Brought to you by Grease Monkey New Zealand

Photo credit goes to Irish Jon

Oak Canyon Park, Orange County, U.S.A

Photo credit goes to Biltwell Inc.

Grease Monkey Grinderfest

Brought to you by Grease Monkey New Zealand

For the first time on New Zealand we are organising an event to promote garage built custom motorcycles.
This contest is an amateur bike build-off that is open for every make of motorcycle; every size and every style.
This is a chance to design and build your own bike. Something scratch built with a welder and hack saw or by redesigning what was a standard bike with a collection of hand-made and secondhand parts.
The idea is to change that original design to make it different and unique. Make it yours. Get the idea?

We have only two categories:
1: Movers: – The finished bike doesn’t have to be legal but it has to start and tick over.
2: Shakers: This one is for incomplete projects. They have to show some cool design or fabrication skills but they don’t need to be finished.

Competition starts officially on 1st March 2011 and the show will be on Saturday 24th September 2011.
That gives you 6 months to create something brilliant. Register by sending a short description of your project and a picture of what it started life as to irishjon@greasemonkeys.co.nz.

The pictures will be posted on this blog and we will expect regular updates throughout the build.

Remember THE COMPETITION IS FOR PEOPLE WITH SPANNERS AND IMAGINATION, NOT A CATALOG AND CHECKBOOK.

The show will be hosted at “Shed 5″

http://www.greasemonkeys.co.nz

http://irishjon-greasemonkeygrinderfest.blogspot.com

Born in Southern California into a family of artist pro surfers and wandering Hot Rodders, Photographer, Illustrator and self taught painter Sara Ray transforms the cryptic Hot Rod lifestyle into images both haunting and inspiring.

Sara Ray spent her early years riding in rusted hot rods filled with surfboards covered in sun bleached Rat Fink stickers. Her family made of legendary surfers, movie starlets and WWII veterans owned Barris custom cars before he was famous and started one of the nation’s first custom surfboard shops in the 1950′s. Listing her influences she includes everything from old German masters and medieval manuscript illuminations, to 1940′s Stag magazines, and Sunday morning cartoons. Her large paintings in oil glisten with full custom ‘lead sleds, hot rod zombies and high flying bombers so realistic you can almost smell the burning gasoline.

Working all hours in a one room studio that resembles a war museum she spends any free time wrenching on her own vintage cars and pursuing her passion for history, interviewing WWII veterans and traveling to various air, military and art museums around the world. Sara Ray currently hides out in Long Beach California.

http://www.sararayart.com

On 5th December 2010 the Yokohama International Exhibition Hall hosted the 19th annual Yokohama Hot Rod Custom Show and bring together some of the greatest two and four-wheeled creations from around the globe. Hot Rods, Motorcycles, low-riders and just about every other form of custom vehicle will be on display. this is one of the best kustom kulture show on earth!

www.youtube.com/watch?v=AGtBi5vIgQw

PART2 -- TWO WHEEL

On 5th December 2010 the Yokohama International Exhibition Hall hosted the 19th annual Yokohama Hot Rod Custom Show and bring together some of the greatest two and four-wheeled creations from around the globe. Hot Rods, Motorcycles, low-riders and just about every other form of custom vehicle will be on display. this is one of the best kustom kulture show on earth!

www.youtube.com/watch?v=t0HAsOKe9Ac

PART1 -- FOUR WHEEL

Awesome looking street tracker Nikkisaki (Kawasaki KZ400). owned, built and ridden by web heart-throb with killer fringe.

A photographic poke in the eye as you peek under the hood of kustom kulture. Let 9 international photographers take you on a road trip through a vintage landscape, where the women wear stockings and speak in seductive whiskey-stained whispers, and the men, hard and mean, burn rubber through your imagination.

With more beautifully produced, adrenalin-soaked pages of visceral eye-popping images, this collection is a must-have for all the greasers, hot rodders, and kustom artists who loved Kustom Graphics, as well as fans of stunning cutting-edge photography.

The nine photographers profiled:
Laurent BAGNARD
Dirk BEHLAU
Shannon BROOKE
Richard HEEPS
Chas Ray KRIDER
April MAY
Gayla PARTRIDGE
Dave PERRY
Roy VARGA

Hardcover + jacket, 208 pages
254 mm (h) x 216 mm (w)
£24.99

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VIVA’S PINUPS: Bullet Bras and Backseat Betties

Plunge inside for a heady, heady dose of pin-up photography at its raunchiest and most atmospheric. New York’s Viva Van Story has redefined the art of the pin-up with her raw energy, kick-ass perfectionist attitude, punk rock approach to lighting and her unfailing instinct for capturing a vintage aesthetic. Her timeless images range from smoldering seduction to coquettish playfulness. She depicts women who are sexy, but also empowered, ironic, and complex.

Her work has headlined the Detroit Dirty Show, and she has been featured in such publications as Bizarre Magazine, Car Kulture Deluxe, Deadbeat Magazine, DicE, Edge Detroit, Leg Show, New York Post, Ol’ Skool Rodz, Real Detroit Weekly, ROCKRGRL, Tattoo, and Varla Magazine.

Hardcover + jacket, 176 pages
280mm (h) x 210 mm (w)
£24.99

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KUSTOM GRAPHICS II: Hot Rods, Burlesque and Rock’n’Roll

Fasten your sear belts, all you gearheads and rubberneckers, for another adrenalin-soaked visual trip, as 40 artists treat you to a second dose of eyeball-scorching Kustom Graphics.

With all new art and plenty of new artists, this is the essential source book for anyone into kustom, lowbrow, tattoos, rock ’n’ roll, and burlesque. Kustom Graphics contributors Jorge Alderete and Sol Rac are back with new work. The vibrant California scene—surfing, hot rods, and much more—is represented by L.A.’s Kalynn Campbell, Jason Cruz, and Max Grundy; Damien Fulton from El Segundo; David Lozeau from Carlsbad; and Marco Almera and Rob Kruse. Cheesecake pin-up artist Andrew Bawidamann represents the Midwest via Columbus, Ohio, and Dan Picasso illustrates in a 1940s pulp style from Marathon, Texas. Canadian artists include Ontario’s Jeff Norwell and Calgary’s Mark Dulmadge.

International artists include Europeans Harry Brack, Franke, Thorsten Hasenkamm, Claudia Hek, Angelique Houtkamp, Erik Kriek, Mighty Sam, Alex Patrocinio, and Jeffrey Warlich as well as Simon Watts from Australia.

