Born Too Late 5

Born Too Late 5 is on real soon... 17th of Jan up in Auckland (actually just outside Auckland in a place called Kumeu). It's a fucking great show put on by some real top cunts and I've heard it may be the last one??? I dunno? Anyway I'm gonna be there and hopefully also gonna run a stall and sell some Head Full of Snakes mags. Been planning on riding up on the Norton, which is going great at the moment, but the bloody house renovations have me all fucked up, and I may end up just flying up to save the time. Regardless I'll be there, I'll have mags, and it'll be a great day out... see ya there.

More info here: BTL5 on Facebook

Shakin' Evil Limbo Party (Introduction by Joe Wilson)

New band The Shakin' Evil Limbo Party playing our mate Joe Wilson's birthday party in the mountains last night...

The Hex Waves Halloween Show

I've been busy renovating our shitty old house lately and have barely touched a motorcycle. Have played a couple of shows though, one being this kick-ass Halloween party at the Henries warehouse. This is our newest song too, captured by our mate Warren on his phone or something? Thanks to Anna Dean for leaving her awesome multicolored spinning lightbulb behind!

Interview on Design Assembly

Here is an interview I just did for the folk at Design Assembly... in which I spill some beans about the whole Head Full of Snakes business...

designassembly.org.nz

(Photo: Self portrait of Stuart and me at the Ilam Press at about 2am in the morning while printing issue #3)

New Norton Seat

Here – finally!!! – is the new seat for my Norton. This has been a long time coming. About 5 years ago now I bought another Commando seat off TradeMe with the intention of using the pan the make a slimmer version. Earlier this year I gave that seat pan to Marty Winders (who made the T150 breadbox tank fit my Thruxton) and he cut it down for me, welded new sides on, made up new brackets, and painted it. He did an amazing job and got it sitting just perfectly I reckon. I then shaped the foam using the old original stuff and passed it onto my secret upholsterer. I'd been thinking about using leather for this (still dunno if that's a good idea?) and he had some lying around so I went for it. I spec'd up the diamond pattern for him and within a week I had it back.

I was gonna take this bike to the Smash Palace Bike Show but a couple of things prevented that happening, and in the end I think it's good I didn't cause it's nowhere near 'done'. If you've been following this at all you'll know that this seat is actually supposed to go with the Hi-Rider tank I got out of India last year (which I mentioned here). I've been super busy lately and also Marty went to Philip Island Moto GP so the tank didn't get done in time for the show. I'm not at all worried though, cause I'm keen for it all to get done right. And the seat I can surely say I am fucking happy with! I'm really liking the rear end of the Norton now, especially when you sit on it – I love how low, tight, and skinny it all is, without being/looking overly customized. I had been worried that that long rear loop in the frame should have been cut off, but I'm actually strangely happy with the way it all looks now with the new tail light and seat.

2nd Annual Smash Palace Motorcycle Show

So yeah the show was yesterday and it was pretty damn good. This video here about covers it... it's by Jonathan Mackie. I took some footage actually, on my new Go Pro, but turns out there's more to them than point and shoot and my footage sucks. It's all shaky for a start, and then with the wide angle lens my bloody fingers are always in the shot!? Anyway thankfully someone else was on it.

You'll see a very brief moment in this of us (well actually it was Malcolm and Bad) running our Head Full of Snakes stall. It was pretty great, we sat there in the shade, drank beers, and sold shit! Sold a bunch of mags, sold left over t shirts from the Melbourne launch (these sold out before we even had our signs up!), and then sold heaps of the official t shirts for the show which Smash Palace had printed just this week. They came out real good and can still be purchased at the bar if you're keen.

Great day in the sun!

Smash Palace show TOMORROW!!!

The perfect way to spend that Haloween hangover – the 2nd Annual Smash Palace Motorcycle show is on tomorrow! Last year's ruled and this one's looking like it'll be even better. I'm gonna be there with a stall selling our latest issue and some t shirts we had made that feature the cover illustration. You'll also be able to get these Smash Palace T Shirts (above) which I designed... with a nod to both Danny Lyon and Windhand.

2nd Annual Smash Palace Motorcycle Show

I've just done the poster for the 2nd Annual Smash Palace Motorcycle Show. Last year's show was pretty fucking awesome (see photos of it here), and this year's will no doubt kick some ass too. It's being held in various gardens around Paddy Snowden's amazing old house in Linwood this year. I went and checked it out and it's an amazing setting for a bike show.

Anyway there's risographed posters going up around town (hopefully?) and a bunch at Smash Palace for any of you who want some. Also we are planning to get some big ones screen printed... which we were gonna do last year, but ahhh yeah...

Melbourne Launch at the Kustom Kommune

Big thanks to everyone who showed up for our launch last night at the Kustom Kommune in Melbourne. And an especially big thanks to Geoff and Jimi from the Kustom Kommune for having us! It's a pretty sweet fucking set up they have there (much of which isn't in these photos).

I believe a bunch of bikes showed up outside but as I was busy selling and fraternizing I didn't actually get a chance to get outside for a look or to take any photos.

Anyway #3 is now officially launched. We will be posting out all orders so far immediately starting tomorrow!

Melbourne Launch THIS SATURDAY!

Ok, details for Melbourne launch above! Issue 3 is our best yet, and it's not just me saying that... so ummm trust me, or something. It has a flexidisc by Moon Duo, and interview with Matt Machine, and a story about how my ex gets fucked over by some dude in India. I don't know how it could be any better? Oh hang on yes, it's got a fucking black cover. Like it's actually black, not just printed black, and it won't get all dirty from having your scarry mits all over it.

As if this wasn't awesome enough I'm coming over for the launch too, so I'll be able to shake your hand, autograph your arm, and get a photo with your baby.

5pm Saturday 20 September
The Kustom Kommune
25 Easy Street
Collingwood
MELBOURNE

Issue #3 available from our website NOW!

It's alive! Head Full of Snakes issue #3 can now be purchased from our website here.

Copies will be posted straight away after the launch in Melbourne next Saturday 20 September.

Head Full of Snakes Issue #3 Christchurch Launch

I was gonna wait til I got all the photos together but I wanted to get some up already, so here we go – photos of the launch we had here on Saturday. There'll be more to come of the ride I hope? Jimi?

Anyway it was a great day. The weather was amazing, which was a relief after rain on Friday, and there was a pretty good turn out of bikes. especially considering how late-notice this all was! Thanks to everyone who came on the ride and/or bought a copy of the mag.

We pretty much sold outta what we had there on Saturday, but we're getting the rest from the binders sometime this week. Buttons will be up on the website for ya'll to buy 'em asap here (like in the next couple of days. Promise.