{"id":2461,"date":"2006-05-01T20:46:39","date_gmt":"2006-05-02T03:46:39","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/skateandannoy.com\/features\/?p=2461"},"modified":"2026-09-30T21:05:56","modified_gmt":"2026-10-01T04:05:56","slug":"tod-swank-interview","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/skateandannoy.com\/features\/tod-swank-interview\/","title":{"rendered":"Tod Swank Interview"},"content":{"rendered":"
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By Kilwag and House of Neil: Written 2001? Posted 5-01-06<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u2019e\u2019s 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\u2026 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Tod Swank Interview Episode II (From 2002, but not published until now.)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Photos: Tod Swank or his friends, or someone. He didn’t say who took most of them<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Neil:<\/strong> 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\u2014Rocco 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)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Swank:<\/strong> Wow I am that powerful? I didn\u2019t 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\u2019t even know it!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kilwag:<\/strong> 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\u2019t be stingy with the boring details, cause I want to know, and we can always edit them out anyway.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Swank:<\/strong> Shit that\u2019s 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\u2019t know what I was doing. Something started to work. I didn\u2019t 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!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Cover of original issue #7 of Skate And Annoy with first Swank Interview. Cica 1987.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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1981 Layback air at Del Mar keyhole in a ASPO contest.photo :Tod Swank or his friends, or someone. He didn’t say who took most of them.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Cover of Skate and Annoy Volume 2 Number 3 featuring this interview.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

N:<\/strong> Where do you live now? Married? Kids? If not, don\u2019t you think it\u2019s about time you settled down?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Swank:<\/strong> San Diego rocks the free world. No, it sucks. Don\u2019t come here. Girl friend and three dogs. Does that count?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

N: <\/strong>What do you want the world to know about the enigma that is Tod Swank?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Swank:<\/strong> Enigma, I love that word. As an enigma I think I don\u2019t want the world to know. Then there wouldn\u2019t be the enigma and that would be the end of me.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

N:<\/strong> 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?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Swank:<\/strong> 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.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

N:<\/strong> Favorite TV show? Favorite book? Favorite cartoon character? Favorite porn star?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Swank:<\/strong> The Yuck Fou Local Access show. Yuck Fou and the Iconoclasts. Yuck Fou. Traci Lords.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

K:<\/strong> Were you bummed when Asimov died? I was. I\u2019m not much of a star-searcher, but I had always wanted to meet him. Did he ever find out about Foundation Skateboards?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Swank:<\/strong> A little, but that happens. His legacy lives on tremendously so it\u2019s like he is still here. Did he ever find out about Foundation Skateboards? Not that I knew of. I didn\u2019t get any cease and desists from him.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Girls Just want to have fun. Randon Tum Yeto staff trade show activity. Yahoo.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Todd Joseph and me at the old school skate jam. Todd used to do wrap around layback airs to inverts.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

K:<\/strong> 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\u2019s up with that?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Swank:<\/strong> 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.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

K: <\/strong>Was there ever a Justin Lovely model on Foundation?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Swank:<\/strong> Yes there were right at the start. That didn\u2019t last long though. We needed to move on and start learning what we were doing quick because I didn\u2019t 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.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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K:<\/strong> When\u2019s the last time you skated a parking garage?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Swank:<\/strong> Haven\u2019t bombed a parking garage in a long while. Downtown San Diego was the best in the eighties. It was all business down there so the weekends it was dead. You could session all over with out getting hassled. We used to bomb the concourse all night long. Alan Losi shocked me with one of those taser things at the top of the concourse. Real funny Alan.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

N:<\/strong> Do you still skate much? If so, what is your setup right now?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Swank:<\/strong> Not as much as I would like. We have this gnar, gnar little ramp at skateboard.com that takes the piss out of me. I have a quiver. I am trying to try and have a deck with a difference in the nose and tail and mellow concave. Of course I have a \u201cgo-getter.\u201d(secret weapon)<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

