Riff And Destroy

Story by Michael Quintero Photo Illustration by Michael Quintero Photo Credit: Unsplash Design by Michael Quintero

Skateboarding and music go hand and hand. You could have a rad part but also the music has to match the skating or personality. People outside the skate world may see a skate video a just a video about skating, but it is more cinematic than that. Having said that, here are some videos I grew up watching and turned me on to some cool music.

Baker 3 (Baker): 2005

Definitely one the best intros songs in skate history, starting off with “I Can’t Hardly Stand It” by The Cramps. The heavy guitar riffs match the antics and rebellion of the Baker team. Reason why this makes the list is not only is Baker 3 one of the best videos of the early 2000’s but song selection from “Glamorous Glue” to Antwan Dixon nollie flipping Carlsbad Gap to Notorious BIG’s “Let’s Get It On.” And now everytime I hear Lou Reed’s “Street Hassle” all I can think about is the Baker video.

The video not only has bangers in clips but Dustin Dollin showing off his rail tricks while half-drunk to “Downfall” by Children of Bodom and Bryan Herman ending the video off with David Bowies “The Width Of A Circle” makes you feel some type of way.

One of the gnarliest skate videos of the bunch and probably the 90’s. Misled Youth did a good job in song choice with style of skating. This video is full of big stair sets, big rails, and gnarly slams. Erik Ellington doing his notorious big spins to front boards while Slayer’s “South of Heaven” is blasting in the background makes you want to get up and hit a stair set. Of course Jamie Thomas absolutely killed it but changed the vibe up skating to The Who “Baba O’Riley” and a snippet of “The End” by The Doors.

Aside from the two bangers in the video, there are some lowkey songs that slap. Modest Mouse “Shit Luck,” The Rolling Stones “You Can’t Always Get What You Want,” Black Flag “Fix Me,” and Pailhead “I Will Refuse.” There is a ton of metal and other rock n roll mixed it but the video itself is one of the gnarliest of the 90’s so makes sense.

Misled Youth (Zero): 1999

Screen Shot Credit: Baker Skateboards

Welcome To Hell (Toy Machine): 1996

Did you really think I wasn’t going to put a Toy Machine soundtrack in here? The problem was, which one? All things aside Welcome to Hell is in my opinion the best Toy Machine video.

Elissa Steamer graceful skating and vibing to The Sundays “You’re not the only one I know” then switching it up to a tour montage with the late Van Halen slaying to “I’m the one” then to Brian Anderson’s part along with “Another Brick in The Wall PT 2,” what more could you ask for?

Oh yeah Ed Templeton and then maybe the best part of the 90’s with Jamie Thomas just send this video straight to the devil himself. Templeton kicks it up a notch with Sonic Youth’s “Titanium Expos,” and is it just me or is Sonic Youth and Interpol just the perfect bands for skate parts?

Not much to say about Thomas’ part beside you fucking killed it and did you expect anything else besides Iron Maiden to a Thomas part? “Hallowed Be Thy Name” has that creepy feel with that slow intro into just gnaliness only from one of the best skaters of all time.

Yeah Right! (Girl): 2003

Of course, you knew there would be a Girl soundtrack in here, but this was tough to choose from, whether it be Mouse, Goldfish, or even Pretty Sweet, but I think Yeah Right! kills it on this one. Brian Anderson skating to Interpol “Obstacle 1” Marc Johnson or MJ (yes there is an MJ in skating) getting technical with “Love with Tear Us Apart” or a young Jeremey Rodgers, before the cringe rap albums, skating to the other MJ “Don’t Stop ‘Til You Get Enough,” and the list goes on.

And who could forget the Koston and McCrank back to backs. McCrank jamming to “Deceptacon” by Le Tigre and Koston punking an homeless man in his intro to ending with a 360 filp, noseblunt on the handrail to Frank Black “Los Angeles.”

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Screen Shot Credit: Toy Machine Skateboards

One of the most underrated videos and soundtracks, probably because this video was definitely the one your parents didn’t want you to see.

Kicking it off with King Crimson’s “21st Century Schizoid Man” and the iconic face slam by Corey Duffel in the intro mixed with fights and other slams.

Leo Romero’s part is one of the best hitting his gnarly rail sets to “Between Us & Them” by Moving Units fits right in. The whole video has this punk rock alternative feel to it from Moving Units “PDA” by Interpol and “Alive” by Ima Robot.

Also, if you don’t know Ima Robot then just stop reading here. Screen Shot Credit: Foundation Skateboards

Bag OF Suck (Enjoi): 2006

The Enjoi team is the epitome of skating with your best buds and Bag of Suck is easily one of the most creative and fun videos of all time. Louie Barletta hitting a tailslide on a snapped board while skating to Rod Steward’s “Young Turks” is easily my favorite part.

But, Jerry Hsu full on slammed the video down with technically switch the bank sessions and manual combos needed two songs to fulfil his insane part. Cass McComb’s “Sacred Heart” and Sonic Youth’s “Superstar” fit in so perfectly with Hsu’s weird edgy part.

The video has a diverse set of songs from “Hip Hop” by Dead Prez and “Going Up The Country” by Canned Heat.

Also this video just makes me happy, music and skating wise. So if you’re feeling down? Throw this video on.

What Didn’t Make The Part

This Is Skateboarding (Emerica): 2003

Baker Has A Deathwish (Deathwish): 2008

Screen Shot Credit: Enjoi Skateboards

If I had more pages all these videos would be included but I only have some much room. But needless to say, these six videos rip. Go watch them, like now.

This Is Skateboarding (Emerica): 2003

Video Days (Blind): 1991 Sorry (Flip): 2002

Photosynthesis (Alien Workshop): 2000