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"The Master of Disaster" Duane Peters rolls into KC Indoor Skatepark.
By: Boonie
Those in attendance for Mike V's Glory Bound Skatepark Tour at the Kansas City Indoor in Merriam Saturday were treated to a literal historical skate session. Attendees and skaters likely paid more than just the $10 price of admission for the lesson in the sweltering heat and humidity, which seemed to increase three-fold after adding a couple hundred of your closest pals, most of them red-faced and sweat soaked with their decks under foot. It was torture enduring the heat, but the payoff was priceless.
Joining Mike V -- aka Mike Vallely -- for this month-long, cross country jaunt are Cyril Jackson, Kristian Svitak, "The Nomad" Bill Danforth, and punk rock legend "The Master of Disaster" Duane Peters.
The 49-year-old Peters refers to himself and Danforth as the "ancients" on the tour. The heavily tattooed, gravelly voiced Peters has paid enough dues for himself, Danforth and everybody else on this tour over his three decades as a pro skater, occasional actor and singer for such punk outfits such as U.S. Bombs, Die Hunns and The Exploding Fuckdolls.
Known primarily in skate circles as a pool rider (and innovator of the same discipline), Peters isn't well-versed in the Vallely style of skating "street." So, what was Peters reaction when asked to join the tour that focused on park skating?
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| "The
Nomad" Bill Danforth prepares for the show. |
"I figured he [Mike V] didn't know anything about me and didn't know I didn't do boneless maneuvers -- I don't do rails," Peters says. "I just told him I'm not a street guy."
True, one would likely not find Peters sliding down any handrails, but Vallely has been quoted as saying Peters is his "absolute favorite skater of all-time." The better question is how receptive have the kids been to Peters during the tour?
"I haven't got shit from one show," Peters says. "I was expecting them to throw rocks at me. We learn off the kids, kids learn off us: the pioneers, or the fuckin' ancients, the style masters. I'm actually just having fun, hitting the ramps and trying to learn. I just want to get better at skating and challenge myself. It's like Joe Strummer said, 'Put yourself on trial.'"
Peters knows far more than just putting himself on tour. He's been face-to-face with judges and done some time "inside" having battled substance abuse, namely heroin addiction, for decades.
"Realistically, I haven't done life like everybody else. I've been doing 'this' all my life," Peters says. "Nothing's really changed, other than the fact that I really like that I'm really getting along with the kids. I'm not fighting the drug thing. I'm not fighting the fuckin' booze thing. I've been fighting sobriety forever. And I never say never, 'cause I never know if it's for real or not."
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Zach Doelling, 17, at the KC Indoor Skatepark during Mike V's Glory Bound show.
Before the start of the show, Peters looked a little worse for wear with a noticeable limp. But the sheer fact that the body of Duane Peters is still alive, let alone skating a month-long tour now nearing its end, is a miracle unto itself. Keith Richards has nothing on this guy.
"I've done a lot time on music tours, so it's really fun for me to be on a skate tour," Peters says. "[I] didn't know if my bones could handle it, and I'm only making it this fucking far taking it one show at a time. I looked at the whole fucking thing and after three days I could hardly walk. Deep inside, I didn't want to tell anyone. I was like, 'I don't know if I can make this?!' I'm fuckin' 49, that's hard to look at. I'm like fuckin' Rumpelstiltskin or Rip Van Winkle...I woke up at the tree 20 years later."
The show kicked off with local talent in a "Best Trick Expression Session" that then sent the top riders to the main event to ride with Vallely. Pounding out the tunes to keep the athletes and spectators pumped during the demo were the DJ duo "Louder Than Hell." Everything from punk stalwarts the Misfits to the heavy riffing of Metallica and even classic rock of Tom Petty kept the show moving, if not eclectic.
As the local skaters cleared the ramps and took to the sidelines, Mike V and crew made their way into the park to Hank Williams' "Ramblin' Man," and immediately started killing it. Peters and Danforth represented the old school, bypassing the rails and opting for some vert styling. Svitak and Jackson got more technical on both the vert and flats with locals chiming in about 30 minutes into the program.
But the night was owned by consummate skateboarder extraordinaire, Vallely. Mike V's determined spirit and the superior shape he keeps his body in is how he's been able to endure the recent bout of stifling heat here in the Midwest and perform for over 90 minutes at these stops.
That spirit was tested at the end of Saturday night's show. Vallely's last trick was a run from one end of the 24,000 square foot park to the other whereby he would throw down a foot plant off the vert against the wall over the ramp and then ride it out on the flats.
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Mike Vallely's tries to throw down a foot plant off the vert against the wall over the ramp.
It took six attempts, some throwing Vallely's sweat-drenched body sliding on the ground, before he stuck it and ended the night.
Mike V rode out of the park to the cheers and jubilation of onlookers, only to come back for an autograph session that promised a signature to every kid and fan who took the time to stand in line.
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Kristian Svitak watches Mike V throw down a backside air.