N:<\/strong> Do you still take skate photos? Film or digital camera?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Swank:<\/strong> Not often. I have had my fill. I went on tour with Rocket from the Crypt last summer and filmed and shot photos the whole time. That was fun. Digital all the way. Canon G-1 and Olympus E-10. I am looking for the Olympus E-100 RS on ebay.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

K: <\/strong>Who was your favorite skater to shoot or watch back in the day, and today as well?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Swank:<\/strong> Back in the day. There were so many. Craig Johnson, Jeff Phillips, Chris Miller, Lee Ralph, it just goes on and on. Today again too many.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Swank Zine Details<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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My dawgs Pig Dawg and Gonzo.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

K:<\/strong> Your videos have a rep for being kid of arty, which I can\u2019t vouch for since I\u2019ve never seen them (hint, hint\u2026 [ a hint he has ignored!] ). Is that a natural extension of your photography and zine-making? When was the last issue (and number) of Swank Zine<\/a>? Have you considered taking it out of the mothballs?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Swank:<\/strong> Huh? What? Fuck if I can remember the details there. I own swankzine.com<\/a>!! Just wait.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

K:<\/strong> What\u2019s your favorite and least favorite thing about the skate mags today?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Swank:<\/strong> Favorite \u2013 I don\u2019t think I have any. Least favorite \u2013 they come out too often and they are too thick. It\u2019s a burn out. I do like that there is constant change with riders and tricks and shit. It just keeps mixing up all the time. That\u2019s the great thing about skateboarding.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

K:<\/strong> Do you consider yourself an outsider in the industry?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Swank:<\/strong> Why because I am anti social and hate big events? Or is it because I don\u2019t have a college education. Hey I have a fresh jive Mike York action figure! It\u2019s all good.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

N:<\/strong> If you had polled skater 15 years ago on who would be the most powerful figures in skating in the year 2000, I don\u2019t think Steve Rocco or Tod Swank would have come up. You were always a fringe kind of guy. How did it happen for you, and what made you so successful when so many other well-known skaters tried and failed?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Swank:<\/strong> I don\u2019t think so either. I think if you asked today I definitely wouldn\u2019t come up. I am pretty low key. Fear was probably a big factor in making happen and maybe luck. Yes luck was in there. I feel lucky everyday. Lucky to be alive. Lucky that I am not just a non-thinking amoeba. People take so much for granted. It\u2019s not over yet, failure could be lurking right around the corner waiting to whack me across the back of the head. It\u2019s good though. I have learned so much.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Swank Zine #18<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Swank Zine #20<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Scrap Zine #10<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

K:<\/strong> Have you ever arm wrestled with Rocco? If not, what about playing footsies?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Swank:<\/strong> Just golf and some gambling.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

K:<\/strong> Back in \u201996 or so when I registered the SkateAndAnnoy.com<\/em> domain, I tried to register skateboarding.com and skateboard.com too. I think you had one of those and were using it for Tum Yeto or something. I read in Transworld Skateboarding Business that you sold it to someone (Transworld). You\u2019re a pretty forward thinking guy, did you anticipate selling the domain and the explosion of the web? I remember the first time I saw the site it was pretty unorganized and scattered. Did you handle the code? What about your web presence now?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Swank:<\/strong> Technology overall is exciting and fun. The web is a killer medium. I always dreaded going shopping because it is impossible even today to find stuff. When we first took a jab at it, it was premature. We did this trade show and had all these computers and had our products and companies cataloged on there and we were trying to get other people into it. People didn\u2019t know what it was. Shit I didn\u2019t know just a few months before. I did sell the domain to a new company that I have a hand in. VP of Industry Relations is my title and I am still very involved. It\u2019s a problem solving company, an educational company and a place for skateboarders to come together. I come from the manufacturing side of skateboarding and we are working on the problems that exist out there. I hate looking into my warehouse and we have all these products and kids want them but they can\u2019t get them because there are too many. All the manu\u2019s have this same problem. I could go on and on. I just want kids to be able to get what they want plus it\u2019s just fun. I have all these domains and ideas for crappy little sites like IgotSwanked.com<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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K:<\/strong> What\u2019s your philosophy with your companies? What does the future hold for Foundation and Tod Swank?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Swank:<\/strong> Well we are building it up and working towards our exit strategy. You know this business is all about the exit strategy. I think we are going public next year. Is it beer o\u2019clock yet? Fuck I better start relaxing or something. I get all antsy when I am sitting around. Always have to do something. I have a couple ideas for projects. A punk rock greasy spoon diner. And this cooler and lake accessory deal for when we go to the river. My nickname is captain kickback.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

