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As you all know I'm very fond of motorcycles...DUH! I could look at photos of motorcycles for hours. One day I found Swag's Rant on another blogger's favorite blog list and I was instantly in motorcycle photo heaven. I kept thinking to myself...damn, this guy takes great photos of motorcycles plus he writes interesting articles too. Well as time passed I started to follow Swag on Twitter and we became Twitter peeps, so I got up the nerve to ask Swag if he'd be interested in doing an interview. He agreed and also told me I'm the first person to interview him so I'm pretty darn stoked about that. Hope you enjoy getting to know Swag. He's a cool cat from down yonder in Tennessee.
First off I have to know how you got the name Swag... Swag comes from the music industry... it's what they call the freebies you get from labels and artists, etc.... (tshirts, comp cd's and other junk) One of my riding buddies heard me talking about getting some swag from someone one day and thought it would be funny to call me Swag Boy. Swag stuck and although it really makes no sense whatsoever to the bike community and nobody gets it... that's who Ive become. haha!
Give me a bio about you.
I was born in Kansas City, Missouri but grew up in the Northwest suburbs of Chicago where sports, photography, music, hot rods and of course motorcycles were my obsessions. My college years found me back in the Kansas City area and that's when the arts (music, photography, design) moved to the forefront of my life. I supported myself (and not very well I might add) by playing music through the late 1980's with a bunch of bands you've never heard of (haha) which eventually landed me in Nashville, Tennessee where I had very brief stints as guitarist with a couple Contemporary Christian artists in the early 1990's. Long story short, I eventually landed a full-time photography/design gig with a prominent music industry company in late 1994 and have been in that field since. Of course all along my path there have been motorcycles and hot rods so naturally, I sort of fell into side gigs doing photography and design in the regional bike and hot rod cultures.
When were you first aware of your interest in motorcycles?
When I was about 3 years old my aunt came for a visit to our house with her new boyfriend. I remember the distinct sound I heard when they rode up on a Harley-Davidson touring bike and it made such an impact on me that I still vividly recall even some of the details of that bike... like the rail that ran around the back of the seat and the white grips. I also remember how most in my family looked down on the "hoodlum biker" that had stolen my aunt’s heart. It's funny how even at that age I was aware of peoples preconceived notions of bikers... and I’m glad that my parents were not like that. They welcomed this guy and as for me... I could barely contain my excitement over that bike and I thought the guy was cool. BTW... as it turns out, he was a good guy... and he started what was a lifelong love of motorcycles for me. I often think about that when kids approach me today and want to see my bike. I always make time for them just like my aunt’s boyfriend did for me.
What was the first bike that you owned? What do you currently ride?
When I was 6, and after a long time of pleading my case, my dad finally convinced my mother that I wasn’t going to kill myself on 2 wheels and she let him spring for a used Sears mini-bike for me. It was the one with the lawn mower engine on it with the rope pull. It wasn’t much but man I loved it!
I currently have four bikes. A 2006 Electra Glide Standard for when I’m feeling may age, a 2001 Suzuki SV650S for when I feel sporty, a 1993 Honda CR250R for when I feel like I’m young again, and a 1984 Kawasaki 550LTD that my dad and I bobbed just for the heck of it.
Tell us about Biker Swag Design and Photography Services.
BikerSwag is the calling card for my motorcycle related work. I do all kinds of biker-related photography as well as web and print design for motorcycle related companies and events.
How long have you been in this industry?
I started considering the motorcycle industry a viable source of work in 2005.
Do you have a favorite photo shoot?
That’s a tough one because they are all fun. One of the most memorable ones though was a few years back when a local company sent me to Las Vegas to shoot guitarist Ace Frehley of KISS. This was back during the bands reunion and when the WWF was still rockin’. KISS was playing a couple songs for Monday Nitro which was the WWF’s big televised event and the shoot was scheduled in the KISS dressing room backstage before the event. It was all so surreal… haha! Here I was in Las Vegas (whacky town), at the WWF’s Monday Nitro (walking around in the midst of larger than life wrestlers like Hulk Hogan) shooting Ace Frehley (of a band that performs in Goth Makeup)! Can’t get much more bizarre than that!
