The Union Tapes John Dye

So, we got a slightly different episode this month.
The Union tapes was originally going to be a series of shows about different aspects of BMX. Everything that went along with BMX basically.
The first episode we worked on was the one you are about to listen to. Its about Meanwhile quarter pipes in West London. Which was at the time the place to be if you rode BMX, this was just before halfpipe riding took over the BMX world.
I don’t know why but the Westway part of the A40 has always made space for the BMX and skateboard world, it had one of the first skateparks in the U.K community built next to it and later had the Westway BMX track, one of the first BMX tracks in London right between a junction. Coming in closer to the city next to the Meanwhile 2 banks and round the corner from Royal Oak station was home of the infamous Meanwhile quarter pipes a DIY project by the West London locals which created a scene of dedicated and committed BMX riders. It received pages of coverage in BMX Action bike in a time the magazine was evolving into R.A.D. magazine. But they were just covering what was going on, this stuff would have all happened regardless and did. This place had some of the most iconic pics of that era, many a talent was honed on those ramps.
So we interviewed most of the of the people involved who were part of the Meanwhile scene, to see how it came about, what happened and where it went?
Interviews with:
Andy Brown
Greg Guilliote
Lee Reynolds
Nick Elkan AKA Howard
John Povah
Phil Dolan
Zach Shaw

Mike Canning was one of the guys who caught the media spot light as BMX was well and truly going down the pan popularity wise. A start in racing, he quickly moved into Freestyle with a bunch of like minded friends around his home and they gained a reputation as a scene to watch, starting out on backyard quarters and jumping at the local tracks Mike appeared in an issue of BMX Action bike in 86 in the ‘ Zoid' feature, along side Nick Phillips. At this point Mike had just scored a ride for Dyno with the hot shop of that time-Mud machine, which later evolved into M-zone. We get into what turned into a turbulent relationship with those guys. Then got a ride in the Skyway team, we get into the conflict of riding for that team, shooting pics with Windy for Freestylin magazine, uk feature. The BFA circuit. BMX beat appearance, worlds contests, various shows, Vert comps and Circus jobs riding span his time up till 91 when he made a return to the events of the UK BMX world and continued his path of destruction on Vert and dirt contests. Mikes powerful bike riding all out approach to riding, the Can can lookback jump, and how does no one else do it? Theres a lot to cover in this one. It's long and insightful.
Riders mentioned
Karl Alford, Dave Munt, Chris Laney, Dave Beveridge, Zoid, Dean Rush, Steve Habbishaw, Craig Campbell, Jess Dyrenforth, Nick Phillip, Dave Curry, Marco Lara, Pepi, Neil Ruffell, Robert Ruffell, Andy Ruffell, Dennis McCoy, Fuzzy, Carl Westfield, Vince Gregory, Mark Lively, Mike Pardon, Andy Preston, Jason Ellis, Howard Radcliffe, Dave Blundell, Carl Inkpen, Stuart Dawkins, Mat Hoffman, Maurice Meyer, Steven Laidlaw, Dave Young, Greg Guilliotte, Andy Brown, Lee Reynolds, Josh White, Todd Anderson, Dino Deluca, James Hudson, Rob Alton, Effraim Catlow, Jason Hassell, Nick Elkan

Starting out in the early 80’s Jess Dyrenforth became a staple name in mid to late 80s BMX scene. From the first time anyone had seen him featured in BMX Action bike magazine's track in the woods article in 83. He would pop up multiple times in the coming years to the point where he was a regular in BMX Action bike and then RAD magazine. Jess discovered Rom skatepark early into his BMX days and established him self as one of the guys doing some of the biggest airs in the performance bowl around that time. We go into all the era’s on this one, local days in Highgate, London, building a back yard quarter pipe, Rom scene, Action bike/RAD days, getting on Faze 7 BMX. To the years on the then dream GT team, tour with Fiola in 85. Competing in BMX beat, his dislike for conventional contests. The big UKBFA conflict of that era, trying to evolve and grow BMX passed sports hall events. Mons jam deep dive, and what all the fuss was about. The story behind the wrist guards. Building his own backyard halfpipe. Touring the USA in a van for a summer at age 17 with the GT team. Demo’s in Londons Astoria club at the infamous Delirium nights and a BMX demo opening up for the Beastie Boys first London show. Moving to California in 88, competing in the 2 hip KOV and Meet the street events. Sessions at Wilkerson mythical enchanted ramp and Jamie Mousebergs iconic spine ramp. The Spike Jonze shot on the cover of Go! Its all in here and much more of it!
Riders mentioned: Nick Phillips Ethan Jenkins Mass Marco Lara Billy Stupple Craig Campbell Neil Ruffell Eric Steel Dave Curry Bob Haro RL Osborn Mike Buff Ralph Tribe Tony Mackenzie Damon Nichols Jason Lunn Steve Baldry Pikey Paul Biff Paul Wright Nick Jeffries Eddie Fiola Andy Irwin Andy Ruffell Darren Robinson John Povah Ron Wilkerson Lee Reynolds Joe Johnson Mike Dominguez Glyn Lewis Spike Jonze Pete Augustin Craig Grasso Curb Dogs Joe Burlo Keith Treanor Windy Osbourne Brian Blyther
Skateboarders: Paul Wright Danny Way Fred Blood Steve Cabellero

