Not bad meaning bad...but bad meaning good.

Funk Dat, Get Outta My Face...

2012-02-02T19:03:00.010-05:00

...The blog has been sleeping. Anyway, we here at Bad Luxury are a positive bunch, well not me really, but in the benefit of mi amigos on the blogosphere I try to keep my blogging like my report cards, all C's, Cool, Calm, Collected. Sometimes though you just have to say FUCK (insert whatever). So here is what will now be my annual Fuck that post...

Eli Manning....Fuck Eli Manning. Period.

Mushrooms....Fuck Mushrooms. Period.

The Roots....Fuck The Roots. Go chew and choke on a chew stick.

Birthdays....Fuck Birthdays. More so fuck people who celebrate their birthdays as if its "their day".

People who are always looking over your shoulder when you're working. Or when your working in a building and they keep walking by and looking in the windows like it concerns them and then start asking you questions. Or people that see you doing something hard(pause) and they say something like "Working hard or hardly working?", i always reply fuck you and then smile. But fuck all of the above.

Fuck scuffing your sneakers. I know its not cool to wear sneakers now. Its vans only, and how much damage can you do to canvas. But still the fact remains, fuck scuffing your sneakers.

And last but certainly not least...

The first annual Fuck That award winner of the year for all around being a total FUCK THAT on all fronts Tommy Rebel. Fuck Tommy Rebel. Fugazi ass bootlegging snake. Ill be in New York this weekend so holler at me if you wanna get your tubby ass stretched like some Grimaldi's Pizza dough you snitch.

wore stories...

2012-01-21T19:47:00.004-05:00

Have you ever seen the 80 year old guy who's arms are adorned with tattoos that have basically turned into green blobs, many of these men got their tattoos over seas during wartime. These are my favorite tattoos to come across because most of these men have a great story to go along with the tattoo, or they have no recollection at all... I always try to sneak a look at the images, and based on the situation may even drum up a little small talk about the tattoos, and perhaps snap a pic if the convo goes well. As time slips into the future the WW2 era military tattoos are vanishing forever only to be remembered in a picture or a story. Heres to the gents that went to war and wore their warpaint til the day they died. Heres a few from the web to color in the post.

Cement shoes...

2012-01-16T12:21:00.001-05:00

In the 80's they robbed folks for their Jordans.. Fast forward to 2012 they steal folks right from out of their Jordans...
N. 2nd street Philadelphia.
Alien abduction???ghostdinni??heavens gate???

Period correct..

2012-01-12T17:48:00.004-05:00

I love this era....

Instagram bam thank you mam....

2012-01-10T19:01:00.004-05:00

Make like a vert skater and drop in....BADLUXURY

My cuzzy Young Edmund put me on with these guys...

yo dogg...

2012-01-09T21:08:00.003-05:00

Spend it where you make it!

2012-01-08T10:33:00.002-05:00

I grew up in a patriotic family with uncles and cousins that were union men, and also many many marines, even 2 female marines. American pride was something that I kind of took for granite as a young punk kid, rebelling and experimenting in all of lifes teenage traps. There was a specific day in my life that my rebellious attitude was changed, 12 years ago on the first day of my union apprenticeship schooling our teacher began to lecture us on American values and the importance of buying American. He pointed to a sticker on his office window that simply read "SPEND IT WHERE YOU MAKE IT". That phrase made a lot of sense to me at that moment and also sparked a new way of thinking, that I still carry on to this day. This teacher was an old school Philadelphian who was 3rd generation union and he was very serious and passionate about union ideals. In fact no foreign cars were allowed to be parked on the schools parking lot, if it was foreign it had to be parked across the street...lol this was a problem at the time for Lil hatchet and I...with his VW and my Isuzu trooper we were not welcomed to park in the lot. As the years went by I began to see more and more jobs sent over seas for cheaper labor, all the while we cut the legs off of the force that kept this country running. That phrase means more to me now that we have seen so many jobs go away and such hard economic times stroll in. I wonder what this country would be like if american youth had the privilege of someone installing those concious American consumer ideals in them, or if public education stressed the fact of buying American and the importance of keeping our money local. In early American times the towns around the factories only survived by the workers spending their money in that town. Not everything I buy is made in USA and I'm not so pro union that I am ignorant to the fact that there is a time and a place for unions...but this is just a little encouragement to at least try and spend your American dollars on American goods when you can, it will benefit the future generations to come. If we all just made a concious effort to buy USA when you can it could really help keep this country #1. if not you better learn Chinese!
Here's a few pics from the last few weeks daily operation....

If I had a Harley I'd leave it for a thief, with the insurance money i'd buy an Indian Chief...

2012-01-03T20:47:00.007-05:00

Lil' Hatchet sent me that quote he found it on a motorcycle forum... Not sure how these folks below got theirs, but they sure do look to be very proud owners of Indian Motocycles...

Things Mr. Small Package Owns...

2012-01-02T20:44:00.001-05:00

Out with the old in with the new....

2012-01-01T11:38:00.007-05:00

New year, new goals and dreams to chase.... So, my next birthday is December 22, 2012 the supposed beginning of the end of the world..LOL I have a lot of things to do and see before the world goes kerplunkity! Nothing starts the year off better than the Mummers parade in Philadelphia, it's the oldest parade in the USA and it is in my opinion the coolest. Hand made costumes, and floats, the most eclectic mix of clubs and participants that your wildest dreams couldn't even come up with, and the spirit of a city all together celebrating the start to a new year. If you have never been, you are missing out on something very special!
Peace and love in 2012...
Viva Luxicana.

This song is for a dear friend of mine who is in a semi funk...I'll be waiting for your new release in 2012!!!!

2011... i didn't hear no bell.

2011-12-30T20:13:00.001-05:00

unfortunately.. I am feeling this clip, I'm not alone!