Of course, any time there are motorcycles involved its tons of fun for me too. Like when I shot local builder Browder Ledbetter’s custom Triumph in front of a Nashville landmark for one of our state magazines. A beautiful bike!
Do you work mainly in the Tennessee area or do you travel to other parts of the country?
Most of my photography work is this area but I have design clients across the country thanks to the digital age. There are some clients I have never met face to face. The whole process of concept to completed project is done via email and file transfer.
What has been your greatest accomplishment or are there many?
I’m still working on that one… ha!
Could you tell me about your websites and what people can find there?
The one that would be of most interest to your readers would be Biker Swag which showcases some of my recent work in the motorcycle industry, both photography and design. And there is a blog related to it which I call Swag’s Rant. It’s sort of my personal outlet for all things two-wheel related and includes my thoughts as well as product reviews and interviews.
Do you have any mentors or people that you look up to?
I have been blessed to have more than a few people in the photography/design fields that have been very unselfish with me… especially in the beginning when I was real green… that helped get me pointed in the right direction.
Someone more famous whose photo work I admire is Jeff Cochran of Speed King Photo. His images are just fantastic and capture the emotion of the moment… the kind of images I look at and say, “man, I wish I had shot that!”
What cameras do you use to shoot your amazing photos?
Well, I’m definitely a Canon snob… haha. I’m currently using a Canon 7D DSLR with a variety of lenses for the critical stuff but most of the images you see on my RANT are shot with a very small Canon SD1000 point-and-shoot. I love that camera because it fits in my pocket and does a great job for the web stuff. I process all images with Adobe Photoshop as well.
Do you have any big projects in the works for the future?
Yes, I recently became the Art Director for an upstart Hot Rod magazine called Grease Monkey. It caters to the Rat Rod and Rat Bike crowd and is really cool.
What is your favorite rally or do you have more then one favorite?
Honestly, I’ve never been much of a rally kind of guy. Large crowds usually just piss me off so I tend to avoid them… haha!
Where is the best place in the country to ride?
One day I want to ride the west coast line but last year a couple friends and I rode the Blueridge Parkway to Blowing Rock, NC and it was awesome. Of course most people in and around Tennessee would probably say the Tail of the Dragon, which I’ve ridden a few times.
Do you have any mottos that you live by?
No real mottos but having integrity is a biggie for me. I try to treat everyone from clients to friends with respect and total honesty. I despise people whose word I can’t trust.
What are your other passions beyond motorcycles and photography?
I kind of alluded to it earlier but music is a big deal in my life. I started playing guitar at the age of 8 and have never stopped. For a while it was my source of income.
How does riding enrich your life?
Oh man... beyond words. Its such a soul cleansing thing for me and definitely contributes to my sanity!
What do you think makes a "Biker"?
I know a lot of people are funny about the word biker but to me, anybody who rides and has a passion for two wheels is a biker on some level. And I’m for sure not a brand snob. (Note what’s in my garage.) The old saying that “I don’t care what you ride, if you ride you are my friend” would apply to me.
Are there any motorcycle publications that you would recommend?
I have subscribed to a bunch of mags in the past but the only one that has survived my subscription list is Cycle World. Honestly I mostly just read great blogs on-line like yours. There is a list on my RANT of my favorites.
What have you been published in?
I write a monthly column for Thunder Roads Tennessee and have been published in several of their sister publications including Kentucky, Alabama, Florida… I’ve also been published in The Horse Backstreet Choppers and Road Bike and on the music side of things everything from Guitar Player to Guitar World to Revolver to SPIN and even USA Today.
Where does the design aspect come into your business?
There is always some design aspect when framing a photo but beyond that I’ve been blessed to create several websites for clients in the motorcycle world as well as print design for others. Print Ad Services
What is the wildest thing that has happened to you out on the road?
Nothing all that wild but I did ride through a hail storm with little visibility in the mountains of East Tennessee one time… not interested in doing that again.