Hardcover + jacket, 256 pages
254 mm (h) x 216 mm (w)
£29.99

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PINSTRIPE PLANET II : More Fine Lines From the World’s Best

Since Pinstripe Planet’s 2006 publication, the pinstripe scene has grown immensely, and here’s the record of the scene’s growth for new and old aficionados. The world’s best pinstripe masters in the U.S., Japan, UK, Europe, and Australia have new work to show. Significant new artists have emerged on the scene since the last edition, and they are showcased here as well. Not only are the works brilliantly photographed, the book also explains how artists first found inspiration, how they work, and where their influence can be seen. Cutting-edge art galleries are now beginning to treat pinstriping as worthy of recognition by serious collectors.

This book is part of that trend—essential for anyone into the Kustom car and culture scene, for existing pinstripers looking for new sources of inspiration, and for new aficionados of one of the most visually exciting aspects of the counterculture.

Much-anticipated follow-up to Pinstripe Planet featuring 24 international artists.

Hardcover+ jacket; 192 pages
(h) 190mm x (w) 240 mm
£24.99

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666 PHOTOGRAPHY: Virgin Queens and High-camp Divas

666 Photography is an Austin, Texas based company that specializes in retro/vintage photography.their props are handmade, their backdrops are handpainted, and if they can’t find the perfect costume, they make it! The awe-inspiring staged playful pop creations collected here feature such fantasy elements as modern women recast as High-Baroque Madonnas; amazing 1940s hair styles, dried-flower corsets, pin-up girls riding carousels, circus glamour, and ironic recreations of Weimar Germany cabaret and decadent 1920s Berlin. The visual invention is stunning.

Often inspired by icons of female beauty and power ranging from mermaids to Mucha, these unique photographic visions have attracted such fans as Courtney Love. Collected here, they become a riot of astounding creativity and color.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=3bJNDPsitSE

http://www.sdbarber.com

Shawn’s signature brushwork has appeared in advertising, music, magazines, children’s books, corporate, entertainment and newspapers. Particularly recognized for his portrait work, he has been honored by American Illustration, The Society of Illustrators, Communication Arts, RSVP, and The Artist’s Magazine among others.

Articles and reviews of his work have appeared in ArtNews, Juxtapoz Magazine, the Artist’s Magazine, International Tattoo Magazine, Garage Magazine, Cool’eh magazine and SF Weekly. His work has been featured in Taschen Books’ Illustration Now and 1000 Best Web Portfolios, Harper Collins’ The Big Book of Illustration Ideas and Mark Murphy’s Dialogue Book.

Shawn’s paintings have been exhibited in diverse solo and group venues including: The Shooting Gallery, San Francisco, CA; The Lineage Gallery, Philadelphia, PA; Strychnin Gallery, Berlin, Germany; CPop Gallery, Detroit, MI; Outer Edge Studio, Monterey, CA; The Society of Illustrators, NY, NY; White Walls, San Francisco, CA; Cazenovia College, Cazenovia, NY; The Selby Gallery, Ringling, Sarasota, FL. His work is in collections worldwide, including those of Mat Hoffman, Van Morrison, Christian Slater and Rolling Stone magazine’s founder Jan Wenner.

Shawn received his BFA in 1999 from the Ringling School of Art & Design, in Sarasota, FL. He has lectured and given painting demo’s at several American universities and art institutions. He has also coordinated and taught painting and illustration for Ringling’s Precollege Summer Program from 2000 to 2005; taught Drawing, Painting, Illustration and Portraiture for the Ringling School of Art from 2000-2004; taught Narrative Illustration for the MFA Illustration Department at the Academy of Art in San Francisco in 2005; and taught at the California College of Arts in San Francisco. Shawn has also lectured and given painting demo’s for the ConceptArt.Org’s Workshops in Prague, San Francisco and Montreal.

Additionally, Shawn works as tattoo artist and is opening his own studio in January 2010.

Loser Machine, the brand co-founded by pro skateboarder Adrian Lopez. Loser Machine is a fresh look in the scene of southern california brands. A happier marriage between scumbag biker and SoCal mexican has never been made! they make some seriously rad lids and apparels. check it out losermachine.com.

Todd Schorr was born on January 9, 1954 in New York City and grew up as a child in Oakland, New Jersey. Showing a compulsion for drawing at an early age, his parents enrolled him in Saturday morning art classes when he was five years old. Deeply affected by fantasy movies such as the 1933 film classic “King Kong” and the early animated cartoons of Walt Disney and Max Fleischer, their influence along with comic books such as “Mad” would have a lasting effect on Schorr’s developing visual vocabulary.

Playing in bands as a drummer in the late 1960’s and early 1970’s, Todd fell under the spell of the psychedelic dance posters coming out of San Francisco and underground comics best exemplified by “Zap”. While visiting the Uffizi gallery in Italy on a trip to Europe in the summer of 1970, Schorr began to formulate his idea of combining his love of cartoons with the painting techniques of the Old Masters.

He entered the Philadelphia College of Art (now the University of The Arts) in 1972 wanting to be a painter but was advised by his first year painting instructors that he’d be better suited in the illustration department. Schorr began getting professional illustration work while still in college, and soon after graduating in 1976, he moved to New York City where he provided work for a wide variety of projects including album covers for AC/DC, movie posters for George Lucas and Francis Ford Coppola, and covers for Time magazine that now reside in the permanent collection of the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery in Washington, DC.

By 1985 Schorr had become increasingly frustrated with the creative restrictions imposed by commercial assignments and began to make a concentrated effort to break away from ad agency halls and move on to art gallery walls. Being invited to participate in the 1986 landmark exhibition “American Pop Culture Images Today” which took place at the Laforet Museum in Tokyo, Japan along with other artists flown over for the event including his wife Kathy Staico, Robert and Suzanne Williams, Neon Park, Bob Zoell, Georganne Deen, Mark Mothersbaugh, and Gary Panter, proved to be a galvanizing experience. By 1992 Todd had severed all ties to illustration boosted in large part from the success of his first one person show held at the Tamara Bane gallery in the same year. He had finally come to realize his dream of being able to make a living from painting anything his imagination could conjure.

The Schorr’s had moved to Connecticut from New York in 1986, but by 1998 they had decided to relocate to Los Angeles where their artistic compatriots as well as the majority of their collectors were centered. Today Todd enjoys a loyal following of fans and collectors that spans the globe. The so-called “Lowbrow” art movement that he and his contemporaries helped form almost 25 years ago is now a global phenomenon.