2011-12-28T19:07:00.001-05:00

6 Over - Kick Start from Wild Honey Productions on Vimeo.

Passing of time, and place...but its always nice to revisit every once in a while.

2011-12-24T11:16:00.003-05:00

A few old family photos from my mom's side...My moms family lived in Media, Pa in a cookie cutter neighborhood of middle class working families, the only thing was they had horses and farm animals on their property which drove the neighbors bonkers, and finally with the little influence from the neighborhood they moved to a 50+ acre farm in Nottingham, Pa. were they had room for the 5 girls, horses, dogs, cats, etc... My grandfather was very proud of this place he called home, and raised my mom and her sisters very tough, while working on the farm. This is a work ethic that my mom still carries on til this day. These were golden years in my elder families life, shortly after tragic events took place in which my mom lost both of her parents, and they were taken from their farm and moved to family back in Media, Pa. I wanted to celebrate A beautiful time in my moms and aunts life with this post, because they all light up with joy when they talk about living on the farm... If you are ever bored and in search of a nice country cruise fill up at your local gasolina and take a ride out to Oxford-Nottingham Pennsylvania area. I haven't been in years but I would always love to take the ride out there to see their old house and barn, which was just one amongst many of sorts that graced that area.
Xmas on the farm...Nottingham, Pa the 50's (Pop pop)

My awesome aunts and pop pop...Tinsel tree!

My mom and aunt in front of their house in Nottingham, Pa. early 60's...

And my great grandfather was a trainman for the railroad...I have his railroad ID card for the yard in south Philadelphia.

SISTERHOOD.....

2011-12-17T12:13:00.007-05:00

While the tumblrs are tumbling and the blogs are blogging the outlaw brotherhood, I thought it would be a breath of fresh air to pass along a little story and a few pictorials of true sisterhood...not related to the outlaw culture euphemism. The inspiration and story itself was passed along to me from our own Knees in the Breeze. We were on the tele the other night chit chatting about work, family and of course moto's and he asked me if I have ever heard of the Van Buren sisters, I replied "No, why" He just said look them up, he lead on a little bit about what I was in store for, just enough to make sure that I would follow up with his request of further research. Well, I hung up the jack and instantly googled VAN BUREN SISTERS, what popped up was instant attraction, and a story that I fell in love with. I would like to share this true American story of 2 sisters that set out to explore our country in a time when there wasn't even a highway infrastructure, pre Eisenhower. This story is about untraveled terrain, love and companionship of two sisters, that set out to see the country on INDIAN motocycles with the wind in their faces and freedom on their back.

It was the summer of 1916. Women didn't have the right to vote, nor were they considered equals to men. But they did have the same tenacity, courage, and creativity that women have always had, regardless of the recognition they received for their talents and abilities. This is the story of Augusta and Adeline Van Buren, two sisters who journeyed from New York to California, the first women to do so on solo motorcycles.

Gussie and Addie were intelligent young women in their 20s when they set out from Sheepshead Bay in New York City to begin their transcontinental journey. They left on July 4th and arrived in Los Angeles on September 8th after traveling 5,500 miles over hazardous roads. There were no superhighways in those days. They would have to be content with dry weather, although washouts, heavy rains, and mud were often the conditions that they had to accept.

The Van Buren sisters rode Indian model F powerplus 1000CC motocycles that were pretty powerful and big for the sisters size, the ride consisted of mostly dirt roads up mountain tops by way of switchbacks (no guard rails) and rocky terrain, through the cold and mud, along dirt roads and some paved roads only in city limits. They received local help at different times along their journey from getting stuck in mud to having mechanical failure, people were grateful to help once they told them their story. With no mapquest and google earth they even wound up lost a few times, and had to be rerouted by fellow Americans who knew the lay of the land. West of Chicago they were arrested many times. Not for speeding or riding dangerously, but for wearing men’s clothing (women’s motorcycle gear wasn’t invented quite yet). The planned expedition must have been so much fun that once they reached California, they continued on down the pacific coast to Mexico. The sad part about this story is that Adeline wanted to enlist in the Army, and thought that her proven ride would secure her a spot to serve our country as a dispatch moto rider in the Army, but her application was rejected. These two sisters proved to our country that woman can do it with true integrity and will power just like the men can, They play sort of an unsung hero role in the womans rights movement that bloomed just around that time, allowing womans rights in this country to vote and serve.

There is so much beauty in this story the beauty of the woman them selves, the beauty of accomplishing a dream, and sharing that feeling with someone you love, the beauty of our country being so simple and unexplored, and to me the underlined beauty is saddling up a motorcycle and going out and experiencing the freedom that it can offer when your knees are in the breeze.......

On the N8Tive tip...Vinyl Flashback '83 Native Style

2011-12-16T19:51:00.003-05:00

Nice post Viva Lux! I have nothing but respect and admiration for the true people of this land!
It prompted me to share this band from the Early 80's called BLACKFOOT. Again, with a good sense of humor, which I know we all share...I'm sure there are true Natives in this band, However, I get the sneaking suspicion that some of these dudes are not native at all. Take a look at how these rockers took it to that Native Level!!!

Spiritual guidance...not for sale!

