Death Skateboards has survived it all. Inspiring clannish loyalty from its ratty following, Death has come to characterise British skateboarding at its most resilient and boisterous.
The chap behind this whole circus is Nick ‘Zorlac’ Orecchio – a resolutely unfashionable Italian rascal who created Power Distribution in 1996, a precursor to Death Skateboards. Their suburban Harrow headquarters – the House of Doom – is part distribution centre, part playground and part sanctuary for strays.
Welcome to the first in our This Is DIY series – tales of independence in an interconnected world. In an age of top-down hierarchies and follow-my-lead regimes, more and more people are striking out on their own and igniting projects with the spark of hard graft instead of waiting for corporate say-sos. There are stories of independence in every corner of the globe – people who keep things small and DIY.
Watch out for the print feature in Huck 43.
Latest on Huck
This erotic zine dismantles LGBTQ+ respectability politics
Zine Scene — Created by Megan Wallace and Jack Rowe, PULP is a new print publication that embraces the diverse and messy, yet pleasurable multitudes that sex and desire can take.
Written by: Isaac Muk
As Tbilisi’s famed nightclubs reawaken, a murky future awaits
Spaces Between the Beats — Since Georgia’s ruling party suspended plans for EU accession, protests have continued in the capital, with nightclubs shutting in solidarity. Victor Swezey reported on their New Year’s Eve reopening, finding a mix of anxiety, catharsis and defiance.
Written by: Victor Swezey
Los Angeles is burning: Rick Castro on fleeing his home once again
Braver New World — In 2020, the photographer fled the Bobcat Fire in San Bernardino to his East Hollywood home, sparking the inspiration for an unsettling photo series. Now, while preparing for its exhibition, he has had to leave once again, returning to the mountains.
Written by: Miss Rosen
Ghais Guevara: “Rap is a pinnacle of our culture”
What Made Me — In our new series, we ask artists and rebels about the forces and experiences that have shaped who they are. First up, Philadelphian rap experimentalist Ghais Guevara.
Written by: Ghais Guevara
Gaza Biennale comes to London in ICA protest
Art and action — The global project, which presents the work of over 60 Palestinian artists, will be on view outside the art institution in protest of an exhibition funded by Bloomberg Philanthropies.
Written by: Cyna Mirzai
Ragnar Axelsson’s thawing vision of Arctic life
At the Edge of the World — For over four decades, the Icelandic photographer has been journeying to the tip of the earth and documenting its communities. A new exhibition dives into his archive.
Written by: Cyna Mirzai