What is the most important lesson you've learned out on the road?
Riding is almost a spiritual thing for me… so I often learn a lot about myself when riding. Introspection comes easy when it’s just God, my motorcycle and me.
What is your favorite swear word?
Haha… I usually don’t use them but cut me off on my bike and all bets are off!
What music are you currently listening to?
Anything guitar-oriented is cool for me… but I just got the new Slash self titled CD and it is the best thing he has ever done. There are a bunch of guest vocalists including the great Lemmy Kilmeister, Myles Kennedy, Ozzy, Iggy Pop, Chris Cornell and even Fergie. It’s fantastic. Also on the iPod right now is the new Scorpions, The Dixie Dregs and Joe Satriani Live.
What are you currently reading?
I just picked up a copy of a great book called “Inbound Marketing” by Brian Halligan and Dharmesh Shah. Always trying to gain the marketing edge!
Thanks for the great interview, Swag! Looking forward to many more of Swag's Rants and those amazing Biker Swag photos!!
Wow...thanks to everyone that posted a comment on my last blog entry! This is a very special event in my life and I'm glad your sharing it with me!! I said at the end of the last post, come back for the rest of the story and I got to thinking about that...the rest of the story???...huh? The story is just beginning isn't it. This is the beginning of my big dream.
I took Sadie for her first spin tonight and wouldn't you know it, forgot the camera. Dan and I went to a parking lot and I actually road her, feet up on the pegs. It was a great feeling and for not riding on my own for 3 yrs, I was pretty darn proud of myself. This is going to be a very fun journey for me and I hope you continue to ride with me through it.
About a month ago Dan said..."Baby, I think we need to get you that motorcycle." I looked at him with that are you pulling my leg look and said..."REALLY?" "Yep...I think we can swing it and you more then deserve a motorcycle of your own." So the hunt began. We looked on craigslist and went to some dealerships. One night Dan said..."Baby, I found the bike for you. Take a look and let me know what you think." I sat down at the computer and looked at the beautiful black Sporty on the eBay site and smiled. I was pretty skeptical about it though because if we won the auction we'd have to drive to Waukesau, Wisconsin to get her. I thought about it for a bit and said to Dan..."Let's bid on her and see what happens." Dan put in the bids and we waited the auction out. I'd look at the auction everyday when I got up, when I got home, and before I went to bed. The auction ended the Saturday before Easter at about 4:15 in the afternoon. When the auction finally ended and the bike was mine I was laughing and crying and jumping up and down. I called Dan at work and was yelling in the phone..."I JUST BOUGHT MYSELF A HARLEY!!! OMG!! IT'S MINE!!!!!"
My folks came on Easter and I told them the great news and asked if we could borrow the pick-up and trailer to go and get my Harley. They of course agreed and wanted to go along to share the experience with me. They have always joked that the Zippy Pickle is their grandchild and now they have another. The week dragged on but finally Friday night came and Dan and I started out to my parent's place in NE Iowa. About 7 miles outside of Albion, IA, Dan's car overheats and we had to pull over. The car cools down enough to make it to Albion. We park it and call my folks to pick us up. A broken down car was not going to keep me from making my dream a reality. Long story short...the Caddy got towed to a station and is being nursed back to health so Dan can drive it another 100,000 miles. :)
Saturday morning we were up early and on the road to Wisconsin. 4 hours later we were turning into the neighborhood that my new baby currently called home. When I exited the truck I saw her immediately and immediately knew I had made the right choice. She was perfect...beautiful...everything I'd always hoped for when I'd finally be able to purchase a bike of my own. I could tell Angie, the previous owner, was a little sad that she was selling her beloved Harley to someone else. She told me that she was very happy it was being purchased by another female. She won't be without a motorcycle long because she purchased a new one. I could tell though that she loved this bike. It was spotless, it looked like it had just rolled off the showroom floor. Dan took her for a spin and came back to let me know she ran like a dream. And man oh man when you flip that ignition switch those pipes rumble like no other. She sounds amazing!