2011-12-14T22:59:00.007-05:00

I came across this <---(PLEASE READ) the other day while strolling through tumblrtown, blogspotville, and wordpressington. I was blown away by the amount of research/ history and current fashion happenings that were mentioned throughout the article. I myself am a registered native american indian, and I consider myself to be more american than american indian...however I am a registered tribal member to the Oneida Nation loyal to the Iroquois tribe of indians, my grandmother was full blooded, and I was raised around a lot of indian pride. I have steadily seen the rise of native american culture sneak it's way to the forefront of todays fashion. It's just another example of culture vulturing, and exploiting heritage in a tasteless manner. Let it not be confused some people have been doing it with class and taste for years and it was never an issue ( RL, Pendelton,Minnetonka, Chipewa) because it was merely a nod to american indians and their rich culture, I felt as if those brands were trying to shine light on native culture. The sad part today is that every one is trying to cash in on it and it's lost the homage factor. Native americans were spiritual people and just about everything they did in their lives had meaning, and it was a natural organic meaning that was in tune with the living and spiritual surroundings of the world. That has been lost in translation now that the imagery and patterns, and even wardrobe have been flooded in pop culture fashion. This article hit home with me because I started a clothing line before the streetwear thing took off in the early 2000's called N8TIVE Trading Co. I wanted to be a newer POLO RL with a little more of a streetwise edge... Well, the company didn't exactly take off, and we made a few pieces here and there and it kind of just took the back seat to other ventures in my life, but it sucked because the ideology behind it was heart felt I had a vision of bringing native american awareness to the world and a final goal to actually manufacture and make goods on reservations by native people. FUBU for Indians...LOL!!! No but anyway this article summed up how I have been feeling for the last few years watching this wack bullshit get passed off as cool, 99% of the patterns and image stealing of native styles are bogus! I have watched, like many of us have, things we have been into and feel passionate about get played out and popularized until it is no longer cool to you anymore. I can't wait until native folklore in pop fashion fades away and the real lovely and respectful brands can continue to do what they have always done, and the watered down fakers and shakers will have moved on to the next neon spandex spacesuit style...Just another rant from a guy with grey hair who is getting old and cranky with what the "kids" are doing!!!
Peace and love
Viva Lux

Once upon a time...Me and my father, late70's..

Union pacific homage...

While most were chasing pink and purple bathing ape candy camo....

For my cuzzy young chief Edmund, who put me on with this song...

Charlie ...

2011-12-14T15:32:00.002-05:00

JUST HELPING OUT

2011-12-14T15:30:00.001-05:00

In The Blood

2011-12-14T12:54:00.002-05:00

http://vimeo.com/20703601

WWW.SUMNERMCKANE.COM

Looks so sick!!! you gotta watch the trailer!!

R.I.P.

2011-12-12T23:09:00.002-05:00

I thought you were dead a while ago, but today when I went inside you and you had only snap back hats because fitted hats don't sell anymore I really felt it deep down in my bones. And I have a feeling that your staff, who looks like they picked out their clothing using darts and a bunch of post it notes with double dares written on them, probably know as much about sports as a giants/yankees fan...

Philly-Mass connection..

2011-12-12T12:43:00.005-05:00

via Instant Sleep -- all day every day.

BOSTON, MA - 1962

BANG.

TRURO, MA - 1977

BORDER CITY MILLS, FALL RIVER, MA - 1918

Knit wit..

2011-12-11T12:05:00.023-05:00

Tis the season, Knit sweater season that is. This post is a look at the american vision and imagery that Ralph Lauren has embellished year after year in every color, theme, material, and size, most of the time on a HAND KNIT sweater. I have collected POLO clothing for a very long time, and the graphic pieces were always the most exciting, because they had a nickname to accompany the piece, or just the plain graphic itself was full of imagery that inspired me to be in to new things that I wouldn't have found on my own. Ralph Lauren's clothing has opened up my mind to new and more luxurious lifestyles that were not always tangible to me. I don't want to get off the beaten path of this post with how much POLO clothing has inspired me and most of my friends, but rather just a close up on one particular staple in his winter line year after year. There have always been strong images of fun times associated with the winter solstice placed throughout Ralph Lauren winter garments. I collected many of these knits until a flood in my basement about 7 years ago wiped out over 20 sweaters and just about killed me, luckily the indianhead was barely damaged and A little hand dye job on the sleeve and it was selvedged . Slowly over the years I have rebought some and even bought some new ones or ones I didn't have before. I never really got over having all my knits ruined, so my collection is still not what it was, but it didn't stop my admiration for these pieces. Here are a good amount of knit graphics through the years from all of the different Ralph Lauren lines. Most of them capture American pastimes that have been on the ropes in the last decade, but there seems to be an American resurgence, and who better to lead the way then one of the most stylish American icons ever RL.
Indy's,dogs, sleds, skis,crests,ididarod,teddies,moose, buffalo,sportsman,mallards,equestrian,cowboys,flags,trucks,snowflakes,snowshoes,sleighs,christmas trees, skating, elk,pheasant,canoes,sports,skulls..........

American Labor Force...

2011-12-10T02:04:00.003-05:00

Its hard to get a job. I mean, I myself neither have nor could I even keep one. In this economy it has become impossible to even get a job. So, In (un) celebration of that, here is what it is like when working with my friends.

This is what it is like when I work with Viva Luxury and Vinntage, Never short on jokes or catastrophes, but always getting the job done...

This is what its like when my friend Jude(doesn't post, lets just say his name is Judas Priestly though) and I work together...

This is what it was like when I worked for Knees In The Breeze, Also one of my favorite jobs...

This is what it was like when I worked in a video game store my freshman year of college...(you got no Fifa has actually been said to me)

This is how it is anytime I had to do work in South Philly...

This is what its like when I watch my friend ?Who work... "How much for a arm?"

This is whats its like when Mr. Small Package and I work together, (pretty obvious who is who in this video I think)...

VINYL FLASHBACK '84-'87

2011-12-08T14:02:00.004-05:00

Here are 2 records that have been begging me to show the world or at least the fellow bloggers. I am actually facsinated with items such as these for many reasons:

1) Somebody paid money to put this shit on wax
2) They were dead serious with their gear.
3) They were dead serious in the photo shoots

I can hear the dialouge between the guys pre shoot...."yo man, lets grab that saw horse over there and me and spoony g can git on top...shit is gonna be fresh." "Yo, ima wear that fox tail too." "Full Force is Blowin up!" I'll let the albums do the talkin.

