Monthly Archives: January 2012

Get inked with TSOL’s Mike Roche

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T.S.O.L or ‘True Sounds of Liberty,’ is a long standing American Punk band spanning almost 35 years. For you newbies to all things 80′s (I’m realizing my audience isn’t limited to my age range), you can find T.S.O.L. t-shirts in the video for GNR’s “Sweet Child Of Mine” video. It isn’t a surprise when I found out that the original founding member, Mike Roche, was tattooing at Carey Hart’s tattoo shop in the Las Vegas Hard Rock Hotel, I had to see what he was up to.

Mike Roche Grew up around Huntington Beach, CA and quickly became immersed in the southern California surf culture. That’s mike 2nd from the left with skateboard in hand. Even now, Mike still commands quite a presence with his towering height and big smile. As I sat down to get tattoo’d we talked about his father’s love of motorcycles and the early surf days.

Now Mike balances his time between touring with T.S.O.L. and tattooing.

We sat down and went through old photos of his punk days in SoCal and all the people he’s been in contact with. He was saying it is fun to be in Las Vegas because when his friends come through town on tour, he gets to hang and catch up.

Now, in his later years, Mike loves that he continues to be creative through both tattooing and music. We shared similar stories of the trials of touring and our love of all things ‘Fender.’ Mike has an extensive bass collection which is split between his time in L.A. and Las Vegas. We both got that sparkle glimmer in our eyes as Mike described his 60′s slab neck P-Bass. As I proceeded to get tattoo’d, we did what all musicians do…. complain about how hard the ‘biz’ is and share stories of Europe’s touring hospitality.

Hart and Huntington originally started out in the Palms Casino as the brain child of star motorcross racer Carey Hart and partner John Huntington in 2004. Since then the shop is now in multiple locations including Orlando, Niagra, and the newer Vegas location in the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino. Besides being a regarded tattoo shop, the brand has expanded to large merch sales and team sponsorships. Las Vegas shop manager ‘Mooch’ walked me through the brand a bit.

Just in the time I visited the shop, it was bustling with Vegas consumerism. People old and young came through and bought t-shirts and hats. Below are limited edition caps by the artists in the shop.

The shop itself is modest compared to their previous run at the Palms with only a couple stations. For me it was less of a circus than I remember which I actually like. A tattoo shop should feel like a family. I got to meet some of the other artists like street artist ‘Blanco’ who walked me through how he got his start, airbrushing his way through Hacienda Heights.

Part of the brand’s success is attributed to sponsoring a motorcross team among others. The ‘HH’ brand was prevalent throughout my time in Vegas.

I was glad to hang out for a couple hours with a fellow musician/artist and now have an original ‘Mike Roche’ piece on my right forearm. When in Vegas, stop by Hart and Huntington and tell them ‘The Self Centered Man’ sent you. It won’t get you a free shirt or even a discount on a tattoo, but it will acknowledge that there is always a separate angle to every story and someone worth meeting around every corner.

Thanks to Mike and the crew at H&H.

Phoenix Supercross Photos Round 2

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Mike Mason FMX Style God

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Mike Mason and the definition of picture-perfect style and extension.

Years ago, I can recall riding with Mike Mason at a small town arena cross race in Red Bluff, Calif. There, for the first time, I witnessed the epic style that is known as ‘Mike Mason.’ FMX was not even considered a sport then, but that didn’t stop Mike from throwing the most ridiculously extended supermans and no-footed can-cans.

Years later, Mike Mason remains one of the most naturally talented and flowing riders in the sport of FMX. His tricks are consistently floaters and always huge. Not only that, Mike is one of the funniest guys in the scene and always looking at the brighter side of things. After jokingly challenging him to a fight at EllisMania (which he declined), I decided that it was time to pay my respects and interview Mike. This is Mike Mason.

ESPN.com: What have you been up to lately?
Mason: Not a whole lot!! Did some Euro shows for a bit and now I am actually at rehearsals for Nuclear Cowboyz!

When did you start riding?
I got my first bike when I was 5. I’m 30 now so that’s a long time of putting helmets on my little bald head.

Did you grow up riding in the desert area of Reno?
Yeah for sure. At my parent’s house, we could ride right out of the driveway and into the hills so me, pops, Dustin Miller, and Brian Foster would always go riding.


Chris TedescoEven upside down, Mike Mason holds onto his style. Bad joke, I know.

How long did you race for?
I raced for about 15 years, got hurt a bit in 2002-2003 and was just over all of it! I was pretty sure I was going to quit, but Dustin Miller gave me one of his old Honda’s and let me move in with him, so that at least kept me on the bike and riding with my friends.

When did you commit to FMX full-time?
2004 was my first full year. I did Marc Burnett’s tour that year as well as some IFMA’s. I was having so much fun riding again, and it was exactly what I needed.

You did a lot of the freestyle half time shows when you raced arena cross. Did you ever think that you could make a living doing tricks back then?
I never once thought that. I did the weakest tricks during arena cross. The guys who were riding contests were doing so much more gnarly things on a bike — I always figured freestyle would just be a hobby.

Is it just a natural instinct to flow like you do, or do you have to work at it?
I’m not sure what it is. I think as a kid I was just such a student of the sport. I would watch McGrath and Matiasevich and just do anything they do, whether it’s the way they jump or how they wore their gear. I was seriously a nerd when it came to moto! I look back now and attribute a lot of what I do on a bike to studying moto as a kid.

Can you describe what’s going through your mind when you’re doing those huge floater tricks like holy mans, rock solids?
The only thing going through my mind is that I want to do this trick bigger and better than anyone. I don’t have much to brag about anymore when it comes to FMX tricks, so the stuff I do I make sure it looks decent.


Chris TedescoPerfect extension at last year’s Salt Lake City Dew Tour stop.

What is your favorite trick to do?
Call me a weirdo but I really like old school Shaolins!

Is there a want in you to make your tricks look really good or is it just you wanting to execute all the steps of a trick perfectly that contribute to you making them look really good?
Yeah, all my tricks that I do, I want to be perfect. To this day I still practice double grabs just to make sure that my legs are as high as they can get. I know it doesn’t seem like I’m motivated, but the fact is I’m just scared of some flip tricks. Still, that doesn’t mean I don’t still ride a lot and critique every aspect of what I do.

Is there one thing you can contribute to your style?
Jeremy McGrath circa 1993. That’s all you need to know!