I talked to Angie for quite a while. I found out my bike has done the Tail of the Dragon. Angie also rode her as a Road Captain of the Milwaukee Chapter HOG. There are stickers on her windshield that show these two accomplishments and I've decided to leave them there because those are part of her history. One wild thing is that Angie is from Ankeny, IA which is a suburb of Des Moines and about 5 miles from where I currently live. Angie and I were standing there watching the guys strap my bike into the trailer and I said to her..."You know, I'm having a really hard time not crying right now because my dream is coming true." She looked at me and said..."I'm having a hard time too because I'm really going to miss this bike." I gave her a hug and then we had to look away from each other before we both broke down and cried. We finally were ready to get back on the road and we said our good-byes to Angie. She stood in her garage and watched us drive away. I'm not sure if she was crying but boy I was. This is something I've wanted for years and it finally was real. I finally had a motorcycle of my very own.
I'd like you all to meet my new beautiful baby, Sadie! I'm so happy that I feel like I'm walking on sunshine. Come back in a day or two for the rest of the story! :)
On August 30, 2004 the world lost an innovator of custom motorcycles. January of this year, Cycle Source Magazine released a commemorative issue dedicated to Indian Larry. If you haven't bought a copy of this you need to find one. If you are an Indian Larry fan like I am this will make you miss him all the more. Below is a video that I found featuring some of the people from Larry's life that helped Cycle Source with the content of the magazine.
Indian Larry, a motorcycle ICON that left us way too soon!
Back in April of 2009, Daron Ker and Water Buffalo Pictures released I Ride The Movie. The documentary style movie is about the Most Dangerous Biker Band in the World, The Fryed Brothers Band. Harry and Tommy Fryed began their band nearly 3 decades ago. The movie follows their lives on the road showing them at the Easyrider Show, their own anniversary party, RIP's BAD Ride, The Circle of Pride Rally in Conesville, IA, and Sturgis.
Harry, Tommy, and the rest of the band tell their wild and crazy road stories. One of the best is told by Harry. It involves Tommy's legs being run over and a hippy bitch on his back. His animated spirit draws you in. You also see into Harry and Tommy's lives growing up and find out that their older brother Mark is the one that got them interested in riding motorcycles.
Throughout the film you really get a good sense of what the motorcycle lifestyle is really all about for the band and the people involved in their lives.
There are various outtakes of other bikers thoughts of the lifestyle, including the Hessians MC, Ghost Mountain Riders MC, Dave Nicols, Rhett Rotten, Miss Easyrider, and Charlie Brecthal. Pat Simmons, Willie Nelson, & Sonny Barger also make appearances in the flick.
You'll laugh at the Cunnilingus Yodel, sung by Steve "Beatnik" Werner. There is also plenty of Fryed music throughout the movie. You learn how the song I Ride came about. The story will tug at your heart.
I really loved this life look at the Fryed Brothers Band and the motorcycle lifestyle. I recommend this film to anyone who thinks they live or actually do live the biker life. You will laugh and you just might get a tear in your eye. I give I Ride 5 Chrome Stars. I do love those ODBs ya know!!!
For those of you with young children, grandchildren, nieces, nephews who want to enjoy a little toolman "riding a motorcycle" and having a great adventure, be sure to tune in, or record this for the little ones.
Even Disney is now exposing the newer generations to motorcycling!
The Disney Channel is airing a primetime family special Sunday, October 4th. 7PM/6Central, called "Handy Manny Motorcycle Adventure".
So get your DVR's, and VCR's ready to record.
P.S. Check out the really cool 3/4 old school racing striped helmet Handy Manny is wearing!
How cool. How cute! I love it!
It reminds me of MY Fulmer 3/4 old school V2 helmet.
