peep magazine SICA GRAFFITI Interview Exclusive Off-Line Issue 21

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@missnickyblack

w SICA w Q1 Hi S i c a thanks for supporting our platform. Did you originally write H O P E why the change in name. Was there a motive for this.

I started writing HOPE2 in 1987, as I was in a shit period in my life. My mam and dad split-up, myself, my mam and sister lost our home to bailiffs, so we were homeless for a year. I had to ‘Sofa-Surf’ at friends houses. So I wrote HOPE2 as I needed some bloody hope in my life. No seriously, it was a life experience. Plus, it was an identity for me, as I had nowt else. No home, nice clothes or decent food.

Were the friends you stayed with other writers.

Yes, one was a writer called A I M

Q2 What was your first introduction to North East Graffiti. When were you first introduced to R A P E , D i s m , A m o u r and I N C H .

TAME and CABO were my partners in crime 87 - 88 The first graff I saw in the North East was The Art Crew in 1985 at Gateshead Stadium Metro. Then I saw TCS down Chillingham Road, Walkergate Metro. Also, Mr Zee and Third Teem Crew down Smiths Park, North Shields. I was influenced by all the graff I saw. I started writing in 1987 after a trip down London to watch the FA Cup. Every tube I saw on the London underground had ROBBO, DOZE and DRAX written all over. I asked my dad “Who are they” and he replied : “ Fuck knows son but their famous”. I was hooked. When I got back to Newcastle, I started the MAK CREW and smashed the metros and stations from Jesmond to Bank Foot. In 1987, there were TTK, TCS, MAK and the TDK crews, all active.

I knew RAPE before he started writing. He used to come and watch me. KAS, TAME, MORE and CANE painted Chilli Road in 1989, and then he started writing himself. I met DISM about 1989 I think, when he was writing something else. I watched him progress very quickly in a short period of time. Some people just have that gift of picking up graff straight away and DISM is one of them. Back in 1987 MAK and TDK bombed the toon to Bank Foot line. TCS and TTK bombed the coast line.

CABO ( Rip ) , who was in TTK, bombed from Hewarth to South Shields. We all got on, but like everything else, have our differences, but, we all loved graff.

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Q3 This is worth mentioning - Chemical Symbols :

S I - Silicon CA - C a l c i u m

Has football been a big part of your life. We did a couple of interviews with Mr Zee, I n c h , Y e t i , T h e B y k e r R o m e o , C a c k H a n d e d K i d and T h e W r i t i n g s O n T h e W a l l . A r t . Do you take any interest in other writers and ‘bombers’ from around the city.

Yes, I’m interested in hearing about other writers experiences, especially INCH. Obviously, I do know YETI aswell.

He’s mad aint he. I started writing SICA when I was travelling around Europe in 2015 -2016. I used to see SORGA all over France and Belgium. So, thought, I like the sound of ‘A’ on the back of ‘SIC’ and that’s when I started experimenting with SICA. Yes, I did get involved in the footbal movement aswell, especially late 90s. There was nothing better than getting pissed and high with your mates, going to the game and then kicking fuck out of the opposition. Good times.

Q4 The ‘Art World’ in general, can be an elitist, competitive and backstabbing environment. Have you experienced any real negativity or rivalry within the graff landscape, apart from the obvious - police and local councils.

Loads of hate, but I don’t care. They don’t pay my mortgage and my adventurous lifestyle. I paint because I love it, and still get a buzz seeing my name everywhere I drive.

“ I don’t paint to be popular I’m too old to care about that ”

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Q5 Was there a conscious thought to move away from full-on pieces of art to S I C A tags. Was this just a timing thing, or have I got this wrong. Do you still do full pieces. There is a real feel for 80s New York with your style.

No mate, I had to prove myself again, so just got ‘SICA’ up all over the UK. I paint full-on pieces aswell.

How do you mean, prove yourself again. Was there a reason for this.

Because I had been out of the graff scene for 25 years. I got sent to prison for painting trains in 1992. We got ambushed in South Gosforth Metro depot. The Metro police jumped out from either side of the panels we were painting, got rugby tackled to the ground with a few punches and kicks thrown in. They had been waiting for us, as we were smashing the yard every week. I got nicked for bombing metros twice in one week. I was in prison for six months.

After that, I became a career criminal.

How did you find prison. Did other prisoners know you were in there for Graffiti Or did you keep this to yourself. What kind of criminality.

Yes, they did and thought it was ridiculous. Proper experience and learning curve. When I got out of prison I could’nt get a job, so started shoplifting, stealing mountain bikes, then eventually selling E’s and Cocaine. I got back into graff in 2015. As my family got older, they started to go to competitions all over the country, so I had time to spare, and started painting again. I was travelling all over France and Belgium and saw graff everywhere.

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Q6 Who do you respect in graffiti now.

I respect all writers who get off their arses and ‘get up’ ! Can’t stand ‘keyboard Warriors’ and ‘Arse Lickers’. To me, I think Newcastle has an amazing graff scene, which gets overlooked all the time. Most active train crews are - LDS, FDS, OTRAS TNS, OFK, STK, DVS, DTM - respect. Street ‘bombers’ are SINE, SHADEE, UROCK, MALO, DEM, TUF, MEDS, SKEM, GATSBY, GRIM, BERK, SUGR, POLICE, OTRAS, YETI, KONE, FUCH, CAVE, DTM and NRS. Serious ‘hof’ painters like MY PIC, CURE, DISM, MANE, MICRO, MASH 1, OKAY, LASHE, GAMS, DISK and FUKM.

Q7 I asked M r Z e e about his pilgrimage to New York, where he connected with graffiti kings over there. Have you been to New York or do you find inspiration in other places. Who are your inspirations.

No, never been to New York. London and Sheffield were my inspirations. MIST1 from Sheffield was a huge influence on me and a good friend.

“We Were The First British Writers To Paint A Whole Car In Europe”

That actually ran for weeks. We used to board it every day, whilst shoplifting. FOAM and KAST were also big influences.

Q8 What is the graff community like. Is there a community.

It’s like all other industries, full of good and bad folk who will try and put you down. That’s why It’s best to only paint with people you really know and trust.

Editors Note : If you liked this Interview and want to hear more about graffiti writers / bombers / artists, then check out our official peep Channel - www.youtube.com/peep. Please subscribe and help us support the under-represented.

Have you got an interesting story? We would love to hear it. Get in touch. No tyre kickers.

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