Greenport NY

2011-12-05T21:03:00.002-05:00

This summer me and the OL took a trip out the the north fork of Long Island. What a great little town.

Roky

2011-12-04T18:32:00.001-05:00

One day I wanna see my homie hit his status....

kodak momentos...

2011-12-04T10:05:00.003-05:00

Continuing on with cleaning off my old computer, heres a kodachrome photo dump from a site that was showcasing the rich photo quality that was kodachrome, theres a few others in there as well that I thought were cool.

One of the best songs of the 90's....Period!

Sundaze after fundays...

2011-11-27T17:07:00.005-05:00

Been Strung out on instagram, sorry for the lack of posts... Heres a few to keep the train rollin'....

Happy you know what......

2011-11-24T16:36:00.001-05:00

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Happy Turkey Day

2011-11-24T09:19:00.000-05:00

I am a turkey. Kill me...

2011-11-24T08:06:00.002-05:00

Native Blood American heart.

2011-11-23T23:18:00.005-05:00

Native American heritage has always been deeply rooted in the passing of stories from elders to younger kin and family, and those stories being passed down to their children and so on. Storytelling played A significant part in ones life, listening at a young age and then coming of age and sharing those same very stories with the youth in the tribe. Well, today being Thanksgiving I would like to give to the world a refresher course on a truly amazing American story about an athlete and icon. Jim Thorpe was arguably the greatest athlete of the 20th century, he was a Bo Jackson and then some, playing multiple sports and excelling at all of them. Thorpe's parents were both of mixed-race ancestry. His father, Hiram Thorpe, had an Irish father and a Sac and Fox Indian mother. His mother, Charlotte Vieux, had a French father and a Potawatomi mother, a descendant of Chief Louis Vieux. Thorpe was raised as a Sac and Fox, and his native name was Wa-Tho-Huk, translated as "path lighted by great flash of lightning" or, more simply, "Bright Path". As was the custom for Sac and Fox, Thorpe was named for something occurring around the time of his birth, in this case the light brightening the path to the cabin where he was born. I remember hearing about Jim Thorpe since i was young, my uncles would always talk about him, and say that their grand mom which was my great grandmom went to school with him at Carlisle school for indians in penna. Jim Thorpe wearing that famous Carlisle School "C" jersey to a collegiate championship. He went to the Stockholm olympics and won gold in multiple events, played pro baseball and football. Jim Thorpes medals were stripped from him after the olympic committee found that he had taken money for room and board playing semi pro baseball. Thorpe had indeed played professional baseball in the Eastern Carolina League for Rocky Mount, North Carolina, in 1909 and 1910, receiving meager pay; reportedly as little as $2 ($47 today) a game and as much as $35 ($822 today) a week. College players, in fact, regularly spent summers playing professionally, but most used aliases, unlike Thorpe. Jim's parents were both half Caucasian, but he was raised as an American Indian. His accomplishments occurred during a period of racial inequality in the United States. It has often been suggested that his medals were stripped because of his ethnicity, at the time Thorpe won his gold medals, not all Native Americans were recognized as US citizens.(which is totally crazy) The newspapers of the time would use his ethnicity as a ploy to stir up controversy amongst readership and the public, by using headlines that played it like Thorpe and the indians against the white man. Thorpe ended up broke after his sports careers ended and he suffered from very severe alcoholism for the rest of his life. After his death his Olympic medals were returned in his honor. Jim Thorpe is an american legend and his story is worth looking into further if you fancy these types of American stories. Also, off the beaten path but not really...if you are ever in Penna. do try to visit Jim Thorpe, Pa. it is a really beautiful part of the state especially during the fall, and even though there is a lot of controversy surrounding it being called Jim Thorpe, Pa. I personally think it's awesome and the lay of the land is an honor to any native american. You are dismissed and this class of edutainment is over, enjoy the holiday and make sure to take the time and be thankful for the good things that you do have in your life.
Peace!

Usual Wedding Suspects

2011-11-21T09:03:00.001-05:00

One of the best nights ever. Seeing your best friend married is a great thing, even know this was his 3rd ceremony, this was the first one we were at!! Best to Michelle and Hung!! Thanks for letting us be apart of another special night!!!

Welcoming Vinntage...

2011-11-21T05:30:00.003-05:00

...I was a die-hard HUGE fan of his other blog name choices, we can still shorten Vintagge to V.T.G. If you know what I mean...

Moving on.. I am not sure this has ever been posted as I NEVER check out the motorcycle posts, unless its posted by ?WHO, in which case I think it is gonna wind up being some sort of comedy gold. I can't believe I am posting this even if it has been posted, but here goes....

To gain back my respect for following blog structure...

Also I found this video. The Crooklynn Gay-sement has sure changed. I guess fucking over so many of your friends the only route to go was turn your dads basement into a cruising nightclub. Last time this happened House music was started in Chicago, interesting to see how this will pan out.

VIVA LUX FLASHBACK 03-05

2011-11-20T20:17:00.006-05:00

I was doing a little winter cleaning when I came across these little gems wrapped in plastic tucked away for years to come. Sent to me a few years back from the one and only Walter Payton Kangaroo sneaker swap king 25 years ago...check out them naked ass arms!!!!!

who shot ya???

2011-11-20T18:04:00.004-05:00

Got a new computer, so I am cleaning off the desktop of images and other related digital hoarding I have, heres a few screen shots that I liked...

Share your Sunday with The Sundays, and top it off by eating a sundae with a cherry on top.
PEACE!

old school public transportation

2011-11-20T13:48:00.008-05:00

Long time reader, First time blogger

I came across this site that describes public trans at the turn of the 20th century in the area many of us grew up.

Long before Septa.

The original 104.

69th Street Station.

Motography...

2011-11-18T17:02:00.005-05:00

A few days before Den packed up for the sunny side of the country, Brian from HOTW and a friend stopped by to photo Den's VL panhead, Mike's pics are absolutely radicooolness maximus.