K:<\/strong> Has the face of the industry changed much since you started out. There are tons of smaller board companies out there but in reality, don\u2019t most of them have ties through backing or distribution to bigwigs behind the scene?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Swank:<\/strong> You are correct in your presumption. It\u2019s not easy running a skateboard company. But It\u2019s all good. The best part is that most all of the top companies are run or owned by guys I used to skate with in the eighties before any of us had an idea where it would lead to.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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I (Tod) was trying to get this painting from a friend. Never happened. I collect this shit so if anyone is holding?!?!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Photo shoot from Deathbox. Pineapple!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

K: <\/strong>Why are all decks the same shape now? I don\u2019t know if you saw this, but Vision just re-released 5 old decks with their original graphics and shapes. I believe they\u2019ve been selling really well, which says to me that people are sick of popsicle sticks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Swank:<\/strong> I don\u2019t know. Skating is so funny. It\u2019s supposed to be all about being different (but not for different\u2019s sake) and being creative and original, but in actuality it\u2019s a bunch of soldier\u2019s in their little uniforms marching around and doing their little marching chants. Ok maybe that is a little extreme. I think today\u2019s progressive skating commands the subtle differences in shapes and concaves that top rider are sensitive to. Wait until you see the signature series from Deathbox. It\u2019s crazy yet functional shapes. Check www.Deathbox.com.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

N: <\/strong>What\u2019s the deal with Deathbox? Did you have to get permission from Jeremy Fox to use the name? You should have used the old Deathbox teapot logo. That was rad. Who\u2019s involved? Pete Dossett was a rad skater for Deathbox. ( Deathbox was an English company in the late 80\u2019s)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Swank:<\/strong> It\u2019s pretty cool. I went for a small session with Pineapple, Hackett, Ruml, and Inouye last week at Coronado then we went to dinner. It\u2019s all about having a good time. It\u2019s kinda surreal hanging out with that crew. The D-Boyz came up with it. Hackett had the domain name and is doing a book by the same name. I just checked for trademark availability and it was clear. With original one being lapsed or something. No disrespect. The Deathbox crew didn\u2019t even know there (already) was a Deathbox company. Pete Dossett was rad. I just re-met Alex Moul at Mark Water\u2019s Orange Crush Ramp Jam www.Skatepunk.net awhile back. I forgot that he rode for the OG DB.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

N:<\/strong> Foundation is one of the few companies (or was) that continued to make wide decks and longboards when they weren\u2019t fashionable. Well done, seriously. Not a question, just a comment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Swank:<\/strong> “Foundation is so anti fashion,\u201d a statement, not an answer.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

N:<\/strong> Do you do the graphics for the Foundation decks? If not who does?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Swank:<\/strong> Not really. We work with different artists and the team riders. I do art direction. I am working to quit the business side of my job so I can lolli-gag in the art department coming up with stupid ideas. I love stupid ideas but not stupid-stupid ones. Just the tricky stupid ones. Like I want to call the tour this summer, \u201cDude, where\u2019s my board?\u201d but I don\u2019t think that is going to fly.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n

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This was in LA last year sometime. I (Swank) am a big Steve Albini fan. We had krispy creme donuts and bloody mary’s in the morning with Shellac.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

K:<\/strong> Any post 9-11 hassles over the star and moon graphics. I recall the hubub (or read about it) when the graphics originally came out during the Gulf war, was it? Or was it the Iran Hostage situation?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Swank:<\/strong> Not really. I expected more but maybe people are not complaining to us and just not buying our shit with the star and moon on it. Maybe Jewish people just don’t like it and the arab nations dig it. I don’t know. To me it’s all about the universe and how awesome it is that we are here on earth which is a paradise. This is my heaven. I am living it. We all are, eh?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