Featured in Dice Magazine #28

Photo By: Andrewholliday

Engine – ’66 H-D FL 74″

Trans – ’53 Ratchet Top

Frame – ’52 Wishbone

Forks – Inline Springer

Carb – S&S L Series

Pipes – D. Monk

At 5’2” tall Miss Rose isn’t what people would refer to as the typical centerfold, which is fine with Rosie she would prefer to be a mum, wife and an individual. Born in ‘dirty old Helensville’ out in west Auckland, and coming from strong Irish stock she looked up to the ‘circus freak’ woman of the 20^th century and much to her parents dismay got her first tattoo at 17. Now after posing in her friends website for pin up dresses and rockabilly clothes can now put pin-up on her resume.

Thanks for agreeing to the interview first things first. Where were you born?

Dirty old Helensville in the far West of Auckland, I am a born and breed Kiwi girl from the West Coast of Auckland. If we want to really dive into the gene pool somewhere in my veins is Irish blood hence the dark hair, Yes Irish are not always fair and red heads. But I am a New Zealander through and through <3. Even though the places irritates the BEEP out of me its home and I am proud to be from this creepy island far away from everything (Aussie doesn’t count hehe).

Favorite form of modeling?

I really love quirkiness, I love looking back through old books which show “circus freak” woman and all their ink. The whole contrast from the 1900′s to 2010 is so fascinating personally. 1920′s flappers like Zelda Fitzgerald through to the 1950′s like Betty Page the bondage queen and now within the alternative modeling there is SO much stuff that inspires me. I love how the woman were actually woman not stick insects. Makes me sick how in this day and age that its sexy to be a bag of bones rather than be proud to be a curvaceous sex bomb. I love the artist Gil Elvgren who really has captured woman in their natural state of course babed up but they are all beautiful inspiring woman. So I cannot really answer the question of what is my favorite modeling as 1900s-2010 there is such a wide range of awesome woman that I cannot pin point my exact favorite.

Describe yourself as a model?

hmm, well obviously not your normal model as I am 5″2 so abit short to do the whole “catwalk” stuff but seriously I would never want to do that anyway unless it was for an alternative clothing range or for my friends clothing such as Devel or Amy Trouble <3. I am pretty out going with modeling I mean I’m not into stalking around nude unless its more and arty type(no offense to those of you that do) but I’m really comfy with my body and the people who I have done things for have made it all the more better. I just like to have a good time it’s fun, who wants to be serious when you can laugh your face off and take rad photos at the same time?

Did you always want to be a model?

I never ever thought about being a model it was not my dream as a kid or as a teenager I never thought that I could ever go in this direction. I have a few friends such as Bridgette Boop and Izzy who are really into modeling and do well at it and I always admired their work from afar but had not thought about myself doing it. I was abit of a punk back in the day pretty filthy and was more like a boy then a lady. People were shocked when they saw me like a girl haha Later on I became friends with the awesome lady called Briggitte O’Grady, she is a photographer and makeup artist who is bloody fantastic I had seen a lot of her work that she had done with Bridgette and Iz and a few other girls. So we got talking and we decided that we should do a shoot. So we did, and it went really well I have to say that this is where the can of worms to do alternative modeling started. Briggette has a way of making you feel awesome and glamorous total boost of self esteem. Then after that my friend Dan who owns Devel which is totally amazing retro clothing that she custom makes asked me to model for her 2009 beach hop collection ” A night with Lady Luck” so my husband and I did that together and then later on I did a photo shoot for her website develbranded.com. And its kept going, Amy Trouble who is the best artist ever brought out her own clothing line and she asked me to rep that for her it’s all been fun and I wish I could do it full time.. Dreams are free Hope it comes true someday as cliché as that sounds haha xoxo So no one in particular inspired me to become a model it just came along and it fits me naturally- if anyone does inspire me though it has to be Betty Page, not just because she s a hot minx but her story about her faith and her life has given her a lot of depth to me personally. Watch the Notorious Betty Page, it’s a really interesting film gives you a decent background about her and to see that she’s not just a face but a person too xx.

What are your favorite aspects of being a model?

Getting dolled up and getting your photos snapped is so FUN. I love getting to a shoot bumming around with rollers in my hair and eating cupcakes then chucking on red lippy and away we go. I love the people who I do things for, I don’t want to model just for the sake of modeling for a pretty picture. I want to model for things such as clothing or friends portfolios. So the most exciting thing apart from taking photos is the company I keep on these shoots the people behind the scenes really make things happen and are really the ones that should take the credit for me looking like a babe. Sure I want to get coverage, and somehow make something of myself but my friends are really what makes this whole experience fun and worthwhile. Looking ahead I really hope for more opportunities to rep peoples clothing or whatever else people would use me for.

What would you like to change or would you like to be a normal model?

People often say to me “what is normal”, and my definition is people who are afraid to step out and not follow the crowd to not follow whats “hot” and whats “not”. I have no desire to follow any crowd especially a modeling crowd, so no I would not want to be a normal model. Why would I want to put myself through people analyzing me and being like oh no you’re too short or you’re too fat or you’re too ugly. I think every single person even the most unattractive person has beauty in them somewhere which could be captured if they had the chance to but within the “normal” modeling world I believe I would begin to shut down from rejection and sure people say Oh its constructive criticism but screw you and your constructive criticism I would rather be who I am and not have to change myself to fit into the “worlds” view on whats model material. You don’t have to look like me to be an alternative model. It’s your way of thinking that makes you an individual. So to back up what I said above I do not wish to change myself because I Am who I am and get lost if you don’t like it.

What’s unique about you?

Well as anyone would say… There is only one of me! I am the only one who has gone through what I have, everyone of course has similar things happen to them but as individuals we all experience things totally different the good and the bad. The challenges that I have faced throughout my life and my faith in jesus that has brought me through the other side makes me different from you, but what your life has had to hold makes you different from me. The way to be unique is to accept who you ARE, to not get sucked into the world and how the world says you should be that stuff makes me mad, everyone is unique from birth everyone has the ability to be whoever they are without being ashamed. So my idea of uniqueness is self acceptance in a sense uniqueness is just another form of alternative.

What is your view on body modifications?

I love it I really do, I love being able to express myself through tattoos. I love how each and every one of mine mean something to me, they all tell a story about some stage in my life. My mum was really bummed when at 17 I started getting ink though now she has got one of her own I must of rubbed off on her <3, my first tattoo was Betty Boop I have to say that it’s a pretty rad first tattoo girls usually get terrible tramps stamps or something ridiculous like a playboy bunny (makes a gagging sound). I am a really obsessive person when it comes to likes, I collect all sorts of things like Alice and Wonderland betty boop 1950s etc so as I got older I started getting my obsessions tattooed so if you look at all my ink they aren’t pointless show pony tattoos (which I HATE) they are a very big part of me and I will continue getting tattooed till I’m a wrinkly old prune. And I have to say that it is the person that tattoos you, so thanks to Sam Rulz (Melbourne based now) and Nick Agnew from Kingsland Ink my skin has got a shit load of their fantastic inking skills!

