LSD Magazine Interviews Graffiti Writer Solo One (Issue 6)

As his extraordinarily complex pieces burst and ripple with texture, tortured shape, organic brilliance and an intangible bridge between the sublimely spiritual and 2000 AD on acid, Solo One is busy building extraordinarily strong graff in the community relations. Having taken over the ball court of the Stockwell Park Estate and lovingly sprayed and curated it into a glorious urban gallery a million miles away from the soulless glitz of the commercial launch, he is infusing graffiti directly into the heart of the community consciousness where it belongs, through inclusion, open hearted passion and strict quality control. His work is a phantasmagoric trip into the world of controlled chaos as patterns writhe through space and whistle into an explosion of spiraling visual mayhem. Thoughtful, driven and insightful, we had a word...

We know your a big comic book and cartoon fan, so how do you think the graphic novels of today compare with graphic novels of the 1980s? 

I don't really read comics now but I was really inspired by 2000ad, Epic illustrated and various comics from the eighties. I used to like The Independent newspapers political artist, and the bog-side artists were a huge inspiration on me and all the political murals in Northern Ireland.

You started painting in 1987, roughly the same period that spurned the Acid House movement. Did you go down the hip hop path or were you a House head? 

I was into all music. I ran a radio station from 92 till 97 so used to like the majority of stuff British artists were putting out. The station was called Mix FM, you can see it on www.piratearchive.net . I had no time to rave, the radio was a busy operation. I used to love underground music, mainly hip hop as I found the Acid house thing full of drug addicts. Some raves were about as entertaining as watching a hamster go round a wheel.  

Where were you painting in the late 1980s and who with?  

I used to paint with Alert, Crase, Pulse and Vop crew in London. Anything that came out at night I would paint with.   

We heard you were run out of your home town Hinckley by police due to your nocturnal painting habits? 

Sometimes you can become way too popular for your own good. Didn't have too much of a Police problem as lets face it if you get arrested there's somewhere to sleep. You got a choice of breakfasts at Hinckley, I was always a Continental guy.

 Tell us how you became known as The Sticker King of London. 

I wanted to do a art project where you take a functional item and change it into something else and make it popular. The aim of the sticker project was to make it popular and force the Post Office to withdraw them. I succeeded there after putting about a million up over 4 years.Getting up is the esscence of graffiti and you should experiment with differant concepts. I was featured in a book on crime called ' Cultural Criminology Unleashed' by Jeff Ferrell on glasshouse press. That was a academic study on crime and I made it. The art project finished as I wanted to get back into painting.

READ FULL INTERVIEW IN LSD MAGAZINE issue 6

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ALSO FEATURING INTERVIEWS / ARTICLES FROM THIS MOTLEY CREW

Ananda nahu, The Correspondents, Solo One, Soulflux, The Orb + Youth, Jerm IX, 69 DB, Raymond Salvatore Harmon, Rennie Pilgrem, The Yes Men, Resto, Chaz, Neurodriver, Lokey, Elate, Dhear One, Page 51, Umek, Karma, Andrew Tiernan, K-Guy, Richard A Webster, William Parry, Andy C, Jesus Greus, Push Pony, James Lightning Wilks, Dominic Spreadlove, AK - 47, Mr Sofalumpkins, Mat Banbury, MikkiM, David Corden, Ian Milne, Punch Music, Hudson Zuma, Wayne Anthony, Sirius23

 

Drax and Robbo Wanted 4 Tagging Iraqi Frontline

Nato, Allied Forces & Iraqi Law Enforcement Agencies were last night on the hunt for London graffiti writers Drax and Robbo. The writers were last seen tagging this wall in enemy territory and photographed by an 'enemy of the state'. A friend of a friend of the writers, another anonymous graffiti writer told us 'Drax and Robbo wanted to take it to the next level. They been painting for 25 years and really needed another challenge to end all challenges. Especially Robbo he's a family man, been out the loop for a few years. Well at least till Banksy buffed that classic piece in Camden, brought old Robbo out of retirement'.

Another anonymous graffiti artist said 'they got the paint, uniforms and weapons from another Iraqi graffiti writer they met on the internet. He did some commissions for American soldiers and got the kit from them.' The Iraqi graffiti artist who at present appears to have kept his name from the media but still has managed to broadcast messages over the internet urging 'graffiti writers from around the world come to Iraq. We have lots of paint and hundreds of very high profile blank canvases. We can get you in and out without security hazards. We writers in Iraq respect all writers, but please, we guarantee unique experience, everybody gets to go home'

Nato Forces are on high alert and publicly announced 'they cannot guarantee the safety of vandals wishing to enter Iraq and vandalise property'. A high ranking official said 'Anyone acting suspicious in the enemy zones will be shot on sight and individuals choosing to wear combat fatigues risk arrest and imprisonment'.

