it was the first picture on her website at the time of this post. UPDATE: Looks like she used it for transportation. [ Source: CNN ] – Thanks to Steve Spurlock for the tip.

R.I.P. Gerry Hurtado AKA “SkateMaster Tate” UPDATE: Benefit board for his family.

I have no idea what this pin is supposed to mean. It’s an 80’s era pin, possibly early 90’s. Maybe the 40 down the drain is for your dead homies? All I know for sure is that the first thing I thought of when I saw the weird face on the skateboarder was the movie They Live. Sigh… R.I.P. Rowdy Roddy Piper.