Do you have any body modifications? (Tats or piercings?)

YES got a bunch of tattoos living in my skin. My body is lame when it comes to piercings rejects them big time so I gave up on them after my lip turned into a grotty infected mess. GORE. Though I would love to get a wee ring through my septum.

Favourite part of your body?

Haha um, well my husband love’s my bum. haha I’m not sure to be honest I’m pretty happy all round with how I am its weird looking at myself in photos I just see me not a particular thing I like the most. Maybe my flat tummy? Haha.

How do you keep in shape?

I walk heaps! I’m not a gym person they creep me out and I know I would laugh my head off if I ended up going to one just watching everyone work out would crack me up, it’s really good for people but personally I just prefer to walk at the beach or through the bush so I can spend time thinking about stuff and “blow the cobwebs out” so to speak. So I’m not overly obsessive with myself I’m just a small build naturally my mum is a wee thing I take after her for sure. Being an alternative model is everything other than what it says you should be in the bone bags modeling world, it doesn’t matter what your size or height is!! I’m very passionate about people being able to do or be what they feel they are on the inside rather than conforming to the world standards.

What’s your view on ‘pageant mums’?

Ok so pageant parents actually make me sick. It can’t understand it to be honest. Little kids should be allowed to be kids not to used for their parents to live their lives through them. I mean sure there are properly some parents who are sweet but man I have watched a few docos on that shit and it’s not pretty. As a kid I had never ever thought about modeling like that sure pumpkin patch whatever but “beauty contests”? I thought about climbing trees and having mud fights rather than being on show for everyone else to judge me. Earlier on I said things about how the modeling world would make me shut down from rejection etc well imagine these poor kids being put through this that from a very young age they are taught that their beauty is what makes you accepted that you have to try hard to win being beautiful it makes me sick. Need I say anymore? I would never ever put Alice through that. I sound like a totally prude but come ON have some sort of morals for your kids people!

Likes/dislikes?

<3 I like ALOT, as I said earlier I have major obsessions. Alice in wonderland is the biggest obsession I have I collect all sorts of things. She is not massively popular so it’s more difficult to find her things. I love reading so much, I love to write a lot too aside from being mummy they are my favorite thing to do. Anything to be creative is a major thing for me; I sit at home and make bows for my hair and stuff or re make over my shoes or my house I like to use my hands a lot so anything that gets my brain working! Music is a huge influence for me, my husband is in a band called the Murder Chord, so I try and frequent his shows or that of other bands. I can’t list all the things I like or you would be reading forever! I HATE TOMATOES. Enough said.

Any tips for aspiring pin up models?

My only tips are to be honest to yourself, do not “change” for others be proud to be who you are because there is no one else like you. Don’t let any idiot tell you that you are not good enough or your this and your that. Do what reflect you as a person; bring your passions alive with your modeling. Don’t rep something that you don’t feel comfy with. Most of all just have fun and enjoy being a babe! Everyone is a babe short, tall, thin, fat. Enjoy being a woman.

Beauty tips?

I just wash my face everyday and moisturize it, I am not really to fussed about things. It’s hard to be rested when you have a 2yr old running around haha.

Being a different type of model what about charity work?

I would totally do charity work, like a said earlier I have a passion for those who are unloved or the “undesirables” that people tend to avoid. I would do anything to help others, just to be a friend to someone or love a kid who has never been loved. I don’t have a favorite charity or anything I think that all legit charities are awesome and they should get more recognition for the things that they do for the needy.

Goal life mottos words of wisdom?

My first goal is to be the best mum I can be to my daughter Alice Cherry. She is my everything she truly was a gift from above. Alice saved my life so I want to give her everything and more. To be the best wife to my darling husband, he is my best friend and so supportive of me I could not ask for a better man. Pretty much I just try to be a descent person I try and apply certain biblical standards to my life, especially the parts of loving people and doing good onto one another. Got a real heart for people who are lost and need love, I’m not a bible basher and have no time for religion Iv try to love on others and be kind and have grace for people who are in need. It’s a real reason why my long term goal is to be a psychologist, to turn an ear to people. To rep love and try not to be rubbish to others. My mum and dad rule, they always said “Rosie you can be whatever or whoever you want to be and do not be ashamed of YOU” and that has stuck with me throughout my life.

Have you had any bad experiences with agencies or good ones?

To be honest I have never worked through agencies so have no answer. New Zealand should somehow create an alternative modeling agency which accepts every shape and size.

What’s your availability?

It’s a casual thing at the moment, and I am told in advance before shoot so I can sort out something for my wee girl as she comes first before everything else. I have a really supportive family who help out as much as they can.

Pulling up to Irish Jon’s place is a far cry from what goes on inside, with his jeep sitting stationary out front for the last 2 years you don’t realise that less than 5 metres away is a collection of Harleys, customs and café racers that are the building of  this blokes obsession. His collection of 12 bikes and a fiat bambino tucked behind the walls of this modest West Auckland home are a classy and awesome little site to behold.

Born just outside Belfast, Ireland, Irish Jon is a bike nut, starting out on his ts125 suzuki way back when, he  then graduated to 250s then on to a rd350 yamaha before hitting the japanese ‘big 4s’ and making enduro racers. Originally a café racer and obsessed with all types of going fast in 1978 the chopper bug bit and suzuki’s gs1000 was the starting point of his makeover picking up one brand new in 1978 he proceeded to customize it, but having a fast paced history meant he needed to go fast even if it wasn’t the norm and proceeded to build a race motor for it.

Running his own paint booth out of a friend’s shop he spent his early adult hood air brushing and custom painting friend’s bikes. After getting a bit talented Irish moved to England, worked for a few shops before deciding on university. After finishing uni he had trouble finding a job, so he moved back in with his mum for 2 years and decided overseas was better for him and saved to travel.

Staying a short stint in Texas where he stacked his bike, while deciding it was a good time to nap whilst riding and then dying twice on the operating table, he swore himself off bikes. This was partially due to a ‘mate’ going and selling half his stuff out from under him, but during his rehab and learning to walk again managed to acquire 4 bikes and thus the craving continues.