Graffiti message forums around the globe have been buzzing with the news. It's been said that over 250 graffiti writers are currently on route to Iraq. Governments on all boarders are urging the writers to stay away from the war zones but the writers themselves argue that 'if Drax and Robbo can get away it we're gonna try our luck. We're not traitors its about getting your name up in a high profile spot. Its always been about that'.

WATCH THIS SPACE

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LSD Magazine Interviews Canadian Street Artist Jerm IX (Issue 6)

You've been an active street artist since 2004, tell us a little about your first pieces...

JERM stenciled onto a Purolator sticker I stole from work was first, the next day at work I called in a fake flood to Purolator and they replaced dozens and dozens of rolls of stickers, and it began. I stuck one to the next and began stenciling one-liners that were usually anti-capitalist or humorous in nature. The early pieces were a mock advertising campaign merging the techniques of graf writing, street art and advertising my thoughts.  



What made you decide on the stencil message format?

 
For decades now graffiti has been an evolution of letter styles, growing evermore complex and thus less accessible to the public at large. I came to the conclusion that style and any creative aesthetic needed to be removed from the equation as I wanted my statements and poems to be accessible to all ages and demographics, not just the graf and street art community.  I chose store bought stencil letters as my weapon of choice so that the words themselves would take center stage. The stencil letters provide familiarity and own a certain authority as they blend well with the other texts that communicate with us in public spaces. I find that by using the stencil letters as opposed to a tag style, my work simultaneously stands out and hides in plain sight.

Did you consciously decide on the paste up format or were you minimising future court appearances?

I started with markers and spray cans and was uncomfortable with the amount of physical and financial damage I was doing to my community as well as the risk involved. Within months I progressed to paper and paste and never looked back. Pasting paper, I realized quickly is much more tolerated and respected by Vancouverites and Vancouver authorities. Getting the vibe now that anything goes in Toronto. I still rock of some wack throwies and tags here and then but the pasted paper is my primary medium.



What motivates the messages you create?

 
Everything. It's innate, living inside me. It just has to come out.

How often are you out pasting?

As often as I can, day and night, I’m a wanderer. I always have a pocket full of stickers and usually carry my whole kit. Between 24 and 30 hours a week at least I’m out here hitting. For years there was no break, we just kept going and going, but lately there have been some ebbs and flows that allow me to come down and experience other parts of life again. I'm a street art addict, I guess. I'll never be abstinent but I'm recognizing that I can't stay high all the time either.



Do you fear arrest and have you ever been arrested on the job?

 
I just do it like I'm supposed to be doing it and no one seems bothered. I don't fear arrest because I use a cellulose paste which is water soluble and does not do any damage to the structures my work is adhered to. I've had my fair share of chases and bad scenes but that's usually when I'm bottle half empty kinda drunk. For the most part I'm confident that my techniques are law abiding and therefore I have no worries.

READ THE FULL INTERVIEW IN LATEST EDITION OF LSD MAGAZINE (ISSUE 6)

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LSD (London Street-Art Design) MAGAZINE

Featured Artists, Visionaries, Interesting Folk
 Ananda nahu, The Correspondents, Solo One, Soulflux, The Orb + Youth, 69 DB, Raymond Salvatore Harmon, Rennie Pilgrem, The Yes Men, Resto, Chaz, Neurodriver, Lokey, Elate, Dhear One, Page 51, Umek, Karma, K-Guy, Richard A Webster, William Parry, Andy C, Jesus Greus, Push Pony, James Lightning Wilks, Dominic Spreadlove, AK - 47, Mr Sofalumpkins, Mat Banbury, MikkiM, David Corden, Ian Milne, Punch Music, Hudson Zuma, 

Wayne Anthony, Sirius23 

LSD Magazine Interviews UFC's James 'Lightning' Wilks (Issue 6)

Where in the UK are you from?

I was born in Leicester.

Were you always a tough lad or did it come with time?

