We got him. We got Steve fucking Rocco.
If you know Jenkem, you know this is about as close to a magnum opus interview as there ever was. We would call it our swan song, but that insinuates we’re dying, and that couldn’t be further from the truth.
If this is somehow falling on deaf ears, let us give you some context. Steve, along with being a pioneer of 70s, 80s and early 90s skateboarding, owned World Industries, and with this company he spearheaded the street skating movement alongside some of the best skaters around at the time. They innovated new board shapes, drafted the blueprint on doing business and the fuck you attitude that skating still champions today.
Steve sold World back in 2002 and essentially “retired” from skateboarding. In doing so he turned into an elusive, mythical creature-esque character that kept his distance from the spotlight.
After years of cold calling and familiarizing ourselves with his voicemail, we were ready to give up. That is until Steve broke the radio silence and announced his return to skateboarding by joining Sidewalk Distribution, home of Jacuzzi Unlimited, Opera, and Slappy Trucks.
We pounced on this announcement, and after many years, were finally able to get Steve in on an interview, one where we recount the details of World’s glory days, the sale of the company, what the hell he has been doing since 2002 and what he’s bringing to the table in 2024. Damn this feels good to write. Raise a glass, ’cause we did it, baby.
Related Posts
-
DISCOVERING EVEN MORE SKATE SPOTS VIA GOOGLE EARTH
Skating roofs, pools, and a bowling alley at an abandoned lodge in upstate New York.
-
BUILDING A SPOT IN THE BRONX WITH JERRY MRAZ AND HUF
Jerry went up to The Bronx to touch up this spot you may have seen evolve over the years.
-
SHOP TALK AT THE FA STORE IN NEW YORK CITY
Last year's SOTY race, dead companies, New Year's resolutions and more.
-
PREMIERE: MARBIE IN “RUINING SKATEBOARDING”
We're happy to offer you one last loosie before the full thing drops in its entirety in a few days.
-
THIS CHANNEL IS DUMPING FOOTAGE OF YOUR FAVORITE 2000S SKATERS
Raw clips of some of the best and well-known skaters from the early 2000s. We're talking about the big kahunas here!
-
WATCH MINI BAM MARGERA & FRIENDS SKATE PULASKI IN 1992
"Wow. Bam looks like a thumb." - Bobby Puleo
-
VIDEO ESSAY: THE YEAR MODERN SKATEBOARDING BROKE
2013 might seem like a random arbitrary year to most people, but to us, it’s the year the current era of skateboarding was born.
-
FRED GALL & THE ORIGINS OF ONE OF NEW JERSEY’S LONGEST STANDING BOARD BRANDS
Birthed from one too many acid trips & late night skate sessions, Metal Skateboards is a part of skate history often forgotten.
Comments
Popular
-
MY HUSBAND TOOK ME TO A SKATE-URBANISM FESTIVAL. HERE’S WHAT I THOUGHT.
"I was headed into one of the most intellectually engaging conferences of my adult life. And, it was hosted by a bunch of skateboarders."
-
A CHAT WITH LUDVIG HAKANSSON, THE OLDEST SOUL IN SKATEBOARDING
The man loves to read Nietzche, skates in some expensive vintage gear, and paints in his own neoclassical-meets-abstract-expressionist style.
-
PREMIERE: STEVEN CUSTOZZO AND MICHAEL FALLER IN “HEIRLOOM”
Unconventional tricks at classic NYC spots.
-
A NEW GENERATION’S TAKE ON WALLENBERG
Toby Ryan and Dylan Jaeb weigh in on whether or not this formidable stair set's reputation holds up today.
-
LOUIE BARLETTA ON HIS CAREER AND THE PUSH INITIATIVE
Louie discusses the challenges of maintaining a pro skate career and his new initiative to help those in need.
June 5, 2024 9:10 pm
“That’s a switch 360 flip rigfht”. Sure thing boss
June 14, 2024 10:27 am
it’s an old school 360 kickflip, like freestyle before ollies. and i guess also switch
June 5, 2024 10:14 pm
wait, world was around till 02? i aint seen a board in a shop or the wild since around 98. i guess that sonic add of steve getting fucked in the ass by wet willy was more truth than parody.
June 5, 2024 10:36 pm
Excellent work.
June 6, 2024 5:46 am
interesting , was a good interview