After a short stay in Singapore he found his way to NZ. When he first hit NZ shores he went to a few hotrod shows unable to find much of a bike scene, and the hotrods he says were some of the best in the world but the bikes he did come across were shocking and in his words some were just downright nasty. Noticing the abundance of sportys in NZ, he has since picked up a few and in the last 15 years brought them up to standard.

In recent years a lot of his bikes styling’s have gone towards that of a ‘café racer’ again thanks to a friend who was ’too fat’ to ride a chopper and wanting something fast that wasn’t new. And now means he has 4 café racer bikes in the shed all in some process of fulfillment to an addiction that will always be unfulfilled, but that’s the nature of the beast and we love it. Still painting his own bikes Irish has moved onto other things now including starting up a blog (greasemonkeys-nz.blogspot.com) for like minded individuals where he reminiscences and jots down items he comes across so we don’t miss out even if we don’t get to try it ourselves. This blog in recent time has become a forum (http://greasemonkeys-nz.forumotion.net) where he and his mates share information and talk copious amounts ‘shoptalk’ to each other online.

To close off here is a little Q&A with Irish Jon

EBMF!

-Name Age and Occupation?

Irish Jon. 53. Computer Systems

-Bike specs:

Which one? 62 Panhead in a 71 Shovel frame. Sportster front end. Frisco mounted Sporty tank. Bare bones seat. Chopped Honda rear guard. 45 speed kick only.

-Unique points on bike?

Suicide clutch and jockey shift and homemade high rise mid mount pegs – Japanese street style.

-Any brand allegiances?

Mostly Harleys but I pretty much like anything that is interesting or fast.

-Build cost?

Pan has been just under 10 grand. Some of the others cost me a lot more but I try not to count. Its only money.

-Build time?

Pan has taken about a year. Shovel has been nearer to 5 years. I’m away a lot and don’t have much spare time plus I’m a slow finisher.

-What influenced you to start working on bikes?

Hanging out with the local bike club in Ireland. We all raced back in the 70′s. You were nothing unless you were fast so we all built our own engines and the bikes to go round them.

-Your 1st bike?

TS125 Suzuki

-Why do you keep doing it?

I get a kick out of having something different and I love mechanical things. I also get to meet loads of interesting people who are into the same things. Its all about people being creative I suppose.

-Ultimate bike for your shed?

Plans for a 36 Knuckle replica and building a Salt Racer for Bonneville out of my Thruxton.

- What other interests do you have?

Playing guitar; Hot Rods;

-Shout out/plugs?

Greasemonkeys.co.nz

-Does chrome get you home?

Chrome keeps you at home (polishing) but it impresses the chicks.

Mike Giant’s career is the result of genuine curiosity and decades of drawing for five hours a day. He’s been and remains a world class graffiti writer, tattooist and illustrator with his REBEL8 line. He’s made zines, skateboard designs, animations, prints, collages and stacks of interesting artist and company collaborations. He travels all over the world, rides his bikes, practices mindfulness, smokes a gang of weed, and is a fully tattooed goofball that one can bring to dinner parties.

http://www.mikegiant.com

www.youtube.com/watch?v=qVaDWTH53IA

Ewen Gilmour – Super Mayor? Fu*k Yeah!

12 hours out from seeing his latest show (Ewen Gilmour: super mayor- fu*k yeah) @ Papakura’s stampede bar and grill, I am still using fu*k yeah to answer everything I like. As infectious as ever Ewen Gilmour laid down some of the super ideas he has ‘planned’ for Auckland when he wins his mayoral seat. I don’t want to ruin his show lets just say the money is going back to the people instead of pointless projects like the other candidates. He knows he has an up hill battle being a comedian people tend to take things as a joke, but the sad thing he says is that people don’t think the other two candidates are ‘They are reading from the same script that has been put together by a pr team for the last thousand years. They had years to get Auckland right and they haven’t and won’t, they will keep spending money we don’t have on Legacy projects that will be worthless before we have finished paying for it.’ Being a former Waitakere city counsellor, he knows what it takes and isn’t afraid to listen to what people want as apposed to what he thinks they need. He wants people to see just how bringing in a real bloke with real world experience will help this great city so bring in a realistic bloke who isn’t afraid to tell it how it is.

Before comedy Ewen had several jobs mostly transient jobs just passing through like wrecking cars. However in 1996 upon winning the very first Billy T award he found what I would refer to as his calling. Now in full time comedy Ewen performed in comedy galas and has made several appearances on TV in shows from dancing with the stars to celebrity treasure island, always a recognisable face ‘the westie’ knows how to keep a show entertaining and has garnered a mass following and is welcomed everywhere he goes whether it be East Timor supporting the troops or his latest tour around Auckland city.

He would be the first to tell you his fame blindsided him, but being a working class man from west Auckland just felt people could relate and reckons that’s what got him where he is. After 15 years of traveling around the country and abroad I asked him what his top memory is. His reply was simple the people he’s met sounds cliché but I think it fits his character he is genuinely the type of guy that just wants to have a beer and tell a yarn with a few jokes thrown in.

Aside from his comedy, Ewen Gilmour is a two wheel terror, he rides a 2005 Triumph Bonnie America, he’s put 45000km’s on it since new, he says, ‘I put running boards and a rocker gear change on it but took them off after I stacked it a couple of times. I ride it pretty hard and have been through 4 front discs due to warping’. Definitely gets ridden hard and would put many a ‘biker’ to shame.

He is the pilot of the GT Radials ford limousine for the variety bash, a job he is massively proud off and has been doing since 1996, ‘it’s great bunch of really good people who have become a family. To see the looks on kids faces when we turn up and hand over something of need, some thing that will change their life. Awesome!’  he also does a lot of other local fundraising, while he picks and chooses what he does you can guarantee its for a top cause when he does help out.

Another ‘extra curricular’ activity of this hopeful super mayor is marriage celebrant, not something really expected but is great, ‘Being a Celebrant is cool it’s the best day of a couples life, a mate said if I became a Celebrant he’d get married, so I did it to Spite him’ was the unexpected answer when I ask him the question on everyones lips – why? So I guess we owe this mate of his a beer next time we see him because I don’t think I’m the only thinking that ‘the westie’ would make it a day to remember for sure.

One thing a lot people don’t realize is as a side project he makes vodka from kumara, Purple Monkey Finger is available in limited quantities and is hand made by the man himself. To quote him ‘its awesome’ available at Classic Comedy Club and Bar 321Queen Street, Auckland,  Empire Liquor Centre 81 Victoria Street, Dargaville, and Hotel Ruawai 16 Freyberg Road, Ruawai.

