Spoofs… Almost ever skateboard company had a spoof graphic, It’s just a part of skateboard graphics! The war between Steve Rocco and George Powell really unfolded right before our eyes in the magazine ads!
When it comes to skateboard spoof graphics, it’s all about injecting some humor and a touch of irreverence into the skateboard graphic world. Some companies took things to extreme with this and honestly I’m so glad they did!
It presented a masterpiece of discussion within the skateboard collecting community, and just being able to laugh once in awhile at someones take on a classic graphic, is well just great for the soul!
I caught wind of a ad a few months back on Facebook that Benjamin Levaux was running about his new upcoming book he was working on called SKATEBOARD ECHOES and reached out to him about doing a quick interview about himself and the project.
You guys really need to get a copy of this book, Ben really captured all the parodies and spoofs of some of the raddest graphics, and some not well known as well and created a book he is very stoked on! SO GO GRAB A COPY after reading this article, we included link to do just that at the bottom! Enjoy!
SPS – Where did you grow up?
Ben – I was born in 1976 in Paris France. I grew up in different European countries, but I was skateboarding in Paris France in my teen years.
SPS – What was your skate scene like there?
Ben – It was really smaller than these days…
There was no skateparks and no Internet. Just a few skate shops, a couple of monthly magazines, and the Powell video each year…
Still, everything was very new, so it was a very exciting period
SPS – How did you get started in collecting skateboards?
Ben – Around 2007, when someone told me 80’s skateboards were now worth some money. So I went straight to my grandma’s house, picked all my old boards I kept, and sold them on eBay. It was not a lot of money though, because they were far from mint… (you can see them in my book).
After that, I bought Sean Cliver’s Disposable books and started getting interested in skateboards again. So eventually, I bought some new ones… but I have a real small collection, and mainly reissues…
SPS – So you have a book you have been working on, tell us about it!
Ben – The book showcases more than 1100 boards and it is called « Skateboards echoes » because it is focusing on all the tributes / spoofs / parodies decks that have been made from the 80’s and 90’s « classics ».
I made a lot of research on the web and I found some really rare and fun boards! I hope you guys will enjoy it (but I am pretty sure you will, if you are interested in skateboard design 😉
SPS – What was your inspiration for wanting to create the book?
Ben – The idea of the « echoes » came straight from nowhere during a nap, but the project of making a book on my own is really thanks to Manuel Fuentes, the author of « 92-ish » (and soon « 93-ish »), a great skateboard book he did on his own. Too bad I quit skateboarding in 92… Can anybody do a 91-ish book please?
SPS – How many pages will the book be when finished and what’s the main focus of it?
Ben – It is 156 pages and 1100 boards big. I think that 80% of the showcased boards are not in the Disposable bibles.
And I’m gonna guess most people have no idea about 50% of them (depending on how sharp you are in skateboard collecting).
SPS – What are some other skate-related books that you really enjoy?
Ben – Sean Cliver’s Disposable books of course, but I almost got all of them. Except the Todd Francis and Todd Bratrud that I missed and I am trying to get now…
SPS – Will the book be a hardcover book or will there be digital downloads available as well?
Ben – The book comes with two different hard covers. One with the Vision Psycho Stick on the front and the Powell Ripper on the back. And another one with the Rocco Devil Pooh on the front and the Alice in Wonderland on the back.
Once all the books are sold, there may be a digital version buyable online, but nothing for sure yet.
SPS – Out of all the graphics, what is your favorite skate graphic?
Ben – I have a lot of favorites: Powell Peralta Vallely, Jason Lee Cat in the hat, Jeff Grosso Wonderland, Ron Chatman Experience, Ray Barbee Ragdoll, Rodney Mullen Dog eating cats, Randy Colvin Velvet Safari…
SPS – Tell us a crazy story about your youth!
Ben – As the Blind Team in « Video Days », I skated the bowl under the Eiffel Tower the summer it was emptied!
SPS – Punk rock, thrash, or bluegrass?
Ben – I am more into Jazz or Rock.
SPS – When will the book be released, and where can it be pre-ordered at?
Ben – The book is available now on skateboard-echoes.com
SPS – Any last words or shoutouts?
Ben – Thanks for your interest and I hope you’ll have as much fun reading my book as I had writing it