Stacy Peralta shaped an entire industry… maybe two industries, actually. Photo: Skateboarding Hall of Fame
Stacy Peralta has had an outsized impact on surfing and skateboarding culture. In the latest installment of Justin Jay’s podcast, The Plug, Peralta talked about… well, a lot.
He was one of the top pro skateboarder of the ’70s. For a while there, he was everywhere. Contests, demos, tours, and magazine covers. Skate films and skate merch. In the ’80s, he and George Powell created Powell-Peralta and the Bones Brigade, which they turned into one of the best teams of the era. The brand made what is considered to be the first skateboard video back in 1984 called The Bones Brigade Video Show, and in doing so set off a whole new culture bomb.
“After a successful career as a pro skater, Stacy co-founded Powell Peralta Skateboards — one of the most iconic skate brands of all time,” Jay wrote in the episode’s introduction. “He later directed several acclaimed documentaries, including Dogtown and Z-Boys, Riding Giants, and Bones Brigade: An Autobiography, cementing his legacy as one of the sport’s most influential figures.”
In recent years, Peralta has started a new chapter in his life. Always an artist, though, he’s been concentrating on painting. “He is drawing inspiration from the objects that shaped his life,” Jay continued. “His still-life paintings capture vintage decaying skateboards, worn-down trucks, clay wheels, and other skate artifacts — items that many people might consider junk. But to him, they hold a deeper meaning and significance. Just as the Z-Boys had the vision to transform abandoned pools and cracked asphalt into skate-able terrain, he’s once again found beauty and value in what others discard.”
It’s an exceedingly interesting listen for those interested in the history of a culture that is constantly evolving. For a look at some of his art work, check out Sam George’s fantastic article about it.