After becoming super mayor he says he’ll find something else. However it leaves you to question what next for the westie? Well we need a decent prime minister is my opinion….

EBMF!

Brat Style

Brat Style shop out of Saitama Prefecture, Japan has gained quite a bit of notoriety in the D.I.Y chopper scene for their style of slick, rugged chops. If you haven’t checked their site yet, definitely hit it up.

http://www.bratstyle.com

VooDoo Larry started building cars in his driveway when he was 18 years old. He was a staple at local cruise nights and car shows. Everyone always looked forward to spring to see what he had done to his cars after the long winter. Fast forward 25 years and VooDoo Larry can be found at his shop, VooDoo Larry Kustoms , located in Schaumburg, IL. The shop is 4,500 square feet of kustom and hot rod heaven. At any given time, there are complete frame up builds along side the daily drivers waiting for a mild kustom treatment. The shop is not state of the art, but VooDoo Larry puts his heart and soul into every build and modification.

Larry turning out some of the most original, innovative, unexpected and leading edge Kustoms you’ll ever see. Larry will do anything from a ground up restoration to a custom one of a kind part to pinstriping that’ll blow your mind and everything in between.  With 30 years of experience under his belt it is easy to see Larry has really perfected his unique craft.  His reputation is built on turning out hot rods and kustoms that set new boundaries. His attention to detail, gifted craftsmanship, creativity and ever changing pallet of work are renowned with the Old Skool Kustom culture.  That reputation has his shop full to capacity with a waiting list that could fill his shop twice again.

Larry is the personification of passion, passion for his work and the Kustom Kulture.  He is the president and founder of the VooDoo Kings Car Club, a club that over the past 10 years has grown to membership that now extends to 6 different states.  He hosted the Brushmaster’s Pinstriping Panel Jam; the works of the over 40 pinstripers that attended are going to be auctioned off at this years O’Riley Auto Parts World of Wheels in Chicago with the proceeds going to Ronald McDonald House Charities.  Larry is so instrumental and respected in the world of Kustoms that he was asked to host the MotoRama Section of this year’s O’Riley Auto Parts World of Wheels in Chicago, giving him the opportunity to showcase great Kustoms the way only VooDoo Larry knows how.  Although easily the King of Kool, Larry Grobe is one of the nicest, most down to earth guys you’ll ever meet.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=aC36gsaawWY

Gavin ‘gunforhire‘ Downie is a one-of-a-kind music nutter from Aotearoa. Starting off in Auckland’s northshore he turned tuning guitars into a world-wide adventure being roadie for some of the top cats out there, from Billy ‘the beard’ Gibbons to NZ’s own Opshop. Also happens to love his bobbers which is where we ran into each other and after hooking me up with a few of the numerous bands he associates with for interviews soon to be on this site, I decided to start off with our first music one on one being the gun for hire himself. So without any more delay read on and enjoy…….

Thanks for the time mate, so when did you get started?

I first started work in Musik Market guitar store way back when I left school, the store is now called Bungalow Bills based on Khyber Pass, I still help out there when I’m not on the road. I started working full time as a touring guitar tech/roadie/stage manager approximately 7-8 years ago. A lot of this time I was also playing in my own bands as well.

How did you get started?

I was sick of running bars, I had been running a bar called Papa Jacks Voodoo Lounge in Auckland and was just over the whole bar industry and wanted to pursue more work within the music industry full time. At the time I was just mixing bands and the odd show here or there teching, So I quit my job and just started looking round. My mates from school had formed a new band called Elemeno P, I got a few gigs with them, then it just sort of snowballed… next I was working with bands like Blindspott, The Feelers, The Bleeders – as sound guy. Cold By winter (who’s album I produced in the studio) The Mint Chicks, Neil Finn and Eagles of Death Metal. Through word of mouth round the country and the globe I had more bands approach me, so I started working more and more with Dave Dobbyn looking after his guitars on the road. Then american punk rock legends Strung Out, who eventually would take me through the states on a 3 month non stop tour called The Vans Warped Tour in ’05. Since then I’ve worked with a lot of bands, but I’d say I work mostly locally with Opshop, Dave Dobbyn, and Elemeno P, just due to the fact they’ve been the bands playing most around the country.

Who have you worked alongside?

Dave Dobbyn (NZ). Opshop. (NZ). The Feelers (NZ). Elemeno P (NZ). The Mint Chicks,(NZ). Autozamm,(NZ). Goodnight Nurse,(NZ). Blindspott,(NZ). Seven Worlds Collide, (Neil Finn, Ed O’Brien, Johnny Marr)-as guitar tech. Wilco,( Production Manager NZ Tour). Strung Out, (USA) ( 3 NZ Tours and The Warped Tour 05 USA). Steriogram, (NZ) (several nz tours and 3 months in the USA on tour). End of fashion,(Aus). Thirsty Merc, (Aus). Evermore,(nz & Aus). THE MISFITS,(USA). Eagles of Death Metal. (USA). Alexisonfire, (Can). Blindside, (DEN). Anika Moa, (NZ) The Topp Twins. Blindspott,(NZ). Madball, (NYC). Goldfinger, (USA). Death By Stereo, (USA). NOFX,(USA). BAD RELIGION, (USA). LAGWAGON, (USA). The Draft, (USA). The Bleeders, (NZ). Atreyu, (USA). Presidents Of The USA  (USA). Shihad, (NZ). The D4. MGMT. Tim Finn (Crowded House) Don Macglashan.. Gomez

Who have been your influences?

In everything I can say Joe Strummer from the Clash has always been a big influence, The Clash was one of the first bands I was ever into, and I was really luckily when I was working at a Big Day Out concert a few years just before his death, I had met him, we got to talking and I got to ask him everything I’d always wanted to know,  pick his brain and even got an impromptu guitar lesson from him, I got to sit and play his #1 main guitar, I had seen in so many videos and shows, It was a special moment made doubly so when he sadly passed later that year. I also am heavily influenced by Bob Mould and Husker Du, my favorite old hardcore band from the U.S.

Favoured guitars?

