Just received issue #50. Wow! Pretty freakin’ amazing.
I want to congratulate you on this amazing feat (not to mention
great issue). I was kind of worried about you guys, because
it took awhile before I received issue #50. I was extremely
happy to get this issue. Your magazine is great. I love your
independence. And it gives me that needed skate fix that I
fiend for. I want to thank you guys.
I was wondering about the book, Declaration of Independents,
which you have put out. The ad in #50 for it does not list
a price. How much is this book? Please drop me a line with
this info (I can’t call the phone number listed). I would
love to get a copy of this book. Thanks bros! Take care.
P.S. I was wondering if you have any of these old articles
or issues from Heckler available, could you send me photo
copies of these articles: #8 NOFX, #11 Deftones, #16 Adam
Yauch, #19 Helmet, #23 Brotha Lynch Hung & John Cardiel,
#26 Phil Anselmo. I would highly appreciate copies of any
or all of these articles (especially the one of the Deftones).
–Mark Myers, Mt. Olive, WV
Mark – Glad you liked 50. It did take a while to get
that shit together and to get the distributor to get it out.
We were pretty stoked to have hit 50 and look forward to hittin’
100 while laying down the independent, AOL ain’t telling
me what to do shit. We have been tryin’ to get some love
from the skateboarding industry (cause we aren’t a snowboard
mag that tosses in some skate cookies as an afterthought),
and this issue shows that love. TNT is sick and the we want
to thank all the skate bro’s for hookin up with us for
this issh.
The book is available online and directly from us. We hit
you for 25 bucks (real world translation of the sales babble
of $24.95) and 5 bucks to get it to you. Lots of book stores
have it, but we want you to buy it from us cause we make more
money that way. Not that we are especially greedy, but John,
Sonny and Chris deserve the love. So send in the cash, fool.
As far as the back issues, Sonny is too lazy to go to the
vault for the back issues and make an intern copy shit for
you. However, by the time you read this, our “new”
web site should be up (it had better, or I am going to kick
some weak assed web nerd’s head in). By mid summer, most
of the back issues will be online and gettable. Joe Bob Briggs
sez check it out.
I’m
pissed you guys never sent me the free CD you offered on the
cardboard tear out I subscribed to you on. It was from an
old issue, but I feel I deserve the benefits just like all
your other subscribers.
The write in you guys published a few years ago killed all
the lame ones. I see now about how people get drunk and listen
to all the music you write about. It would be excellent if
you would do a story on a girl skater and give her a proper
interview, asking questions like what inspires her to skate
or write or sing or lay in the grass or duck dive excessively.
Maybe it would provide a more realistic view of women all
over to those who seem to deny their ability to comprehend
things as well as the boys do. But overall, I’m grateful
that the youth today has the choice of reading your nardical
magazine.
–Tiffany Peterson, Naples, FL
Tiff – Thanks for the props. As far as the CD goes, come
on and get with the program. Our promotions are so wicked,
we give out most of the shit within nanoseconds of the rag
hittin the street. You gotta get it on and get it in on time.
However, we do get about a billion CD’s to review every
month, and I’ll find one that isn’t pure garbage
and send it to you. If I feel like it, email info@Heckler.com
with all your info and what CD you want.
I want to see some sick chick skaters too, so I will release
the hounds and track one down. Unlike the rest of the same
old same old rags on the street, it is obvious to us that
girls comprehend with the same amount of brain space as the
boys, so keep seeking out the Heck and we will deliver. Check
Holly Lyons in issue #52. She is gnarly. Did someone say Cindy
Gorset? Stay tuned.
And we like being thought of as nardical, so there. (look
it up fool)
So I don’t know who runs your joint but I just would
like to write to say...your ramp broke my foot! Yeah and I’m
going to sue you guys...hahaha. Joking. My bro’s and
I built your fun box “F” yesterday and took it for
a test run today. FUCKING GREAT SHIT. We took like 2 hours
to build it from all our “borrowed” wood... and
when it was all done... dear lord we flew! Even though we’re
bikers (skaters worst enemies.) we still give you mad props
on your ramp plans! Thanks for the ramp and the broken foot!
(2nd one in 3 months!!) See you later. Chill.
-Nevin Aragam, Maitland, FL
Nev – Time to learn how to land. Your body will appreciate
it. Look for the ramp page to blow up in a few months. We
are getting some new shit and it should be rad. Just keep
your fucking bikes off our ramps. Hope your foot heals so
you can return to shreddin.
I am writing because in case you haven’t noticed, skating
is being slowly eaten alive by commercialism. Pro skaters
are celebrities, chewing gum and deodorant companies sponsor
pro riders. There is more and more money being pumped into
the industry every day. To many, this is a good thing, getting
more exposure to the common people equals kids who will see
this and want to start skating. To others this is castrating
the rebel image skating has held proud to all these years.
It is creating more posers to crowd and clutter our skate
parks. The bigwig executives are moving in and destroying
the heart and soul of skating. Our sport is at a crossroads
right now and the future of skating is in question. Commercialism
is moving to make a buck or two from skating, that is a fact.
So I offer you this, “so what?” Who cares! Skating
will always be good and pure at its roots. Lets say commercialism
takes over skating and it becomes like all other commercial
based sports. Will that then change the causal game of S.K.A.T.E.
played among friends? Will it take away from the feeling of
your first kick flip? Of course not. Lets use football for
an example, with its three hundred and fifty pound gorillas
whining because they can’t make a living off of two hundred
and seventy-five million dollars they make. Every high school
jocks dream is to become a pro for their favorite team. Does
all the hype and money being thrown around affect the purity
and simplicity of a game of football being played by a gang
of local kids in someone’s backyard or in open lots all
across America? Not at all. Skateboarding like anything else
is what you make of it. If you want to go out and buy all
Chad Muskas gear cause he is your fav. Skater and he rips,
go right ahead. If you want to turn your back on the industry
of skating and skate for yourself, that’s your thing,
and more power to you. In the years to come if skating is
taken over by the almighty dollar, or if it is still a underground
and defiant thing like it is now and has been in the past
I still wont care and I will still be skating for the love
of it all, and that’s the way it should be.
-Jordan Guenther, email
Jordan –Great letter. I think we share your overall feeling
of the corporate whores trying to get capitalize on something
that should be left as free and uncluttered as possible. Who
asked Mickey Mouse (the weasel-rat that owns ES/XPN) to fuck
with us and dream up the X-Games. I mean, competition at the
street/skatepark level is sick, but to turn it into a spectacle
that can be shrink wrapped, packed and sold makes me want
to puke. You know that every sticker and sign you see anywhere
on the X-crap screen is paid for with wheelbarrows full of
benjies.
I am not trying to say that the companies that sponsor kids
suck, or that rippers shouldn’t seek out sponsors. It
just seems pathetic when Norelco comes up with an “extreme”
shaver and tries to shove their fresh logo up the asses of
the peach fuzzed youth who worship rock star skaters. LEAVE
US ALONE AND LET US SKATE! We are smart enough to see through
your manufactured coolness and see you for what you are.
Skate cause you love to, buy things cause they work for you
and see through the bullshit. Your will be the corporate leeches
worst nightmare because you will “vote” with your
dollar.
Be real and rock.