West Philly panhead moves to LA, so I suppose it's like the fresh prince of motorcycles...
Lil hatchet related...

First time seeing this one....

2011-11-15T11:54:00.001-05:00

Pretty good!! ahaha
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Delco cruisers car show...

2011-11-13T16:53:00.005-05:00

Americana isn't just a fad or a trend for the season within Bad Luxury ideology, I try to hold on to and absorb as much of old glory's ambiance as possible, we just live in such a corporate world, driven by capitalism, it's refreshing and exciting to daydream of the golden oldies.

Stay Golden, never olden...
Scrooge McLux

= JUDGE me not =

2011-11-12T09:04:00.003-05:00

When Bob Marley wrote the lyrics "when the music hits you feel no pain" he must not have been thinking of the musical connection that has an embedded emotional attachment to memories whether they are good or bad or bad meaning good. At least for me certain songs or albums take me back to different times in my life, and songs in particular I can pinpoint exact memories, and periods of my life in which an individual song played the backdrop to that memory. This week my cousin Edmund and I spent a good amount of time on the road for work, and we were on a JUDGE-Bring IT DOWN kick. Well, the earliest memories I had of JUDGE were from a kid I met in the early 90's, that I called my best friend for the next 18 or so years, he was emersed in NYHC music and basically put our entire crew on with the lifestyle and beliefs of the hardcore scene. Ironically enough with JUDGE being the band of topic in this post and their strict anti drug beliefs being the mainstay in their legacy, that kid I called my best friend and I are no longer friends and he may say we grew apart and went our own ways in life, but to me the common thread of our friendship's demise would be the DEE ARE YOU GEE ESSS's and the shadowy lies and twisted thoughts that lie within a drug addiction. Help is only one decision away...
This song is for him...a reminder of yourself from yourself 18 years ago when you first put me on with JUDGE.

I've lost a friend.... FOUND IN THE LOST we'll see?
My cousin put me on with this unfinished documentary about JUDGE...

BTW...I am not straight edge nor do I want to tell anyone how to live their life, this is just a testimony of my own life experience, and hopefully it will reach at least one, or more people to realize the impact music has on people.

Honoring the honorable...

2011-11-11T17:09:00.003-05:00

Keeping on the trail with Know your legends... Here's a few pics of my moms father serving in New Guinea, my fathers dad served in WW2, 3rd marines and fought on Iwojima...many of our fathers and grandfathers, and even moms and grandmoms fought and served for the very freedoms that we cherish as Americans. An honorable salute to all the American Veterans who took an oath and went out and defended our homeland, whether they believed in that particular war or not.
Off to war...

my Grandfather on the right.

My grandfather on the left...

Happy Veterans Day

2011-11-11T12:30:00.000-05:00

Respect to my pop and everyone else doing what they do to keep us safe.

RRL Ranch Life

2011-11-11T09:00:00.001-05:00

Looks fun

one of my favorite motorcycles out..period

2011-11-10T21:58:00.001-05:00

My friend Mike told me about this bike, he had a motorcycle magazine laying around his shop with a feature on this bike. It's a killer bike built from all parts found at swap meets and such, what a great collection of parts and an even better manifestation of what a street chopper should be.. Bill Mize killed it!

Bill Mize from Timothy W O'Keefe on Vimeo.

CHOPPA SHOP

2011-11-09T12:23:00.006-05:00

Went to hang with Darryl and The Wiz a few days ago and snapped some pics around the shop....

Awesome sporty...

The 70's.....

Rest in peace

2011-11-07T23:35:00.001-05:00

"Smokin" Joe Frazier dies at the age of 67....

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pic or treat...

2011-11-06T20:50:00.005-05:00

American muscle not related to Jersey shore...

awesome halloween costumes...

My kimosabe Vincent in the teepee getting ready to saddle up his iron horse...

Halloween parade small town America...hot rods, bands, costumes, fire trucks, and hot chocolate....

Lil' Hatchet sent me this, he took this at a gas station on his way to Vegas for Halloween.....No Waaaaaay dude! Miss that guy!

Took these while working in Center city Philadelphia, the folk art electrical panel is way neato.

American Beauties....in a time Before they had fake boobies...

Old wall advertising, Schmidts brewery Philadelphia...

Doesn't get....

2011-11-06T11:09:00.002-05:00

much better than these 2 guys.....

A mans best friend...

2011-11-03T20:12:00.007-04:00

What more can one ask for then the friendship and companionship from a dog, they love you unconditionally, and are loyal til' there last breath. This week was a super bummer...our dog Ash passed on, anyone that knows me knows that Ash was a big part of our family, he was one cool dog. It broke our hearts to see him go, but I believe the old urban wives tale that all dogs do go to heaven, G.O.D or D.O.G...

The place to be....

2011-11-02T18:59:00.003-04:00

Our own Tdiddy helped curate this art show if you may call it that, the general concept is obviously based around art and creativity, but with an arts and crafty approach. I know a few of the artist in the show personally and they most definitely bring a very strong and original approach to their very hands on manual labor of love. Bad Luxer Joey leather is showing as well, he has a really cool niche talent, that I myself am excited to see what he does. If your in the bay area don't snooze on this.

Opening Reception November 4Th 7:30 PM-11:30 PM

1525 Webster St. Oakland, CA 94612

Nov 4,2011 Famous Four Colors is proud to host an opening for a group satellite show in conjunction with Downtown Oakland's "First Friday". The day where all the art gallery's in the area have their openings simultaneously which makes for an eclectic art walk with many things to be seen in one night. Please join us at the reception to meet the artists and enjoy a complimentary drink or two.

Craft Work is a group show at Oakland's new F4C Gallery featuring artists who have branched out from the traditional media of paint on canvas and have expanded their media's of choice to prefect their craft. Each person brings a different element to the table which makes each of their works stand out. The line up consists of...

