[SKATE PUNK ARCHIVE - JFA, 1977-1986]. [JFA and the development of Skateboard Culture]

Very good. A quantity of eight flyers promoting JFA concerts in Phoenix, Los Angeles, and elsewhere between 1982 and 1986, photomechanically reproduced on 8.5" x 11" sheets of white, pink, or yellow paper. PLUS: "JFA Songbook" (see below). Overall, the material is very clean, having been stored in a filing cabinet, free from light and handling for forty years. PLUS: five newspaper skateboard mags (1977-1980), newsprint (folded for many years and toned). PLUS: two surfer mags (1973-1974), newsprint (toned). A FINE AND EARLY ARCHIVE OF SKATE PUNK FLYERS, DOCUMENTING THE ROLE OF THE BAND JODY FOSTER'S ARMY (JFA) AND THEIR CONTEMPORARIES IN THE SKATE CULTURE (truncated) IN THE EARLY 1980s. SEVERAL FLYERS ARE ICONIC AND ARE NOW UNFINDABLE IN FRESH, MUSEUM QUALITY AS HERE, HAVING BEEN STORED IN A FILING CABINET FOR EXACTLY FORTY YEARS, TO WHICH IS ADDED A SMALL QUANTITY OF NEWSPRINT SKATEBOARD MAGS (1977-1980) AND RELATED EPHEMERA.

Two cultural phenomena of the 1970s and 80s continue to exert a tremendous impact on the youth of twenty-first century: skateboarding (particularly skate-punk) and hip-hop, both of which began as expressions of disaffected "outsiders" who were unwilling or unable to participate in mainstream America, and did so in a completely DYI manner. Today, both phenomena have been co-opted and commercialized worldwide, particularly in terms of music, linguistics, fashion, art and culture. We are able to offer a small but very interesting "time capsule" of the former.

Concerning skate-punk band JFA: "With roots in the Arizona and Southern California skateboard scenes, JFA was formed in 1981, nineteen days after the failed attempted assassination of Ronald Reagan by John Hinckley Jr., an obsessed fan of Jodie Foster. The original lineup of vocalist Brian Brannon, guitarist Don "Redondo" Pendleton, bassist Michael Cornelius, and drummer Mike 'Bam-Bam' Sversvold developed a faster, more focused sound that combined the nascent hardcore of Black Flag and The Germs with the twangy guitar that defined The Ventures and Dick Dale. With lyrics and imagery steeped in the lifestyle, JFA appealed to skaters who saw themselves taking surf culture to the streets." (johnson rare books and archives, from whom we acquired the present collection).

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE COLLECTION:

Flyer of the very important May 18, 1984 concert with skate punk pioneers The Big Boys (Austin, TX) at the Stardust Ballroom in Hollywood. Billed as "L.A.'s First All Skate Gig!" and sponsored by Powell & Peralta, Tracker, and other skateboard manufacturers, it also included performances by JFA, Aggression, Faction, Ill Repute, and Tales of Terror. We know it was a great show because we were there. ~ May 26 [1986] flyer for DRI (Dirty Rotten Imbeciles) et al. in Dallas, and on the other side JFA et al. ~ Aug. 17 [1982] flyer for Meat Puppets ("new album due anytime now from SST Records") and JFA in Tempe, AZ ~ Catalogue of Placebo Products / Placebo Records (JFA label), 4 pp. ~ Promotional flyer for JFA skateboard (two shapes, three sizes, generally 10.5" x 30.5") ~ Calendar for Sept. 1986 punk rock shows at the Downtown Danceteria in Minneapolis, MN promoting shows by the Circle Jerks, Liveskull and others ~ Nov. 21 [1983] flyer for Samhain, JFA, Necros, et al. at Stardust Ballroom, Hollywood ~ 3 flyers from JFA 1986 "Fifth Anniversary" tour (including Denver) ~ "The JFA Songbook" zine, together 8 ff., stapled as issued, containing "Lyrics to all known and remembered ballads," interspersed with photocopy cuttings and drawings. A worn copy of this item sold on for $139 (Dec. 12, 2022).

PROVENANCE: Archive of Richard Bishop, guitarist of the Sun City Girls (Phoenix, AZ), an experimental rock band. Statement by Bishop "Each one was collected before the date of the show and have been in a filing cabinet ever since."

ADDED: Seabreeze: Voice of the Western Surfing Association. San Diego, CA 1973-1974. Together two issues, newsprint: Nov. / Dec. 1973 (vol. 1 no. 6), 30, [2] pp. July / Aug. 1974 [vol. 2 no.1], pp. 3-32 (lacking front cover, thin vertical portion of spine area on p. 3 very lightly abraded). IN THIS INNOCUOUS 1974 SURFING NEWSPRINT TRADE MAGAZINE IS A VERY EARLY ADVERTISEMENT FOR BAHNE SKATEBOARDS TOGETHER WITH CADILLAC URETHANE WHEELS WHICH REVOLUTIONIZED SKATEBOARD TECHNOLOGY. Frank Nasworthy is notable in the history of skateboarding for introducing polyurethane wheel technology to the sport in the early 1970s. Due to the infancy of skateboarding at this time, Nasworthy sold his wheels directly to surf shops along the coast of California, and placed some tentative advertisements featuring a young Gregg Weaver in surfing magazines. In 1973 or 1974, Nasworthy licensed his wheels to Bahne and Co. of Encinitas, California and Bahne skateboards were packaged with Cadillac wheels. SEE: Ken Harrison, "Birthplace of skateboarding: Encinitas and Carlsbad; Forget about Santa Monica" (2019, online).

ADDED: Assorted cheap skateboard publications (1977-1980) including Skateworld Journal vol. 1 no. 1 (1977) with O.G. Dogtowner Marty Grimes on the front cover (inside: an ad declares "Profit from the coming boom in Skateparks!") ~ Zero Gravity (1977) with George Orton on the front cover (in color) and other photos we've never seen, being a veritable time capsule of early vertical skateboarding ~ Skat'n News vol. 1 no. 10 (1979) with photos from Reseda SkaterCross skatepark (some news items circled in pen) ~ Skat'n News vol. 2 no 1 (1980), "Special Issue" primarily with photos and typewritten captions (some news items circled in pen) ~ Skat'n News vol. 2 no. 8 (1980) with Eric Grisham on the cover and many other excellent photos of the Reseda contest. Plus: The Argonaut, Marina Del Rey, CA (1981) with Christian Hosoi on the cover, and an article on the closing of the Marina Del Rey skatepark. Plus: 5 pieces of related ephemera, including two copies of the CHIP Skateboarders' Safety Handbook. (Inventory #: 4311)