K:<\/strong> Do you have a copy of every deck, wheel, sticker that you’ve ever manufactured?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Swank:<\/strong> Hell no. I wish. I would have to have a warehouse just for that. I have a bunch of old boards and I try and grab a couple of every new deck we do. That is the extent of my archiving.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

K: <\/strong>What was the worst thing you ever sold?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Swank:<\/strong> Well there are handful of really terrible graphics we have done. I can’t think of anything else. We did make girls hot pants which were awesome. Talk about sexy. That’s probably the best thing we ever made.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

N:<\/strong> I assume you\u2019ve been all over the world with your company. Where else would you like to live if not in the U.S.? Did you ever skate Rom and Meanwhile II in London?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Swank:<\/strong> France maybe. El Cajon, Ca. Maybe Lake Havasu. I skated both ROM and Meanwhile II. We looked at that gap like whoa gnarly. I don\u2019t know if anyone had done it yet. That was like 1983. Now people are doing like frontside lefty pooh bear reverts and shit over it.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Sean Ingram from the band Coalesce. We traded zines 13 years ago and we met in person the beginning of this year. Weird. Check their shit out!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Classic shot of Duane at Del Mar. That’s Friedmen on the left. He kept telling me to get out of his way. Funny.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

K:<\/strong> What\u2019s your take on the X-Games phenomenon? Have you figured out how to cash in?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Swank:<\/strong> It brought skateboarding to a wider audience, we sell more stuff, we can afford to treat people well. That\u2019s all good. Personally I could care less if it is all big and mainstream because I know there would be a under ground out there doing it\u2019s own thing. There is one right now. They don\u2019t give a fuck, they just skate. No media, no politics, no industry. The upside is that you can actually earn a living. Pro skateboarders are getting paid what they deserve finally.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

K:<\/strong> What\u2019s your favorite skateboarding toy?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Swank:<\/strong> I have a few remote control skateboarders that are really cool and I chase my dogs with them. If you have any of these please send them to me pronto.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

K:<\/strong> Here\u2019s where I really expose my ignorance. Did you ever have anything to do with Toy Machine?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Swank:<\/strong> Hell no. Fuck that company and Ed \u201cFag\u201d Templeton. I am just kidding. Toy Machine is killer. They have such a rad team right now. I hooked up with Ed when he was doing TM with Brad Dorfman. It sucked for him. We hijacked it and Foundation backed it up. We are partners in the destruction the young minds.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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K:<\/strong> What\u2019s your favorite skateboard company outside of the Foundation conglomeration?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Swank:<\/strong> There\u2019s a bunch. Enjoi is good. Anti hero, Actually there are not a bunch. There is no one really pushing the creative envelope. It\u2019s just repeat and boring. Its just business now. All ads are photo, logo. Nobody is saying anything.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

K:<\/strong> Nostalgia overload: What do you miss most about skateboarding during the eighties?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Swank:<\/strong> Probably the fact that you could travel anywhere and if you ran into other skaters you pretty much instantly had a friend. Nowadays I just like to pretend that I am a used car salesman. I\u2019m just kidding. It\u2019s always cool to meet people that are into it. It\u2019s just that now that there\u2019s so many skateboarders some of them are enemies. Does that make sense?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

N:<\/strong> Have you seen \u201cDogtown and the Z-Boys\u201d yet? Thoughts? (Oh man- that\u2019s how old this interview is\u2026 k-ed)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Swank:<\/strong> I am going to see it tomorrow. I am excited. (Three days later) Went and saw it. It\u2019s a lesson learned. I wonder what would of happened to skateboarding if those events and those people were not there? There is something unforgiving and un-relentless about it and that\u2019s what makes it unique. There\u2019s some mysterious context that is hard to nail down. I am honored.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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This was a long time ago at Thrash-athon San Luis Obisbo. Always fun with hot college girls.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Crankshaft circa the 80’s. Yikes!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