Rooftop sprung into the BMX spot light in 1993 and scored the last part on the game changing VHS dirty deeds, which was the ground breaking video in 94. From there he established himself as a solid fixture in any BMX media or event. He’s still riding at a high level and been through every bmx period since then and remained relevant to this day. We get into almost all of it in this one, drawing influence from the street skaters of that era, around Hollywood and LA area. Looking at BMX from a different angle to most others at that time. Various sponsor changes and challenges, including some very interesting ideals and views on how Mike see’s certain aspects of BMX, and some of his ‘rules’. Being the first BMX rider on Etnies and getting the Etnies BMX programme going, the story behind making the BMX signature shoe series with Joe Rich and Taj. His short lived clothing co Exhibit and his even shorter lived BMX co ‘Citizen’. Backflipping helicopters and early mega ramp records. Right up to appearing in Marvel films as as Ant Man. Theres a lot of views in this one that will polarise some people out there, but its all coming from an educated place, and definitely will make you think. Like, comment and subscribe. Riders mentioned: Brian Castillo James Shepherd Dennis McCoy Mat Hoffman Nate Wessel Joe Rich Taj Mihellich Sandy Carson Dave Clymer Stuart King Ian Morris Chris Moeller Morgan Wade Mike Griffin Dave Parrick Nate Hanson Keith Treanor Dave Osato Jay Miron Skateboarders: Jeremy Wray Jonas Wray Tony Hawk Jason Ellis

Eric Steel is a name that started getting known in the quieter times of BMX, although one of the original Rom BMX locals. The media didnt give him full credit until around 85 onward. Eric was one of the names you'd hear about at Rom back in the mid 80s. The names 'Eric and Marco' were often mentioned in the same sentence back then. Eric was elevated to pro level status when BMX Action bike run a sequence of him doing the first 540 air people had seen in print. ? The 540 in the pic he is about 5 feet out. Suddenly 540s were not only a thing but any restrictive barriers that had been placed on them psychologically had been removed. From that pic, he would become a regular in the magazines, Also becoming infamous for the hand plant-both of which he tells us the story of with in. In this interview we cover all the usuals as well as a ton of stuff, you wouldnt know about unless you were in that circle. We delve into the beginnings of the Harlow scene, Rom skatepark, getting on Faze 7, Hole shot contests, getting on Kuwhara for 48 hours, King of the skateparks 84 and 85, being on standby for BMX beat, becoming local at Jess Dyrenforth's ramp, the legendary Mons ramp jam, Chingford halfpipe, printing legendary BMX co t shirts, BFA circuit, riding for Skyway. The Tizer world tour, moving up north and re establishing himself into a different scene. Eric was one of the most progressive riders to come out of the 80's and i believe has been very under appreciated. This is good look into how he thought about BMX and where he was taking it.
Riders mentioned
Zach Shaw, Darren Robinson, Nick Phillip, Jess Dyrenforth, Craig Campbell, Chris Young, Pikey Paul, Neil Ruffell, Marco Lara, Dave Currey, Tony Hawk, Billy Stupple, Ron Wilkerson, Rich Sigur, Carl Westfield, Jason Hassel, Mike Canning, Bob Haro, Dean Rush, Damon nicholls, Tony Mckenzie, Dennis McCoy, Dino Deluca, Jon Taylor, Jim Tomlinson, Steven Laidlaw

Back in the 80s I bought a magazine called BMX Action bike, the first issue I bought had a pic of a guy in race gear and full face helmet dropping into a concrete bowl. 
It was shot at night and they had a bunch of additional coloured lights behind him. The feature was called 'Dark side of the bowl’, within the pages was a feature on Craig Campbell, blasting around Rom skatepark, it was a feature that burned in my memory for life.
From that point on, Craig Campbell popped up in nearly every magazine I bought in the 80s. He won almost every major event there was in 1984. And was the epitome of a factory BMX pro. This interview changed how I perceived many sponsored riders from the 80s and made me question my standpoint on so many things me and and my friends were judgemental of. Craig did it all in the decade he was actively in BMX, first he raced, then got into freestyle in a big way, won contests, multiple sponsors, factory teams, signature products, TV appearances, trips to the USA to compete at the legendary King of the Skateparks at pipeline in CA, breaking away from the corporate sponsors to rediscover his passion for riding, inovating new tricks and pioneering street riding with other like minded individuals then moving to California to to get fully immersed in all of the above. Get the in-depth story on it all by checking this interview….and I still could have asked more!
Riders mentioned:
Marco Lara, Billy Stupple, Andy Ruffell, Jess Dyrenforth, Eric Steel, Biff, Dave Curry, Alice Temple, Bob Haro, Chris Young, Carlo Griggs, Nick Jeffries, Paul Hudson, Neil Ruffell, Ron Wilkerson, Tony Mckenzie, Damon Nicholls, Jason Lunn, Ralph Tribe, Nick Phillip, Spike Jonze, Tim March, Dave Vanderspek, Eddie Fiola, Craig Grasso, Brain Blyther, Mike Dominguez, Dave Voelker, Chris Day, Eddie Roman, Kevin Jones, Pepi Winder, Pete Augustin, RL Osbourne, Leo Chen, Oscar Gonzales, Hugo Gonzales