The history of Harley-Davidson motorcycles began in Milwaukee in 1903. Bill Harley and Arthur Walter Davidson developed a one cylinder motorcycle in the turn of the century and the engine was developed with the introduction of the combustion engine of a cylinder gasoline used in 1903, designed for racing. In 1908 already has a small company which built the motorcycle and another member of the Davidson family, William, joined the group. Then began to have employed about 20 people. In 1909 Bill Harley made the first draft of the 1000 CC V-Twin, a modest seven horsepower making it the brand image of Harleys and more recognized. In 1910 came the legendary "Bar and Shield" logo that was placed on the bike. This would become the symbol of Harley-Davidson. The numerous first places won in races, endurance contests and finally give recognition to the brand Harley-Davidson. In 1911 the engine was introduced "F-head" engine until 1929 when the "Flathead" was placed. In 1912 the growth of Harley-Davidson and Company had to build a new factory. It became an exporter in the same year with its first sale in Japan in the United States there were more than 200 dealers. In 1914 dominated the racing motorcycles. In 1915 appeared the three engine speeds. In 1917 a third of all Harley-Davidsons were sent to the U.S. Military to fulfill their patriotic call and help in the war effort. The following year about half were sold to the U.S. Military. At the end of about 20,000 motorcycles were used in the war which were Harley-Davidson. In 1918 already has one of the largest factories for the production of motorcycles in the world with approximately 2,000 dealers. The V-twin was Harley's time as trying to dethrone the Indiana. At this time the car was T-Ford and thus the Harley-Davidson began to dedicate to the manufacture of parts, lateral and even automobiles, aircraft engines and also to improve their own products. In 1920 some changes occurred in the bike, which today are more recognizable. One such change was the identifiable teardrop shape, gas tank. In 1926, a single cylinder engine was available again after being discontinued in 1918. In 1928, the first twin-cam, engine and front wheel brakes were available on Harley-Davidson. With this modification, the motorcycle could reach speeds exceeding 85 mph. In 1930 and subsequent years saw record losses of more awards and the Harley-Davidson. In 1932, the three-wheel Servi-Car was introduced, becoming the police vehicle, business and family. The appearance also changes as the "eagle" placed on all Harley-Davidson in tanks of gasoline, as well as changes to the engine. Appeared then to CC in 1340, becoming the trademark of Harley Davidson motorcycle. In 1936 became the year in which the Knucklehead of the motorcycle was launched. In 1940, once again, the Harley-Davidson answered the call and sent its fleet of motorcycles for the war. In 1941 the production was suspended for marketing calendar and open again in November 1945. In 1957 the Sportster was born, becoming an immediate success. In 1969, it was time for a merger with U.S. company Foudry Machine Company (AMF). In 1970 there was a revolution of the Harley-Davidson. In 1971, the cruiser was born. In 1973 came a new plant. In 1975 was the first of four consecutive years that the Harley-Davidson won the AMA Grand National Championships in dirt track. In 1977, the FXS Low Rider and the FLHS Electra Glide Sport were introduced to the public. In 1980 another change in partnership developed the engine and transmission. In 1980, the FLT model was born with 5-speed transmission hard bolted to the engine. In 1981 members of the Harley-Davidson purchased the Harley-Davidson Motor Company from AMF. In 1983, the Hog group was founded and became the largest factory-sponsored motorcycle in the world. By the year 2000, the club had more than 500,000 members. In 1984, the 1,340 cc V-twin engine was introduced, it took seven years to make. In 1984, the company managed to create a modern motorcycle, which was still a Harley Davidson. In 1987, the Harley-Davidson Company obtained a place in the New York Stock Exchange for those interested in having a financial stake in the company. In 1988, Harley-Davidson celebrated its 85th anniversary in Milwaukee, an event that brought about 60,000 fans of Harley-Davidson. At the end of this revolutionary decade for Harley-Davidson, the FXSTS Softail Springer model was introduced. In the early 1990's the Fat Boy design was introduced and quickly succeeded. The name Fatboy was derived by combining the names of the two atomic bombs "Fat man" and "Little Boy" which were launched on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. In 1991, the Dyna line of Harley-Davidson's was introduced with the FXDB Dyna Glide Sturgis. In 1994 saw the jump of Harley-Davidson for Superbike racing with the VR1000. At this point in America, the Harley Davidson have 62% of the market of motorcycles with 850 CC or more! Due to the many fans around the world can say that is the brand of bikes with more success in the market for motorcycles.
