By Nathan Eden
There are many different forms in which people seem to feel they know Bam Margera. He could be the professional skater and video game character from all of those Tony Hawk games. He could also be the parent-bothering menace from a series of different reality television shows from Viva La Bam, Bam’s Unholy Union, or even his most recent effort, Bam’s Bad Ass Game Show. Then of course, there are those Jackass films in which he appears alongside Johnny Knoxville and co. to gleefully run around and act the fool like men who don’t know they’re grown-ups. And we love them for it.
It appears that another string in Bam’s bow is music, and the way he speaks about his band, he seems quite serious about it despite its name; F*ckface Unstoppable. They’ll be in our country very soon.
It won’t be the first time he has brought his band to our shores. 2013’s tour saw a string of sold-out shows including all of the ingredients you might expect. This time around, F*ckface Unstoppable, including members of both CKY and Guttermouth, will be hitting up regional centres as well as the bigger cities. Bam reckons this was a conscious decision based on the fact that he quite likes to visit the smaller places.
“I’m quite fond of playing the smaller, weirder places,” he says. I mean, I would much rather play show somewhere in New Jersey than New York City. There’s probably a million different bands you could go and see in New York but if my band is the only one in town in some place in New Jersey, it’s going to be something different”.
Something different is what it has always seemed to be about for Bam Margera when it comes to music. If you have watched any of his reality shows you will remember his eclectic tastes ranging all over the spectrum, with a leaning towards the heavy side. What I mean is, it isn’t too often you could watch MTV and see a purple Lamborghini full of dudes singing along to Cradle of Filth. Bam says that his taste in music didn’t always sit well with the producers of his earlier stuff – but then, it was his show…
“I’ve always loved music and always been around music and so I like the stuff I like,” he says. “When we first started with MTV, there were times when the producers were pulling their hair out. At the time, all anybody wanted to hear was Green Day. But I wanted to hear Clutch (Bam appeared in the band’s video for “Mob goes Wild”) and Turbonegro”.
Bam is known for championing some of his favourite bands that may be a little underground. Both the aforementioned Clutch and Turbonegro have featured in episodes of his shows as have many others. With this love of music, you might imagine that it would only be a matter of time before he toured with a band of his own.
Bam gives insight in to the reasons behind the desire to tour F*ckface Unstoppable again this year; “There are a few different reasons,” he begins. “We have a really good time recording and to be honest, I was sick of doing television. I had to have time off skating because I was injured for two years. I’m back to skating now but I can’t go out and just skate ‘cause I get hassled. So I built a skate park in my back yard”.
Bam is also slowly getting a film together which bears the title I Needed Time To Stay Useless, in which Mastodon’s Brent Hinds is said to play Bam’s deceased best friend, Ryan Dunn, who died in a high-speed accident in 2011. It seems that the film has been something of a cathartic therapy for Bam who says, “It gave me a chance to gain some perspective”.
Margera mentioned other friends such as Andy McCoy (Hanoi Rocks, Iggy Pop) as inspiration for his musical project. However, it must be said that the resulting tunes could be described as “eclectic”. There’s a definite hip-hop flavour to the band’s work but in a live setting, as one might imagine of a man with Bam’s history, whatever musical treats the band throw up, there will surely be a liberal dose of debauchery, drama, and possible nudity in the mix. And of course, it wouldn’t be complete without a few stunts. Bam sums it up quite simply however. Addressing fans ahead of the tour he says, “Get ready for a great rock n’ roll show. Let’s do this!”
Tour Dates
Wednesday 6 May | ANU Bar, Canberra, ACT
www.ticketing.co.nz
Thursday 7 May | Manning Bar – Sydney, NSW
www.oztix.com.au
Friday 8 May | The Alhambra Lounge – Brisbane, QLD
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Saturday 9 May | The Small Ballroom – Newcastle, NSW
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Sunday 10 May | Mona Vale Hotel – Mona Vale, NSW
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Wednesday 13 May | The Entrance Leagues Club – Bateau Bay, NSW
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Thursday 14 May | Barwon Club – Geelong, VIC
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Friday 15 May | Corner Hotel – Melbourne, VIC
www.cornerhotel.com.au
Saturday 16 May | Fowlers – Adelaide, SA
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Sunday 17 May | Capitol – Perth, WA
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* All shows 18+