I think some of it is in my blood. My granddad faked his birth certificate at 14 and joined the paratroopers in World War 2. He was a fighting man. My dad is also a tough guy and used to study kung fu. It did also take time to come out. In the early days training was so mentally tough that my coach Erik Paulson would beat me down until I cried. Each time I would say to myself I wasn't coming back the next day but I did. I didn't want to be a quitter.

What martial arts do you practice?

I study various elements of MMA. Kickboxing, Wrestling and JiuJitsu but MMA has almost become an art in itself now. The key is practicing how the arts transition together.

You won the welterweight title on Gladiator Challenge and got selected for the Ultimate Fighter,
what did it mean to you on a personal level when hearing of your selection?

I almost couldn't believe it. For years I dreamed of being in the UFC but there was always part of me that doubted it would happen.

Have you always been so mild mannered or is is something that came with learning martial arts?

My parents say then when I was young I was wild. As young as three they said when their policeman friend came over I would spit on him and kick him in the shins. Martial arts certainly gave me some discipline.

Your American opponent on the Ultimate Fighter final showed a complete lack of respect for your skills during the TV show. We're sure the whole of England was hoping you knocked him out  but how did it feel to completely embarrass him?

It was great to beat Demarques so convincingly. That fight is definitely the highlight of my career.

READ THE FULL INTERVIEW IN LATEST EDITION OF LSD MAGAZINE (ISSUE 6)

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LSD (London Street-Art Design) MAGAZINE

Featured Artists, Visionaries, Interesting Folk
 Ananda nahu, The Correspondents, Solo One, Soulflux, The Orb + Youth, Jerm IX, 69 DB, Raymond Salvatore Harmon, Rennie Pilgrem, The Yes Men, Resto, Chaz, Neurodriver, Lokey, Elate, Dhear One, Page 51, Umek, Karma, K-Guy, Richard A Webster, William Parry, Andy C, Jesus Greus, Push Pony, Dominic Spreadlove, AK - 47, Mr Sofalumpkins, Mat Banbury, MikkiM, David Corden, Ian Milne, Punch Music, Hudson Zuma

LSD Magazine Interviews Irish Street Artist KARMA (Issue 6)

 

How long you been painting walls?

I was thinking about it for years before I hit the streets. A combination of factors in my life all happened at once,freeing me and my mind to go and pursue happiness.That journey lead me onto the streets to paint .I practiced at home first making small stencils turning them into artwork for my walls .When I felt the time was right to go paint the streets I went for it and have never looked back.It's a way of life.

What made you choose the stencil format?

Because it allows me to produce the amount of detail I'm trying to achieve, being able to spray quickly on the streets is essential if your not into getting caught.I was also drawn towards the dedication and determination you need for such a craft.I love the whole process from start to finish.

Do you think stencil art gets the credit it deserves from the wider community?

I really think it does.

How responsive are Iocal people to your art?

Local people have been great. Ireland is bursting with creatives who appreciate street art for what it is, art.

Have you been arrested on the job?

No, I've never been arrested on the job but I've had some really close calls.So,I hope I'm not tempting fate by answering this one.I've been very lucky so far.

Do you do many collaborations or prefer working alone?

I'm self taught but to be honest I'm always learning.I don't think you can ever stop learning. I have to say though, it's easy teaching yourself something you love.

How popular is street art today in Ireland?

This is not a fame game for me . If the media is writing about street art in a positive way ,then great but I have no interest in having my face in the lights.

READ THE FULL INTERVIEW IN LATEST EDITION OF LSD MAGAZINE (ISSUE 6)

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LSD (London Street-Art Design) MAGAZINE 

LSD Magazine Interviews Actor Andrew Tiernan (Issue 6)

You may know the face, but not the name.  He’s one of those actors whose been around for many years and has played many varied roles in Television and Cinema.  Though staying out of the mainstream media and choosing not to court the press as so many actors have chosen to, he still manages to appear in some of the biggest grossing movies for some years, in memorable performances in such films as Roman Polanski’s The Pianist, and more recently in the bloodthirsty symbolism laden Hollywood Blockbuster; 300 where he played the traitorous hunchback; Ephialtes (Eff-e-al-tees) he was completely unrecognisable under full body prosthetics.  So how does someone like Tiernan manage to sustain a career without being recognised?


WA:    When was it we first met again?

AT:    Erm, I met you round the Mellow Mix, the rehearsal studio off Stoke Newington Road, for those that don’t know.

WA:    That’s right. Hackney has always been a hotbed of creative talent and a host of current TV / film stars were squatting in the Borough during the 1980's. What brought you to the Borough?

AT:    The 22 Bus.

