Editor’s note: Per Welinder, former professional skater and Bones Brigade member and current president of Blitz Distribution, attended the premiere on Thursday and wrote this report for us about the evening.
It has been over ten years since Stacy Peralta directed Dogtown and the Z-Boys, a movie that defined skateboarding as an art form. This week was the world premier of his much anticipated follow-up documentary, Bones Brigade: An Autobiography, screening at both the Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah and at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival.
It was an extra nice touch that the film was screened in Santa Barbara, home of Powell Peralta, the iconic company behind the Bones Brigade. In a reunion-like atmosphere, the skateboard community ascended on the historic Arlington Theatre for this red carpet event filling it to capacity.
Bones Brigade: An Autobiography chronicles the story of the group’s origin, their journey, and where they are today, told by its most prominent riders, Steve Caballero, Tony Hawk, Mike McGill, Rodney Mullen, Lance Mountain and Tommy Guerrero.
With humor and intense honesty these riders along with Stacy Peralta, George Powell, and others, paint a vivid picture of those early days of skating and the experience of being a young skater in the 80’s. But this film isn’t just a time capsule it’s also a story about great friendships, trust, facing your fears, and going for your dreams.
You can’t help but be moved by the bond between Stacy and his riders, and their lifelong commitment to skateboarding. Hats off to Stacy Peralta for putting together another masterpiece of skateboarding history. A must see for skaters and non-skaters alike.
We asked some skaters about the influence of the Bones Brigade on them, and on skateboarding:
“Without the influence of the Bones Brigade, I’m not really sure if the essence and spirit of skateboarding would be as prominent as it is today.”
–Rodney Smith –Shut
“The Bones Brigade was one of the most innovative and driving forces of the 1980’s and laid the groundwork for what would become the most outstanding trends of the 21st century a lasting influence on music and art with the rise of new wave, punk music and graphics, a key influence fashion and the skater look, and a positive influence on sporting culture including the creation of X Games.”
-David Paleschuck – OG Skateboarder Cherry Hill
“The Bones Brigade video “Future Primitive” changed my life. It was like flipping a switch.”
-Josh Friedberg , IASC
“The Bones Brigade became the de facto family for me.”
-Steve Caballero
“The Bones Brigade videos hit a nerve. It was not so much about what we do but who we are as a community.”
-Rodney Mullen
“In the early 80’s, the “Bones Brigade” was further away from us as travelling to Mars. They were super heroes, legends, far away and almost impossible to get in contact to, yet a major inspiration to us. Only after years we realized, that they were as much of a human being as we were, except they skate a hell lot better that anyone.”
– Joerg Ludwig