I myself have a few now in my collection as follows:-
1. Gretsch 6118 Anniversary- this is a special guitar to me as I bought it with the money my dad left me when he passed away 2 years ago. Its a piece of Rockabilly Chic at its best, two tone Cadillac green from the 1957 era Cadillacs with leopard  pickup surrounds and a nice Vargas Pinup girl in the corner of the body. I also did a bit of a modification and shaved and sanded the neck down and oiled the wood so its smooth and sweet and faster to play.
2. Fender jazzmaster, a guitar I’d always wanted since I saw all my face bands playing them. Robert Smith from The Cure had one and I think I got hook on that, J Mascis from Dinosaur Jr and Kevin Shields from My Bloody Valentine.
3. A Custom Shop Fernandez from the states, This was sent to me as a present from Billy Gibbons the Guitarist/vocalist for top Texas band ZZ TOP, who I’ve been good friends with for about 11 or so years now. we still exchange guitar gear, hot rod mags, biker mags, automobile clothing and whatever we both find along our travels.
4. A 57 Les Paul Junior Reissue, just a good simple basic 1 pickup 1 set of knobs guitar, this I have hot-rodded to hell, shaved and sanded the neck, overwound the pickup till its scorching, then added a custom hand made preamp from a friend in Oz, so this thing really wails.
I think this is all I have these days..

Best memories on tour?

Its hard to pick one or even two.. The warped tour in ’05 was unreal, hanging out with my favorite bands that became my friends , like the Dropkick Murphys, No Use For A Name, amongst others riding on a nice big, fully laden tour bus. Just like in the movies, haha, playing 50 shows across america and canada through the summer, chilling with awesome peeps each day and drinking into the sunset with them. Playing in Dubai was amazing as well , touring to London and pulling together a show to 9000 people with Dave Dobbyn is another highlight.  Watching my favorite bands for free from side of stage each night. Touring with AFI through Australia,  or Alexisonfire and Blindspott on there Australian tour and working for Punk rock warlords The Misfits, plus many many more.

Coolest group to party with?

Tough…. BIlly GIbbons is always down for a crazy night when we go out, he’s always a laugh and he always get recognised. In New Zealand it’s gotta be a band like Blindspott back in the day, there were definitly some insane nights on tour. Cold By Winter always put on a good party even before the show and people went home with injuries. The Eagles Of Death Metal are another great bunch of guys to party with, they can drink. But I think a night out with Scruffy Wallace from Dropkick Murphys is a night you pay for for weeks after.. we had a monumental one in Manhattan Mid tour which lead to us getting busted throwing beer bottles out a stretch limo as we sped through New York and I was drunkenly crowd surfing over everyone packed into our limo. The next day my head felt like a black hole, the sight of beer made me queasy..  The worst but at the same time best was a night out in Richmond, Virginia, USA on a Steriogram tour, we played alongside HIM and Puddle of Mudd and this lead to that and that lead to this and then the hotel bar closed and I ended up drinking shots of tequila back at this locals house looking through his gun collection,including Spas 12 shotguns, Glocks and assault rifles, to then finally realizing I had to leave early so I made my way to the hotel. I got lost, left my glasses behind, so was blind and got woken by a policeman with a flashlight and his gun in my face on a park bench just by the ghetto, where I’d passed out after walking for hours. Luckily he saw my backstage pass realized I was lost and I got a safe police escort to my hotel to find my manager slightly awake and mostly angry to be woken by the cops, haha luckily I didn’t get patted down by the cops, cos as it ended up I had a pocket full of bullets from the guys glock as we unloaded the magazine before we accidentally shot each other waving these guns around..hahaha

Awesome tats, stories behind them?

I haven’t had much done in recent years, but I loved the art of tattooing. Being born in Scotland I wanted a celtic tattoo then they just rolled from there. I have my black tribal kinda stuff on my arms I designed, and a cool old authentic 1940s pinup girl tattoo from a 1940s vintage design book my tattooist was sent from Honolulu. I have a friend whose also a Guitar tech in the USA and he got M*E*X*I*C*A*N*O tattooed across his knuckles, so I got his tattooist who was out for a few days on tour and working from the back lounge of the bus to tattoo K*I*W*I*C*A*N*O across mine. I also got a tattoo for my old band The Hallelujah Picacassos on my shoulder. My old friend who was part of our crew and designed our albums Martin F Emonds Initials underneath as he took his own life the week before I landed in Los Angeles and was to meet up with him. I got that done in Chicago one night after a bottle of whisky, it was a tough tour knowing one of your best friends has just killed himself days before your arrival.

Wifes thoughts on the lifestyle?

So far she loves my job, I know she doesn’t like when I’m away a lot, but in the recent years I haven’t had any long tours away, nothing over a month so its worked well. The hours are long but she’s understanding, when I’m not on tour I am home all the time so we make up for the time, although I’m usually in my workshop working on my bobber.. so she has to deal with that…haha

Why the guitar over other instrument?

Truth is I wanted to be a singer, and a guy in my brothers band said ‘to be a great singer you had to play an instrument so you can better understand music’. The guitar took first place as I was into punk and my heros were Joe Strummer and Bob Mould from Husker Du, I have just stuck with the guitar and now make my living and my job tuning and repairing and looking after so many other bands guitars out on the road.

Past bands current band played for?

My first high school band was called Parama Violet, Our biggest claim to fame was Blondie (Debbie Harry) came to watch us play at the old Gluepot, as she had a night off before her show at the Powerstation, we only had about 12 people before she turned up, so it was handy we need the cash to pay for gas home..haha and of course she gave us all tickets for her show and said how much she loved our band.. at 16 we were over the moon. Since then I formed a punkrock Hiphop band called Colony, we got a grant from NZ on Air, got a record deal, recorded an EP, had a fight, stopped talking, and broke up.. Then I was asked to join The Hallelujah Picassos, – who were my favorite local band so I was on cloud 9. It was a dream come true and still my face memories of being in a band.. it was just the best time. Even when it was turning to shit around us. Then I was playing in metal/hard rock act Future Stupid. Then SKA band called The Managers for a few years on and off, in and out..  as well as a freeform dub electronic ensemble that jammed at our friends bar.. it was hours of unrehearsed dub epic songs..haha fun but draining.. Right Now I’m sitting in playing guitar in my brothers old High school band for there reunion show coming up at The Masonic, its all old 80s-90′s covers, just fun party stuff. Its just great to be playing and not working on guitars.

You’ve been all over the world places to go stories behind your travels there?

I love touring the USA, once you get off the beaten track and out the major cities its the most beautiful place, amazing deserts, mouton ranges, beaches and forests. I’m a sucker for Hollywood and all its fake-ness and plastic-ness, I’d love to go back to New York and spend more time there, its intense especially on Manhattan, so many people so little space. made me claustrophobic, but I wanna go back. Dubai is also an insane place, its a true Oasis in the middle of the desert. All brand new, shiny and safe feeling – zero crime! go figure. However they still cut off your hands if your caught stealing haha. I’ve spent all my time traveling with bands that are my friends so its been the best way to see places and being put up in 5 star hotels occasionally isn’t bad. But I still think I love most my tiny bunk on my tour bus on Warped Tour, riding up front with the bus driver and seeing the country as we went from state to state, learning all I could.