Inga Guzyte
On July 21st the year of 1984, the magic stars in the sky said: "Crazy girl you're late, open your eyes and say buenos Diaz to this wonderful world!" , and so I did. I opened my eyes right after a clap on my baby but, introduced myself as Inga Guzyte and took off into this crazy little world, Lithuania. Two years after me, my brother Linas followed, who knew he would become a carpenter later on. The time ran faster, I kept on discovering the world as I was playing games with my cousins, saving potatoes from potato bugs and sitting on big stacks of hey. Despite the careless childhood 11 years later Lithuania got too small and my little family of one brother and a single mother moved to a new and bigger/crazier world with lots of unknown words. We moved to Germany. I felt quite intimidated and shy in this big world, but exciting things kept happening to me. Wooden machines with wheels, looked like skateboards to me, were making the every day life more and more fun. Lots of unsaid words were unleashed on white paper taking the form of little funny monsters. And so the world kept spinning, the little funny monster characters kept following me,playing with me even after my High School graduation.

Jeremy Ehling
I create landscapes in a variety of media, based upon collages built-up from found materials. As a starting point, I read science fiction stories and imagine what these otherworldly places might look like. Then using ubiquitous materials such as photographs, packaging, tree bark, trash, stationery, etc., I create a collage which will become the basis for a mural, drawing, or installation. Within this self-imposed structure I find wormholes, to wiggle through, to explore.Currently i have been compelled to paint on creek tunnels and retaining walls introducing alien topography to the natural landscape, something like science fiction meets truth.

Joe Corcoran
Joe takes leather engraving to a whole new level and does everything the old fashioned way, by hand. Breathing new and fresh air into a classic and iconic craft, as only he can.

Metal Man Ed
Ed as his name describes specializes in fabricating metal sculptures, many of which are graffiti influenced. In theCraft Works Show you will see various metal works including, sculpture, signs and much more. If you have an idea for a custom project Metal Man is the go to guy. He has shown at a wide variety of venues and is most known for rendering a Jordan IV sneaker out of steel and fabricating the iconic Tuff City Trains.

Ulysses Pizarro
Ulysses Pizarro is both originally from and currently based out of Brooklyn, New York. His work is largely mixed-media and can be anything from sculpture to painting to anything inbetween. There's always sure to be a surprise. With a prolific range of styles, his work cannot simply be described as one type. Ulysses' work can be characterized as blissfully smooth one day or gritty and raw the next. A Pizarro painting can evoke a simple mood, and his sculptures can inspire modern philosophy. One thing that may be certain is that his daring and inventive nature will always have his art on the edge of it's seat.

Lomax!!!!

2011-11-01T12:50:00.000-04:00

The homies got a lil creative.

Trick or treat...

2011-10-31T07:14:00.002-04:00

His mind is warped he's covered with tat f#ckin' toos..

2011-10-30T09:41:00.007-04:00

On weekend nights it is not unusual for a few of the Bad Luxicons to be hangin'10 at Olde City Tattoo shop with Johnny Gues? Scott Smith, and many surprise guests, that stroll in to entertain or complain...Hence the term "Ya'll spensive!" Well, this particular night I was in the back on the computer when Johnny called me to come up front to see something. He introduces me to Jimmy from the Canersie neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York. Jimmy is covered in old tattoos from Tony Polito "Brooklyn Tony" and had great stories to accompany the tattoos themselves. Johnny has taught me a lot about tattoo history, and it's always a great conversation topic when old time tattooers and tattooing gets brought up, John knows I have a passion for these old images and stories so, it would only be right for me to ask Jimmy if I could photo his tattoos, he said sure and told us the story for almost each one, with his wife in the back round confirming the chaotic times in Brooklyn Tony's tattoo parlor. All of these tattoos were done at a time when tattooing was illegal in New York state. "You came in sat quietly til it was your turn, you could not leave once you entered until you were done, and there was always a guy watching the door with a sawed off shot gun in his coat as a look out for the shop." Here are a few of Jimmy's tattoos done by Tony Polito.

Johnny did this on me that evening as well..

90's flashback for iLLewsion...Highscool when we reminisce....

Kid Slug and Bad Lux

2011-10-29T14:53:00.002-04:00

I was looking at kid slug tats on google image search. The first page is all from bad lux, nice. Also found this gem

interesting internetting...

2011-10-26T22:32:00.004-04:00

Might be the best shirt ever to date, some type of vintage sample amazingnessism...Contest that?

Lady death dodger...

76' n em...

we in da' street..you industry...

bad meaning good, meaning if I had A porsche it would look exactly like this...

Heyyyyyyy...what A knucklehead??? Not the Fonz you idiot that guy is cooler then A cucumber, the motorcycle dummy!

R.I.P Macho Man slug...

Hidden agendas...

For all the lack'rs and 100 dollar stackers...

late 90's rotation...

I MISS SUMMER TOO....

2011-10-26T11:56:00.001-04:00

HOLY SHIT.....

2011-10-26T11:48:00.000-04:00

Ground control to Major Tom-orrow...

2011-10-22T21:38:00.002-04:00

Awesome Edmund Helping T-Bone Diddy simplify his hording habituals...It's A long story....

Took this photo while staying at iLLewsions house in Seattle, he had it hanging in his bathroom.. Black Velvet or Black Velour...Bad meaning holy shit where did you find this art???

Edmundo cool in the mixtape madness of our own Tdiddy's 30 year collection of junk!

110 years ago this guy performed the very fine art that we have come to recognize as Fitti'...Empire bldg. Phila, Pa.

Took this photo while in everyones hometown, and my hometown too.. Media, Pa. Not related to the fresh Prince but def to Bel Air...

