Brain Drain Episode 52 with Toby Batchelor & Forde Brookfield 🧠 Get comfortable as we dive into two hours of incredible distribution history with the legendary Wesley Morgan of Rock Solid Distribution.In this episode we sit down with one of the UK's most beloved distributors, Wesley Morgan of Rock Solid Distribution. We dive deep into the history of Rock Solid Distribution from it's humble beginnings in a two bedroom flat, all the way unto distributing some of skateboardings greatest brands; Powell Peralta, Bones Wheels, Ace Trucks, Magenta Skateboards, 5BORO, April, Butter Goods, Cortina Bearings, Darkroom, Dear Skating, DGK, Dial Tone, Diamond Supply Co, Doom Sayers, Toy Machine, Foundation Skateboards. We also dive into Wes' history of growing up in Bristol, skating with some of skateboardings greatest legends and much more!00:00 - Coming up on this episode/intro01:57 - Where is Wes from and how do the U.S. brands find his accent?04:07 - Wes' history of skateboarding, growing up in the Downend and asking Bill Danforth how to do a McTwist...13:10 - Becoming a skate nerd and venturing into Bristol and seeing Lloyds for the first time.17:54 - Visiting Skate One for the first time, meeting George Powell, seeing the incredible Skate One Lab and being the ultimate skate nerd!27:22 - The Powell Peralta U.K. tour 31:16 - How where the Lloyds ledges when they where first built and who where some of the first people to do tricks down the Big Three?36:10 - Skin Phillips photo exhibition, Rollersnakes 40th anniversary, the Science Verses Life Book & history of Paul Haynes filming for the Rollersnakes 540 & 720 videos.40:34 - Rollersnakes is now owned by it's employees!(Watch this video for more information: www.youtube.com/watch?v=zrSFvhEblFc)43:48 - Moving into the centre of Bristol, it's high standard of skateboarding, Rollermania, 5050 Skate Shop, P-Stone & Danny Wainwright!50:51 - Who was dominating the Bristol scene when Wes moved back to Bristol after finishing Uni in Cardiff?57:03 - The birth and deep history of Wes' Rock Solid Distribution!1:15:27 - How does Wes start distributing brands, lurking on Slap Forum and potentially losing brands...1:23:09 - Skating curbs with John Lucero, Skip Pronier and Ben Koppl & meeting more skate legends .1:27:04 - What's been one of the biggest and most financially beneficial brands that Wes has ever distributed through Rock Solid?1:28:19 - Does Skate One have expectations to how much Rock Solid has to distribute and how did Wes end up acquiring Skate One? (Powell Peralta, Bones Wheels etc...)1:33:32 - What's the day to day duties of running a distribution company?1:37:30 - Has being involved in the skateboarding industry ever dampened his actual joy for skateboarding in his personal time?1:30:19 - What's Wes' future with rock solid and what's his warm up routine for skating as he gets older?1:43:04 - What's the most valuable, rarest thing Wes has collected during his lifetime in skateboarding?1:52:39 - Passing out, getting his face painted, eyebrows shaved off and other hyjinx!1:55:32 - Getting arrested in Barcelona for cycling the wrong way round a roundabout?1:57:45 - What's Wes' thoughts on where skateboarding currently is?2:03:00 - Wrap up, farewells, credits and extended thank you's from Wes!Also available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts & Youtube.https://linkin.bio/rollersnakesSupport The Brain Drain Show by hitting the "THANKS" button under this video.Subscribe to our Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/BrainDrainShow💰Want to BUY Brain Drain Merch?💰https://rollersnakes.co.uk/search?q=brain+drainINSTAGRAM: 📸 Rollersnakes 📸https://www.instagram.com/rollersnakeshttps://www.instagram.com/rollersnakesshopderbyYOUTUBE: ▶️ RollersnakesTV ▶️https://www.youtube.com/rollersnakestvSupport us by checking out our sponsors:Rollersnakes:www.rollersnakes.co.uk

