( Jerry with George K in Vegas )
You've probably seen Jerry AKA Launchpad lurking in NYC, seen his name in the credits to a video or seen him riding in All Day or the Bulldog video, but who is he and what's he all about? It's interview time motherfuckers. First set of questions are from me, after that there are a few from Matt Brown, Steveo and Skinny.
1) Where did you get the name Launchpad?
We were riding around one day after watching a video... I think it was Domination or Exit 63... Anyway we all open and shit. Just trying things we saw in the video. I kept getting merked on everything, crash after crash but just got up and kept riding. So I had this really bad one. At least it looked bad. And Danny's like... "yo you keep crashing but you don't get hurt, your launchpad" so everybody kept calling me that. just a name that stuck. Everybody's a launchpad at sometime in their riding career... I think I'm still stuck in that phase though hahaha.
2) Where did you grow up and how did you get started in riding? What has kept you interested after all these years?
I came up in the south BX, Fort Apache is right up the block. Hunts Point down the block. So it wasn't the nicest place to be back in the day. This kid that was in my math class back in high school got me into "doing tricks" but I've always had bikes. We'd be too broke to afford the bus or train so me and my friends always rode bikes everywhere. As for still being around and riding and shit, it's fun to chill with my friends and have a good time. Cruising to spots and doing shit and learning something new once every 3 years.
3)Have you always had that picture as your default Myspace pic? Are you aware that that makes you like the only person ever to never change theirs?
Yeah it's been up there since day 1. I don't really see a need to change it.
4) You were representing Bulldog for a while but aren't now ( like everyone else ). What went down with that relationship?
I rode the frame because Jimmy Mac hooked me up with one for helping out with the video a couple years back when we first started working on it. I was never really on the team. Was just helping to promote the company and put the name out there. Money coming into bulldog meant money for trips and shit. Opportunities to do things and make ideas into reality for the video. But most of it fell through. Either way we all got love for Jimmy Mac. And there are no hard feelings.
5) You left a comment on the Blackman interview saying "FTN"... I think I know what that means haha. What are your feelings on Blackman?
Man... I don't even know where to start with that kid... I'll keep it simple. What goes around comes around
6) How is life as a BMX filmer?
Being that it's not like my full time gig, I don't have any like major deadlines for shit its pretty chill. I try to come out with my camera to the city 3 or 4 times a week, just to film whatever. I cant ride as much because as soon as we roll to a spot and you start messing around somebody will have something in mind they'll want to do so I gotta start filming. By the time everything is said and done people are ready to roll out and sometimes you don't even get a chance to ride the spot.
7) Is it lucrative? Have you ever felt like you actually got the money you deserved for filming a section/video?
Lucrative?. Not for me. I'm not pulling in any 4 figure checks every month for filming or making any videos. I don't do it for the money, if I did I would have sold off all my shit a looooong time ago. It's cool to see shit you filmed used in a video, it's even better when you can show it to some skeet or jumpoff and tell them you helped make that. I wouldn't mind living that life though. Getting some decent money to travel the world and see all this wild shit thats happening first hand. As for getting paid or recognized for work I've done, for the most part I have. It would be nice to get some kind of return on all the money that's been wasted on tapes, gear, upgrading and repairing shit, money doesn't grow on tress and shit is expensive. I'd like to thank Animal, Navaz, Glenn @ Ride, and Marco @ Props for fucking with the baby... no homo. No thanks to Shad Wackleford/Shook/Sin/Odyssey and anybody/anything else they fuck with AFWU. FTNs
8) Give us one funny story from your job as a construction worker.
Nothing funny every happens on a construction site.
( LP with his friend, Edwin )
( Questions From Matt Brown )
Who is Duke Stevens?
The Duke always comes along with me when I go on a trip, Duke Stevens makes his appearance whenever the grease is about to go down. Grime time is shine time for the Duke.
What is your current living situation and when do you and Linda the cat plan on moving out?
Right now the baby's posting back at home base in the BX. But it won't be for much longer. At the end of Jan i have a meeting with some bitchass condo association board.
Where do all the tapes go?
They get lost.
When did you first start riding and who were the first people you rode with?
Damn... back in the stone age like end 96/mid 97 maybe was when I got into it. Wasn't really doing tricks or anything. Just riding around and going places on this hoopty I had. I got into "doing tricks" like end of 97. This kid that was in my math class in high school put me on. I went into this bike shop that was down the street from my school one day to get a tube for the hoopty. And the kid was behind the counter. He hooked me up with a tube and told me to come back so we could ride around. So I go back and he closes the shop and we start pedaling down the block. Right away he starts ODin'. Jumping over hydrants and shit. Manuals, hoping over boxes and shit. Things I never seen before. I'm not gonna lie. I was open after that. We stopped meeting up and riding together cuz he got into some shit in school and disappeared for awhile. So I basically rode by myself for the next few months with some rollerbladers that lived in my building. Cruising around one day with the rollerbladers i met Danny and Billy, through them I met Casio and Rob Ramos, Lou Perez, all the old Mullays heads. Hastings, Rondel, Stretch, and this other goon Free Agent. Through him I met Oba and Snowball, Cy and Scooby Ed. It was just like all these little crews. so many people rode back in the day.
( The Snoff Shack crew sometime last year )
Some one told me Team-X is coming out hard this year what is Team X and who is on it?
Team X is a movement. Team X is me, Bob $, George K, Larry Bird & Robert Parish.
( from Steveo )
Jerry how come your settings are never set right on your camera? You can seriously tell the difference between Navaz and you in the animal trip DVD.
1. I'm more the point and shoot type. Fuck all that other shit.
2. I never bothered to ask Navaz what his settings were so we could get the same or close image from 2 different cameras
3. I was chillin.
( from Skinny )
What is a heavy hitter and how can they get in touch with you?
Any female that's top heavy and wide bottomed. All heavy hitters, jumpoffs, freakhos, and snoffers can holla at the baby threw The Come Up, or on Myspace.
PS: I'll use this space to send some shout outs..
Thanks to Adam22 for this shine time. All my peoples you know who you are. Thanks for everything. Peace.