I miss summer all ready

2011-10-22T10:46:00.001-04:00

Rising above

-DAN

Westside connect...Duuuuuuude!

2011-10-19T21:12:00.005-04:00

So, my best friend moved to california today....Hope the move brings peace, love, and happiness!

Darryl lending a little labor and love to help Den finish his bike before Cali.

American time machinery mixed with wild dreamery...

Fume room..West Philly

West philly...

pix worth a thousand words...

Doesn't everyone have an INDIAN motor in their dining room?

Jackelope...amongst other things...

Pretty good!!

2011-10-19T19:36:00.001-04:00

Redwing 2941... Not For Japan Only Anymore

2011-10-19T10:03:00.001-04:00

Brilliant

Scatterday...

2011-10-15T09:18:00.006-04:00

Slow day!!

2011-10-13T16:43:00.002-04:00

Bored at work so I figured I'd make a lil art for my mans and them......

Lost & Found

2011-10-13T14:03:00.002-04:00

Yahtzee!

Break'n egg &cheese machine rides again

2011-10-13T12:19:00.001-04:00

Snapped this one of Ralph today after finishing up the last few things on his ironhead. You might just be able to see his smile, even from the back

-DAN

more fighya part 2

2011-10-12T15:14:00.003-04:00

I have seen this rasta sportster van at Nicks a couple of times and it it real saweet!

VL-Pan Racer

2011-10-12T14:50:00.002-04:00

Its been a long road but I am finally at the end. I have a couple of things to work out and restripe the tanks but this is it. Thanks Drotard and Wiz for all of the help!

TUMBL ON!

2011-10-11T23:24:00.007-04:00

Just like Tumblr only totally different.
Peace!

U.S. vs. THEM...

loved this stuff...rip grip what A silly addition to your skate board... that was already decorated with rails, skid plate, and A nose bone...

Neato.

i like easy's grip tape job...does his board have rip grip on the other side...Did easy do Method airs?

my bday and xmas are coming up....hint hint! oh and i'm A size Medium in case anyone is wondering!

tribal counseling...I LOVE this picture!

Candid...

WAY COOL IN THE WAY COLD...

he's A good egg, Just A little cracked......

LVC Levis Vintage Collection

2011-10-11T15:48:00.003-04:00

They finally built an English site for LVC. It's been way toooooo long, but it's up and running. Check it out, they give a sick breakdown of all the 501's and the slight differences between them over the years. Well worth the view!!

Bad link

2011-10-11T13:30:00.001-04:00

Alex said my last link was BAD so Here you go>

Civil War

2011-10-11T10:44:00.005-04:00

?Who this could be you! Not a bad look...

Wowzers

Mental friction...

2011-10-10T23:12:00.007-04:00

This is for all the drug addicts that have hurt people they love and the people that love them...

Beware of GOD...

2011-10-09T11:04:00.006-04:00

frozen memories captured through glass the process of bending light and the click of A button...
Cheech wizardry...

Instant sleep...76' ironhead off to A good home, can't wait to see the future of this project..

Boogie down Benjamin...

In my travels...

Reach out and grab the sky.....Don't be shy!

?marksman...

I retired these old dogs..offerings to the blue collar demigods...

Icing on the cake...

Viva Lux deluxe luxury...

Knees in the Breeze got this souvenir at the Bklyn Invitational..

What Would Ozzy Do

2011-10-09T10:46:00.000-04:00

BEST OF LEON

2011-10-07T18:18:00.000-04:00

THIS SHIT IS WAY TOO FUNNY !!!

HOPE THAT .......

2011-10-07T13:51:00.001-04:00

Some of this going down tonight!!!

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

OH YEAH

2011-10-05T23:20:00.001-04:00

THIS TOO....

Radicalness

2011-10-05T22:39:00.000-04:00

Thanks to DCar for the flick!! Justin is the Wedding crowd pleaser!! Well done!

FREEDUMB MACHINE MANG

2011-10-05T22:34:00.012-04:00

DONT LEAVE US KNEEZY BREEZY I WAS JUST KIDDING ...AHAH
HERE GOES SOME BIKER SHIT FOR MY BROTHERS
PAN/SHOVEY.... OH SO LOVELY

THE OLD MAN'S OL' LADY

HELPER..

NEXT ON THE LIST..

THIS SONG PRETTY MUCH SUMS UP MY ATTITUDE ON THINGS

Soul shake down party...

2011-10-05T22:04:00.003-04:00

No he's not Jamaican but yes he's A rasta...The lil Hatchet is moving to California...Come say goodbye and party hardy or hardly or hearty! Maybe even A pre party motorcycle ride?

Started a shop blog over on wordpress

2011-10-05T19:10:00.001-04:00

You can check all your favorite clementiners and there double reverse panheads

Proper

2011-10-05T00:14:00.001-04:00

Lost and found

2011-10-04T08:34:00.001-04:00

His final week in lockdown, recovering from a broken paw.

Pendletonxpaintingxdrawing

My boss's 70

Found in the halls. Happy birthday Madison.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Finished

2011-10-03T17:13:00.001-04:00

Spent a good long time yesterday finishing up mounting the brake drum on the 23. Made a cable holder/adjuster that mounts on the old caliper mounts and anchors the brake stay.

Put a aluminum slug on the other side to keep it from pulling out under load. Brake stay is from a 69 cb350. Chrome and speed holes.

Used the new buffer to give it some shine.

-DAN

Location:Uptown

Quick 5

2011-10-03T00:57:00.001-04:00

Arrested development is coming back...

2011-10-02T23:25:00.001-04:00

I don't care what you are, I'm ecstatic.

SoUNDAY...

2011-10-02T16:44:00.004-04:00

Keeping up with the tide... 90's flashback with A few female vocalist that shredded...

