By Kilwag and House of Neil: Written 2001? Posted 5-01-06
Yeah… When we started making print issues again in 2002 we ran through our old contacts trying to find anyone we could possibly have some kind of connection with in the modern skate industry world. Today h’e’s known for Foundation and Tumyeto, but We got a bit ahead of ourselves and jumped on the chance to re-interview Tod Swank since he made the mistake of replying to us. We figured we had better do it shortly after he agreed so he wouldn’t have time to rethink his answer. Then, in true Skate And Annoy fashion, we sat on the completed interview for about 4 years. That’s why the Interweb is great, it lets you publish almost instantly. And so, without further ado… Oh wait… A little background, the time period was pre-Dogtown and Z-Boys movie, shortly after the launch of-Deathbox USA. Tod sent us a bunch of crappy photos too. Don’t blame us. I don’t even know if the more recent pictures are actually him or just some guy he knows. Somehow I don’t think he took this interview with the degree of levity that was appropriate. I mean, we’re f-ing Skate and Annoy here! Click the pictures to read the captions.. Finally, Here is the Tod Swank Interview Episode II Revenge of the Return of the Swank. Now send us some free shit! The first interview from 1987 is here.
Tod Swank Interview Episode II (From 2002, but not published until now.)
Photos: Tod Swank or his friends, or someone. He didn’t say who took most of them.
Neil: We, the talented creators of Skate and Annoy, are all-knowing. Back in the 80’s we interviewed 2 people that were to become 2 of the most powerful men in skateboarding—Rocco and yourself. Bow to our powers! Of course we also interviewed Dan Wilkes and Sam Cunningham, so that theory is shot! (Don’t forget about Art and Steve Godoy… k.ed)
Swank: Wow I am that powerful? I didn’t know. I need to get out there and flex my power. Who wants some!? I will break you in two. Power is a relative term and I think you were right on track. I think those guys are powerful in their own right. You guys were way ahead of the curve and you didn’t even know it!
Kilwag: When we interviewed you last, you were riding for Skull Skates back then, and it was the era of Justin Lovely. For those that took a break from the major skate mags in the early nineties, give us a time line of your activities, starting with Skull Skates. Don’t be stingy with the boring details, cause I want to know, and we can always edit them out anyway.
Swank: Shit that’s a lot of time to fill in. In a nut shell, yikes that a pretty big nut. Hung out with P.D. and the Skull crew then on good terms and split to start the F with Rocco backing me up. I was failing miserably and decided to paint myself in a corner and force myself to step up to the plate. I left Rocco and went on my own. That was the worst feeling. I didn’t know what I was doing. Something started to work. I didn’t even know we were making money until three years later when I got an accountant. I always thought we were going to go out of business. Ed Templeton broke from Vision and came into our fold. We tried some other projects failed. Started Pig and that took hold. Went through an IRS audit. A sales tax audit. Wasted a bunch of cash on the internet in 1996 as well as a weak shoe attempt. We ended up donating the shoes to charities. There was all these homeless people pimping our shoes. Zero started around there. Moved the warehouse near downtown SD in the ghetto. Which was great. Riders came and went. Employees came and went. Right now we have the best crew we ever had. We are all pretty good friends. We have had some crazy Xmas parties! 2002 and we are preparing for the future, planning, worrying, feeling great one day and shit the next. Still looking for a warehouse so we can have our own T.F. too!
N: Where do you live now? Married? Kids? If not, don’t you think it’s about time you settled down?
Swank: San Diego rocks the free world. No, it sucks. Don’t come here. Girl friend and three dogs. Does that count?
N: What do you want the world to know about the enigma that is Tod Swank?
Swank: Enigma, I love that word. As an enigma I think I don’t want the world to know. Then there wouldn’t be the enigma and that would be the end of me.
N: Cereal or toast? Mac or PC? Vert or street? Big wheels or small wheels? Jay Adams or Chad Muska? Online or paper zines? Cash or credit? Paper or plastic? Real or silicone?
Swank: Poached eggs. Mac and PC. Transition, pushing makes the ball of my foot hurt. 56-58mm. Ethan Fowler. Online zines because when you publish you instantly are worldwide. Paper ones are coolly subvert. Cash is king, credit is convenient. I prefer glass for my beverages. You know I have never felt up the silicone, my guess would be real.
N: Favorite TV show? Favorite book? Favorite cartoon character? Favorite porn star?
Swank: The Yuck Fou Local Access show. Yuck Fou and the Iconoclasts. Yuck Fou. Traci Lords.
K: Were you bummed when Asimov died? I was. I’m not much of a star-searcher, but I had always wanted to meet him. Did he ever find out about Foundation Skateboards?
Swank: A little, but that happens. His legacy lives on tremendously so it’s like he is still here. Did he ever find out about Foundation Skateboards? Not that I knew of. I didn’t get any cease and desists from him.
K: I decided to set up an old Justin Lovely model that for some reason I had stopped riding before it got completely thrashed. I realized why I quit riding it when I almost killed myself because my foot kept slipping off the non-existent nose. What’s up with that?
Swank: That was just the way it was back then. Weak! I have a board now that is pretty cool for today. It has a sizable nose but the shape is killer because it has some shape. You can tell what is the nose and what is the tail. I was never a big switch or backwards dude. I mostly like to ride forward.
K: Was there ever a Justin Lovely model on Foundation?
Swank: Yes there were right at the start. That didn’t last long though. We needed to move on and start learning what we were doing quick because I didn’t want it to end before it even got started. J.L. has a ranch in E.C. S.D. A nice spread and a hot wife that sits around the swimming pool in this miniscule bikini. That bastard. We go out there every once in awhile for barbeques. He has this completely un-skateable mini bowl. Yet he and a select few others kill it on that crap.
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