Brain Drain Episode 50 with Toby Batchelor & Forde Brookfield 🧠

In this episode we sit down with one of Bristols finest, Andrew Makepeace for three hours to discuss his history of skateboarding, living in Bristol, his history and working for @rocksoliddistribution , @keendist63 & Route One, starting @skateboardcafe with Rich Smith buying @slamcityskates86 @slamcitylondon & Lost Art filming for Bristols Finest, the OG’s and newcomers in the Bristol scene, moving to Oxford, being blind in one eye, conspiracy theories and much more!00:00 - Coming up on this episode/intro03:02 - Where is Andy from, earliest memories of skateboarding and Bristol city centre...13:11 - Early Patchway crew, meeting the Bristol locals and legends & Osiris Footwear.20:24 - The brilliance of Korahn Gayle & Toby's classic Plan B Tour story...23:40 - Getting shifts at 5050 Skate Shop, moving into the centre of Bristol, working at Route One for ten years and the importance of skate shops!38:01 - Where did Andy get the nickname Evil Dorito & Cakepeace from and what's some of his favourite cakes?41:18 - Being blind in one eye and how does it affect his skateboarding?47:40 - What tricks has Andy done down Lloyds big three, losing a sequence and other tricks that've gone down the big three!57:21 - The history of Skateboard Cafe, the brilliance of Rich Smith, artwork & getting Cease & Desist's from Starbucks (continued at 2:02:17).1:07:40 - Thriving on minimal sleep, bath rituals, & bath bombs.1:12:36 - Day to day operations at Skateboard Cafe and early days of independent distribution. 1:16:50 - Working for Rock Solid Distribution.1:22:55 - Working for Keen Distribution and moving to Oxford.1:30:35 - Buying Slam City in London, the employees and it's day to day operations.1:40:19 - How has the industry changed in the last few years and what would Andy's advice be for anyone who's thinking of opening a skate shop?1:54:00 - Buying Lost Art in Liverpool, the employees and it's day to day operations.2:02:17 - More history of Skateboard Cafe, the original full length video by Rich Smith & early team riders (Shaun Currie, Mike Arnold etc...)2:16:06 - Conspiracy Theories, 9/11, pyramids, the moon landing, time travel, 2:55:51 - Wrap up, farewells and credits...Also available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts & Youtube.https://linkin.bio/rollersnakesSupport The Brain Drain Show by hitting the "THANKS" button under this video.Subscribe to our Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/BrainDrainShow💰Want to BUY Brain Drain Merch?💰https://rollersnakes.co.uk/search?q=brain+drainINSTAGRAM: 📸 Rollersnakes 📸https://www.instagram.com/rollersnakeshttps://www.instagram.com/rollersnakesshopderbyYOUTUBE: ▶️ RollersnakesTV ▶️https://www.youtube.com/rollersnakestvSupport us by checking out our sponsors:Rollersnakes:www.rollersnakes.co.ukPresented by: Forde Brookfield (@bagheadcrew) & Toby Batchelor (@tobybatchelor) Edited by: Forde Brookfield Producer: Handsome Ed (@edward._.pratt)Thumbnail: Michael Wright#braindrainshow #skateboardcafe #andrewmakepeace #slamcityskates #lostartskateshop

Brain Drain Episode 50 with Toby Batchelor & Forde Brookfiel🧠 Prepare yourself for nearly 3 hours of skateboarding, art & death metal geekery with the incredible Funeral French!In this episode we discuss everything from his intensive back catalog of artwork, designing boards for @heroinskateboarding , @CreatureFiends , @zeroskateboards , @blacklabelskates , the birth of Witchcraft Hardware, 1939 and Dungeon Gateway, insane art commissions, being the driver for @ThrasherMag U.K. vacation, the brilliant P-Stone, working for @ShinerPixels , favourite thrash & death metal bands, sketchy Belgium tours, german sausages, growing up in Aldershot, designing pro boards for Eric Dressen and a whole load more!00:00 - Coming up on this episode/intro03:38 - Favorite pastys & the legend of Pin of Werrytown.07:52 - Skating with Colin Fiske and Dave Vey's fur coat...11:39 - Where is French from, getting into skateboarding and his first proper set up!16:20 - Working at Shiner Distribution and the change in board shapes and graphics21:50 - Truck geekery, the decline of professional skateboarders and the first NFT skateboarding brand?30:22 - French's early skate crew and venturing out to new cities...36:00 - When did French start getting into art and his school years.39:58 - French's distinctive art style, using mixed media and his early graphics for Heroin Skateboards...49:24 - What was the first commission French ever got and getting hints from James Jarvis & Mark Foster.1:01:23 - What's the biggest commission French has ever had and working alongside his wife on collaborations...1:09:39 - Who were some of French's biggest clients and obscure commissions! 1:18:39 - What other big brands has French worked for? (Adio, Nike, Adidas, Emerica, Vans, Etnies, Planet Earth, Kr3w, Volcom, Altamont, etc.)1:27:45 - Does French keep one of everything with brands he's collaborated with and getting commissions from Zero Skateboards, Black Label Skateboards, Creature Skateboards, Santa Cruz & more!1:36:49 - Doing artwork for Thrasher and Metal bands, his current favourite bands and where did the name "Funeral French" come from?1:42:28 - The history of Witchcraft Hardware, creating his own shapes and guests artists!1:57:11 - Designing graphics for Black Label Skateboards, talking with John Lucero over the phone and giving away decks and clothing to his friends and family.2:04:03 - 1939 Skates and making graphics for Sleep, Witch, Dinosaur Jr., Earthless, High on Fire & Graveyard!2:11:39 - Car13 Wheels...2:15:13 - Being the driver for Thrasher Magazines 2014 Vacation in England and Phelps being an absolute cock.2:23:49 - Who's got the best Frontside Grinds and Mark Munson impersonations...2:33:09 - What lead up to French and the Witchcraft Hardware team getting arrested in Belgium?2:37:45 - If the world ran out of beans, what would French out on his toast and some absolutely incredible German impersonations!2:42:36 - The origins of the "French" nickname...2:44:36 - Farewells and credits!Also available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts & Youtube.https://linkin.bio/rollersnakesSupport The Brain Drain Show by hitting the "THANKS" button under this video.Subscribe to our Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/BrainDrainShow💰Want to BUY Brain Drain Merch?💰https://rollersnakes.co.uk/search?q=brain+drainINSTAGRAM: 📸 Rollersnakes 📸https://www.instagram.com/rollersnakeshttps://www.instagram.com/rollersnakesshopderbyYOUTUBE: ▶️ RollersnakesTV ▶️https://www.youtube.com/rollersnakestvSupport us by checking out our sponsors:Rollersnakes:www.rollersnakes.co.ukPresented by: Forde Brookfield (@bagheadcrew) & Toby Batchelor (@tobybatchelor) Edited by: Forde Brookfield Producer: Handsome Ed (@edward._.pratt)Thumbnail: Michael Wright#braindrainshow #funeralfrench #dungeongateway #witchcrafthardware