Bands to look out for?

Right Now I think Snakes Of Iron are one of my fave new bands on the metal/hardcore scene. A band Like Black River Drive, that’s a band that’s gonna go somewhere I think and of course MY next band when I get enough time to form a new one and get back on stage myself.

Plugs/shout outs?

Well El Boneshaker of course, you guys doing great things amongst the scene bridging the music and bike and rod scene.
Bungalow Bills Music store, still the best guitar store in the land.
Peterson Tuners, (petersontuners.com) These guys have been looking after me and my gear since 04. I use 3 of there Digital Strobe Tuners. Its nice to be given your gear for free, its not cheap to do what I do for work.
Justin and the crew from Rattlers Who have been helping me along my current bike build..
And Ryan from Custom Audio Boutique (customaudioboutique.co.nz) a longtime friend and guitarist from Lugar Boa who’s always looked after me and my bands with gear and advice and helping me hotrod my own gear.



Today is Larry Desmedt’s birthday, a short tribute to him, Indian Larry.

A genius motorcycle builder/artist, daredevil extraordinaire and introspective philosopher.

Larry Desmedt, a legendary custom motorcycle builder and stunt rider who went by the name Indian Larry, died on Aug. 30 of severe head injuries he sustained in an accident. He was 55.

Born in Cornwall-on-Hudson, N.Y., Indian Larry was a teenager when he bought his first motorbike, a 1939 Harley Knucklehead, for $200. He took it apart and spent the next nine months learning how to put it back together again. He later moved to California and apprenticed under hot rod builder Ed “Big Daddy” Roth.

Larry launched the Brooklyn-based Gasoline Alley motorcycle workshop in 1991 and devoted the rest of his life to creating and riding “old school bikes.” Several of his custom-built motorcycles won awards, including the “Grease Monkey,” which was named Easy Rider magazine’s Chopper of the Year.

Larry also performed stunts in movies (“Quiz Show,” “200 Cigarettes”) and on television. He was a featured artist on the Discovery Channel’s “Biker Build-Off” series, and once rode a motorcycle through a wall of fire on “The Late Show With David Letterman.”

As Johnny Cash sang,

“If you want to save your soul from hell a-riding on our range,
Then cowboy change your ways today or with us you will ride
A-try’ng to catch the devil’s herd
Across these endless skies.”

Larry certainly did.

R.I.P. Indian Larry

www.youtube.com/watch?v=GRyimCuWCOc

Following his passion for cars, Bo and Stan Robles left Carbon County and attended a body and fender school in Denver, Colorado. (It was in those days that Stan Robles owned a Barris built custom.) Upon finishing school in Denver, Bo then moved back to Utah, but this time settled in Salt Lake City. He promptly bought a ’27 T, and worked on it off and on for the next 10 years of his life. Bo recalls his first time in Salt Lake City State Street was the place to be. Bo recalls it was like a car show back then. What with all the under slung primered customs, painted customs and Hot Rods. “We would all cruise to Don Carlos’ and Fred & Kelly’s, those were the hot spots on State St.” After painting and lowering many a car in Utah, Bo then moved to Orange County, California during the mid 1960′s.It was in Orange County that Bo would open his own custom car shop. In his shop the cars would be nosed, decked, shaved, lowered and then the all important metal flake paint would be applied. And then you would have a work of art on wheels.Eventually Bo would move to Fayetteville, Arkansas and open another shop. It was there he did may a sub frame, chop top and flame jobs.

These days you will find Bo back in Utah living where it all started for him, East Carbon, Utah. He still builds some of the best customs around. Bo builds at his customer’s request and has even his own Custom & Hot Rod Museum. Bo Huff’s Custom Creations have been featured in the following magazines: Hot Rod, Custom Rodder, Rod & Custom, Lowrider, Hot Rod Mechanix, Ol Skool Rodz, Car Kulture Deluxe and many more we haven’t seen…

We arrived friday evening in time to set up tent and cruise main street in the back of a 1963 Belair. We checked out the talent down the main drag. All was top notch. It’s amazing what comes out of the garage for NZ’s top hotrod/rockabilly lifestyle week.

Spent saturday selling our gear and handing out as many cards as we could carry, however we were put in a terrible spot with jack all foot traffic, bright light on the day though was meeting Miss Shelly J and Harley selling their hand made hand bags, which are now available on elboneshakerstore.co.nz top quality stuff check them out.

Sunday wasn’t any different only we were in a much better spot and handed out a shit load more cards, also as you can see from our photos had a bit more time to get the camera out. We had the chance to meet and greet thousands of people and now all should know the name ‘El Boneshaker’.

We met some wicked people, seen some awesome hardware and went home smiling.

For those who missed check these out, for those that went enjoy it again.

Be a misfit!

EBMF!

p.s. Congrats to the folks who went home with the give away cars and harley.

Grimb has played in metal bands since his teens and says” I want people to feel rock in my work”. He has shown at major car and bike shows in Japan,Germany and the US. in 2005 he participated in the burnout network show at the Roq La Rue gallery, Seattle. he works mostly in acrylics and 1 shot paint.

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Makoto
Okazaki, Japan

Makoto aka Makoto Kobayashi. one of Japan’s foremost pinstripers, who was introduced to the art by Wildman Ishii, Makoto was the only Japanese artist to feature in the famed 2002 Von Dutch, an American original show in Northridge, CA. in addition to the Mooneye shows in Japan, he has also shown at the Cacao coffee house in Santa Monica, CA, and at the Roq La Rue Gallery in Seattle.

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Mr.G
Fukuoka, Japan

Mr.G aka Minoru Goto. widely recognised as one of Japan’s best pinstripers, Mr.G first came across the artform at a Wildman Ishii striping demo in 1992. the other major string to his bow is as one of Japan’s foremost exponents of TIKI. not only does it inform much of his output,he is also a passionate collector. he has the most complete TIKI mug collection in Japan and has designed several mugs for TIKI Farm of California.

Mr.G works out of a studio in Fukuoka Prefecture. he shows regularly in the US as well as Japan. his first one-man show in LA in 2005 was a sell-out. in 2005 he also showed at Roq La Rue in Seattle, together with Rockin’ Jelly Bean, Makoto and Grimb.”you gotta run when you gotta run” is Mr.G’s motto.

And The”Psycho Wheels“

Location: Osaka, Japan

Photo By: Matsutani

Photography: Dirk Behlau

Model: Caro