WA:    But you were squatting too?  Right?

AT:    Yes, those were the days!  I’d met John Lydon (Johnny Rotten) after a PiL gig and he told me to move to London.  I’d read about squatting during the Punk era and I knew bands like The Clash and the Pistols had all squatted, so it wasn’t such a taboo as it is now.  When I was at Drama Centre things got pretty tight and I ended up homeless, so a few of us found this house in Hackney, it was a run down Council property and had a sitting tenant, this old Jamaican lady called Mrs. Stewart and she let us in and it went on from there, I thought I was only going to be in there a couple of weeks, but I ended up squatting there from the 80’s right through into the late 90’s it saw me through the rest of Drama school and also enabled me to make a lot of choices in my work, I turned down some great stuff, but money wasn’t the objective, I was happy where I was and we were all doing our own thing. 

I should write a book about it one day, the tales that house could tell about the people who frequented it along the years.  People would turn up out of the blue and it had a number of movie star visitors stay there.  It was also a place where Actors who had just broken up with girl/boyfriends would turn up to stay and tell us all their woes.  Sometimes it was a bit like “Withnail and I.”  It’s crazy how the area has changed so much since then, but I think the creativity still lives on.

The thing about where I lived, was because I was there for such a long period of time, it wasn’t what you’d imagine a squat to look like, we were homeless and it became a home and we kept everything in good repair.  Unfortunately, it all came to an end when one of the later residents decided to get greedy and do a deal with the council and got developers to buy it, so they could all make some money.  Such is life eh?
WA:    You were brought up on a council estate in a tough part of the world, what made you choose acting?

AT:    I think when you live in those kinds of areas you learn how to act, because you can turn a corner on an estate at any given time and bump into one of the many local bullies and if you can’t fight, you have to be able to get yourself out of that situation and that’s when the acting comes into play.  (If you want to use that analogy)   But everyone has an action to play in everyday life to get what they want.
   
WA:    You've played a hard man in many movies, how did playing Ephialtes in the film 300 feel for you as a character?

AT:    I have never actually played a hard man, even though people think that those are the characters I play.  I play interesting people with strange traits and faults.  I have played people with mental problems and sometimes my employers and fellow cast members think I’m like that for real.  I was even given a Disabled person’s suite at a hotel I was staying in once because they’d heard I was the Hunchback in 300.  Ephialtes was probably the hardest person I’ve ever played, if you want to use that tag.  A lot of people with disabilities are really “hard”, much harder in fact than a lot of these movie gangsters, because they really have something to fight for.

The thing about being a character actor is that people recognize you for the roles that they remember most, such as the stuttering psychopath in Cracker, but because you’re not the hero a lot of the time they don’t know your actual name, so they see you in the street and don’t quite know where they’ve seen you before.  Or if you’re a copper, you seem to think that I was on your wanted list that morning, believe me that has happened on more than one occasion.

ANDREW TIERNAN OFFICIAL PAGE

READ THE FULL INTERVIEW IN LATEST EDITION OF LSD MAGAZINE (ISSUE 6)

 

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LSD (London Street-Art Design) MAGAZINE

Featured Artists, Visionaries, Interesting Folk

Ananda nahu, The Correspondents, Solo One, Soulflux, The Orb + Youth, Jerm IX, 69 DB, Raymond Salvatore Harmon, Rennie Pilgrem, The Yes Men, Resto, Chaz, Neurodriver, Lokey, Elate, Dhear One, Page 51, Umek, Karma, K-Guy, Richard A Webster, William Parry, Andy C, Jesus Greus, Push Pony, James Lightning Wilks, Dominic Spreadlove, AK - 47, Mr Sofalumpkins, Mat Banbury, MikkiM, David Corden, Ian Milne, Punch Music, Hudson Zuma,   

LSD Magazine - Stand and Deliver - Issue 6

Carving an electric groove through the snow as we hit radical imagination's flow - from the deep soul ride to the world outside LSD Issue 6... Stand and Deliver is ripping your neural networks a searing new synthesis. From the giants of underground dance to visual poetry's seductive glance, from the corporate sly hijack to the spray soaked funk attack, LSD 6 is out now, ramping up the pressure, piling on the heat and lifting you clean off your feet. Cascading with sizzling content - this is one virus your hard drive is begging for loud and proud... Let's Go...


Big Love from Wayne Anthony (Class of 88), Sirius23 & Team LSD

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LSD (London Street-Art Design) MAGAZINE