Vinyl Flashback 1993

2011-10-01T16:26:00.003-04:00

One of the best bands of the early 90's, only to be over shadowed by Bands like Rage Against the Machine, Tool, Helmet, Fugazi. In my opinion, this is one of the most Iconic Albums of its time. Still a gem that I'm proud to have in my collection!

Soundscape Saturday...

2011-10-01T15:26:00.002-04:00

WHOOP WHOOOP!!

2011-09-29T22:47:00.003-04:00

Enough with all the "cool guy" biker talk. No one cares about your double panheads and your stupid choppers, lets give the people what they really want to see!!! Here's a little peek of whats really going on in the bad luxury world...don't let these "outlaws" fool you!!

American Juggalo from Sean Dunne on Vimeo.

The New Space

2011-09-28T11:17:00.000-04:00

Come by, 1517 Walnut St!!

reinventing the wheelie....

2011-09-27T23:12:00.002-04:00

These sort of videos never get old...Totally radicool filmography, music, and the dedication to being able to ride A bike in this way, its an art in itself. My friend Vincents mommy sent him this to check out...Peace!

A straight laced individual

2011-09-27T22:07:00.001-04:00

Laced up the new wheel on Sunday night. I would of taken more pictures but I was covered in buffing shit from what seemed like hours of it, rim is real shiny though. Trued it to less than .020 of an inch out of round and wobble, about the thickness of a matchbook cover. Mounted the unobtainium tire. All that's left is to make a brake stay, cable hold down, and axle spacers.

Also threw some fresh paint on the tins. Tank is the one that Randy gave me when I was broke down in upstate NY.

-DAN

Location:UPTOWN

"You can't be street smart with A weak heart" Weak-end wisdom from our own G.Hirsch

2011-09-25T20:03:00.007-04:00

My cuzzy young Edmund isn't so young anymore...He just turned twentyFUN!!!

Not related to cool hand luke...but stillcool.

Way Bitchin'

H-D racers...stay tuned!

"Clean cut american kid momma raised me but I aint no skid. I got A job I'll pull my own, I got A place I can call my home"

Native Americana...Moto Cycle related!

Not related to crystal meth...but the thrill that will scare you to death...

Hinch equipped is what I need in my lifestyle..

Shawn Save, if you see this on your thrifting adventures be sure to keep me in mind...

I fancy this type of behavior...

Den, I'll sell it back to you when you come home from Cali for twice the price...DEAL?

The Sabbath

2011-09-25T19:12:00.001-04:00

Time for some new pistons and some polish

Boring

Plastic case.

Peter's 1970 rebuild.

Outside the new shop Under the el. I Love leaving here at night to neon lights and screaming trains.

59 pre-unit

Torrito. The view from the street. This shop should be open for business by spring. Stay tuned.

Strip tease. Filthy number needs to get cleaned and powder coated.

Spotted this at the greek festival in Broomall. Ate some spanikopitofilifikolopolos and did a dance.

Spent the day picking through antique markets and stores for 60's modern furniture to do up our new apartment. Discovered an awesome little shop in Media called Reconsidered Home (www.reconsideredhome.com) check it out if you're into that type of thing.

I must have missed the invite for the party. T.I.P

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Location:Philadelphia

Sky pilot

2011-09-25T13:50:00.001-04:00

Time for a little TECH for the bad luxers. I'm putting a 23" ferris wheel sized rim on my 58 triumph. The bike has a late model sporty front end on it and is raked. The wheel is off a 79 Honda xr500. Long and short of it is these two front ends are not even on the same planet as far as fit goes. I disassembled the wheel to strip the paint off the hub and polish the rim. Had to change the bearings out for a larger size, turn down the stock sporty axle, make and bore bearing spacer, make spacers for wheel. Here's the photo essay. Going to buff the rim and assemble the thing tonight.

-DAN

Location:Uptown

Ye' olde America is alive and well...

2011-09-25T11:46:00.002-04:00

I was first hipped to Hatch show print from A POLO Ralph Lauren line that was inspired by western rodeo posters and rodeo events in the late 90's. The graphics were very bold and had their own distinctive look, simple solid fill with bold lettering and placement. I was instantly affixed with the style and its lineage. Years later while shopping at the RRL store in Manhattan I bought A book that they were selling "Hatch Show Print" The RRL store is cool in that they sell their own brand and things that have influenced or parallel what the RRL brand is, after opening the book and skimming through I quickly noticed that Ralph Lauren had referenced Hatch Show print for A few collections, and know I knew why. I have A friend that is A screen printer and we always like to share neat little historic or cool finds that pertain to design, print, and anything related be it inspiration, or humor. I hope to some day even partake in some sort of collective so that we can recycle-renew our research and bring forth new ideas rooted in the heritage of these great lost American craftsman.
For my amigo Ralph...

"ebay is A great site"..."but you can't buy style on ebay!!!"

2011-09-18T19:45:00.006-04:00

Keeping it moving like A uhaul truck...A few of these images I snapped out of books at Borders Books they are going out of biz, and instead of buying books, A lot of the time I just take iphone pics of the photos in the books I like instead of purchasing the entire book that is filled with mostly junk.
This is an example of my piracy... call me cheap, call me stale, I've spent most of my life chasing my tail...

Sailor Eddie the original from Camden, Nj...Great story of how these came about. He went in to Coney Island Joes to get tattooed, and Coney Island Joe told him "your not old enough kid" and my buddy replied to Coney Island Joe, "fine I'll just go to Sailor Eddie." Well, C.I. Joe didn't take kind to that smart ass comment and chased my buddy out of his shop and down the street screaming and cussing him out.

Don't forget the fire, and dont forget the fuel...don't let go, and don't forget your roots!

Philadelphian humor at the baseball stadium...

Rocket men, wrist rocket man Tatmaster Johnny Gues starship command...

Lets start today is the tomorrow that you should have feared yesterday...

South philly southpaw with A tazzy slug

Interesting stuff from this gent...