K:<\/strong> Do you know where GSD or Dan Wilkes are, not that you should?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Swank:<\/strong> I saw GSD\u2019s truck parked in front of my house one morning not to long ago. Sometimes he crashes out there. He hangs out with Mark Waters a bunch. I think they are getting married. Dan Wilkes emailed me not too long ago. He wanted to know when Deathbox was doing the 80\u2019s series!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

N:<\/strong> What do you think about the old deck collecting frenzy going on right now? Do you have a lot of old stuff at home?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Swank:<\/strong> Oh man, that\u2019s my retirement stash. Watch, I will get old and go to sell my shit and it will be pass\u00e9. I will be homeless and shit hauling around a bunch of worthless crap. I will make a little lean to down by the river and the kids will pelt me with rocks. Shit that\u2019s kinda sad. I hope I will be ok.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

K:<\/strong> What is the worst skateboarding or other fad that you\u2019ve ever succumbed to, and can we have pictures of it?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Swank:<\/strong> Probably making zines. They are pretty scary to look back on. I never did the Jimmy Z thing. Never been that flamboyant?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Painted this in my house before painting the walls red. She’s hot!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Sporting the dirty hippy!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

K:<\/strong> Who\u2019s your favorite artist? What are you listening to these days?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Swank:<\/strong> Andrew WK Get wet record! (Ah ha! I doubt he\u2019s still listening to that. k-ed)<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

K:<\/strong> Who, if anyone, are you often mistaken for?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Swank:<\/strong> This guy Matt Barker. He is my friend now and the GM at TY. We didn\u2019t know each other but hung out in the same circles. People used to think I was him and vice versa. We just ended meeting at a gig. Oh yea people think I look like Russel Crow too.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Detail from Swank Zine<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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This hell ramp is at the Skateboard.com warehouse. Six foot trannies, 5′ high, 7′ of flat. It’s quick, fast and daunting. Rock and roll.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

N:<\/strong> How have you changed in the last 15 years? Would you trade the wisdom of age for the athleticism of youth?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Swank:<\/strong> Whoa that\u2019s a toughie. I gained about twenty five pounds. I am starting to get weathered. Though I still get carded all the time. Skateboarding keeps you young in mind and spirit. I still want to have fun. I was always pretty mellow. Wisdom for youth? Hmmm. The purity of youth and the idea that there are no barriers, no walls, blockades at what is possible and feasible. I love that. To be older and appreciate that is a virtue too. No, I think, you are young, you get older, you live life. It can\u2019t get much better than this. I am just glad that I met that skateboarding thing. I probably would be some fucked up dude if it was not for that.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

K:<\/strong> Any thoughts on the recent rash of old pros going to jail and then finding Jesus?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Swank:<\/strong> Hey you don’t have to go to jail to find Jesus. I haven’t found him yet. One day I thought I saw him at Bud’s Liquor down the street but I was mistaken.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Last words and anyone you\u2019d like to mention?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Swank:<\/strong> Thanks to skateboarding. Thanks to you guys. It\u2019s really cool to re-meet people like you even though I have never actually met you in person. It\u2019s like there is a bond that never dies. It really makes you feel good. Like you\u2019ll never be alone in this strange and weird universe.<\/em> Keep on rolling. So long and thanks for all the fish. – Tod<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That was AWESOME! Now read the first interview from 1987 here<\/a>. Wait… where?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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\u2019e\u2019s known for Foundation and Tumyeto, but We got […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":4193,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2461","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-features"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/skateandannoy.com\/features\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2006\/05\/swank-interview-topper.webp","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/skateandannoy.com\/features\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2461","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/skateandannoy.com\/features\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/skateandannoy.com\/features\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/skateandannoy.com\/features\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/skateandannoy.com\/features\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2461"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/skateandannoy.com\/features\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2461\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4338,"href":"https:\/\/skateandannoy.com\/features\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2461\/revisions\/4338"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/skateandannoy.com\/features\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4193"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/skateandannoy.com\/features\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2461"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/skateandannoy.com\/features\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2461"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/skateandannoy.com\/features\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2461"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}