Rocco attacks classic PP graphics
the ad that started a war
MD: Right around the same time Stacy left was the time when Rocco was launching all of those personal attacks against you. When you look back on it
now, what would you have done differently?
GP: At the time, it was sort of like getting sucker punched. Wham! And then you say to yourself, what just happened? I really didn’t understand why
Steve was singling me out, and what traction his attacks were getting with skaters. I had always considered myself a skater, because I made my own
skateboard and skated as a kid, as a young man, and as an adult parent, just not very well, and certainly not professionally. My level of skating reached
the level of downhill, high-speed runs, pumping on flatland, and riding little banks and ditches. I never took it further, because it was something I did for
fun, and loved, but not something I ever believed I could support my family doing. I would have had to continue skating from 12 years old, when I started to
even get good enough to consider that.
Through out my life, I have noticed that whenever you achieve some honor or success, there are those who would like to diminish your
achievement in order to make themselves feel better. I took Steve’s attacks in this light, and dismissed them, feeling as though responding in kind
would be sort of like a guy hitting a girl, because we were so big and his company was so small at the time.
In retrospect, I totally misjudged Steve’s ambitions, tactics, and ability to mislead the entire industry. I grudgingly admit that Rocco
was an evil genius, and a "candy man". Offering skaters just what they wanted at first, and then telling them what they wanted as he gained control
of the new industry of the 90’s. If I were able to replay the game, with my present understanding, I wouldn’t have dismissed him, or allowed him to
spread untruth and dishonor in my path. It is ironic that he named a company Blind at the time, because I think I was the blind one…never turn your
back on an opponent!
VCJ and George Powell...like old times!
MD: Not only has Stacy come back to the company but so has VCJ. Can you tell me about what prompted his departure in the first place and how his return came about?
GP: Court was burned out by a number of things when he left. Working as hard as he did on our team and company graphics was rewarding but frustrating.
He was fighting the artist’s battle between what his personal vision was, what his patron’s vision was, and what team members and sales wanted; which
often provided him with contradictory directions and no way to completely resolve them.
Court was and is a very spiritual person. I think he sensed that he was just sinking and drowning physically and spiritually at that time
in his life, and needed to get away to a place where he could discover his true self and grow in health, and spirit. Court has done this, and I have
waited until I sensed the time was right to re-establish our artistic relationship and personal friendship. I made a tentative, exploratory effort over
5 years ago, but sensed the time was not right. Now it is, and we are working wonderfully together again. Court is more talented, easier to work with,
and even more sensitive and aware than ever. I am so grateful to be able to work with him again. I know Court will create many new and wonderful
graphics for skaters in the years to come.
Sean Cliver
MD: Speaking of artists, you had one of the most prolific skateboard artists working for you in the form of Sean Cliver. At the time you had a choice
between him and John Keester when you had to scale back the company. Why did you pick Keester over Cliver?
GP: Sean was brought to Powell•Peralta from the Midwest as a teenage artist who won our talent search for a second artist. He became Court’s protégé,
and mine. We taught him all we could, and helped him to become a productive, creative graphic artist and illustrator. Sean came about the time Court
was burning out, and so when Court left not too long after Sean arrived, Sean was overwhelmed for a while, but did a great job, creating many cool
graphics. Then we brought John Keester on board to help replace Court’s vacuum. While this was never really possible, John was a competent, flexible,
easy to work with artist and we had a good working relationship. Sean was young, and very impressionable at the time. He fell in love with Steve
Rocco’s "revolt" and became a big admirer. When Steve was attacking us, it was disheartening to have one of our key artists sympathizing with a
competitor. So I essentially gave him a choice between staying with us, or moving to Rocco’s camp. He chose the latter and we parted ways. It was a
huge slap in the face to me, since I had invested so much time, money and love into his development, and we were estranged for many years. Since then,
and since Rocco’s true colors emerged, Sean and I have reestablished contact and are cordial again. Anyway, that’s how Sean left and John stayed.
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