Ray Barbee
RAY BARBEE STATS...
Hometown
San Jose, California
Currently Resides
Long Beach, CA
Sponsors
Vans shoes, Element skateboards, WESC clothing , Independent trucks and Fender Guitars
Date of Birth: 10.5.71
First board: Sims wood kick
On Vans since: 89
Nickname: Razor Ray
Stance: Goofy
Shoe size: 13
RAY BARBEE BIO...
When Powell Peralta released the now-classic 1988 skate video Public Domain, one skater stood apart from the rest of the Bones Brigade team in terms of style, terrain, tricks and all-around skate mojo; thusly entered Ray Barbee onto the scene. While the others dressed in neon Spandex and mostly rode vert, Ray dressed in modest jeans, t-shirt and flannel, skated street and had a smooth, effortless and uniquely improvisational style. The following year Ray got on Vans and Powell Peralta released Ban This featuring Ray’s first solo part which turned skateboarding on it’s ass with Ray’s inventive trick repertoire and buttery smooth style. Nearly 25 years later, Ray’s skating in Ban This still stands as a singular monument to one of the most creative and inimitable styles in all of skateboarding. These days, in addition to being an accomplished musician with multiple record releases as a solo artist and with others (notably The Mattson 2 and fellow Bones Brigader, Tommy Guerrero), today Ray is still skating pro for Vans, Element skateboards and other world-class sponsors while infecting everyone he comes across with his ever-positive and upbeat humble attitude.
RAY BARBEE INTERVIEW...
What shoes do you skate?
Been skating the Half Cab a lot.
What’s your set up?
Element board, Indy trucks , Element wheels with Powell bearings and bushings. My board is 8” wide.
What’s the best trip you’ve ever been on?
Got to go to South Africa one year. That was great. Super cool to see. Never thought I would ever get a chance to go there.
What is the best story you’ve ever heard or been told?
Jesus dying on the cross for our sins is my favorite story.
What trick can’t you do that you wish you could?
Nollie heel, switch heel. Could never figure that one out. Pretty annoying.
What’s the worst thing that’s ever happened to you?
Losing my dad to cancer was pretty tough. Not sure if that was the worst thing, but I sure do miss him.
Worst trend in skateboarding right now?
All the shoe brands having a Vans knock-off of some sort.
What are some interests/hobbies outside of skating?
Love spending time with my wife and two boys, playing music and photography.
Last good book you read?
All I read when I get a chance is the Bible and the manuals for a lot of my gear (music and recording). I'll get a lot of info online; Google's my library, but not too many books or novels.
Five songs that have to be on a mix tape?
J Dilla, Shuggie Ottis, Roy Buchanan, Wes Montgomery, and Guided by Voices.
Did you know Jim Thiebaud when he was running that marvelous ponytail of his?
That ponytail ripped--the eighties ripped, for that matter!
Are you aware that your part in Powell Peralta's Ban This film is basically pornography for anyone who enjoys step off tricks?
That was fun. We filmed that within a couple days. I'd meet up with Stacy [Peralta] and he would take me to some spots. It was always exciting wondering how he was going to put everything together. I dug Powell Peralta vids growing up. I couldn't believe I was becoming a part of that.
Almost 20 years after that video part, we’re all still wearing flannels. But what changes have you seen and enjoyed in skateboarding?
The biggest change was the industry changing from vert to street. That opened the doors for way more people to get into it. You no longer needed to know the dude that owned the backyard ramp. You could just open up your door and go shred. That was huge.
What did you do today?
Today I worked on a remix for a rerelease of one of my albums for Japan.
Tell us about your band.
For a while I had a bunch of my friends playing with me to recreate live what I recorded for my first two albums at home. We would play out a bunch. Lately I’ve been playing with my friends Jared and Jonathan Mattson. They’re ripping musicians. They have a band on their own called The Mattson 2. We did an album together called Ray Barbee Meets The Mattson 2. We play out under that name. Also, I'm a part of The Blacktop Project which is Tommy Guererro, Matt Rodriguez and Chuck Treece. We play from time to time.
Where can kids find your music? Do you have any CDs in the works?
Best place to find my music is on iTunes under my name. Both bands I've mentioned have albums on there.
Would you mind retelling that story from WOOOOO! Magazine?
Basically, I showed up at the wrong spot at the wrong time. I was in Huntington Beach, California one night at a Guttermouth show but I didn't know Guttermouth was playing. We had heard that my friend Gabe's band, Whiskey Biscuit, was playing. So I get there and the show had already gotten broken up. This skater kid saw me and was telling me I'd better bail. I didn't know what he was talking about until I heard this voice yelling, "What are you doing here? Shouldn’t you be in Compton or something? Aryan race! White power! You better run ni___r ." It was a 6-foot 4-inch, 250 pound skinhead with two dudes on each side of him. I took off and they came after me. It was ten thirty at night and I went running into the neighborhood. After a while I looked back and saw that I had lost them. At that point I didn't know where I was. I took a moment to catch my breath when all of a sudden I see a truck full of skinheads pointing at me. I freaked it and ran till I saw an opened door on the block. I ran inside terrified. It was an Hispanic community center. They were having a party or something. They didn't speak English but when the skins got to the door they knew what was going on and let the skins know they weren't going to let them come in without a fight. We called the cops and my butt was saved!
Did you think that you were going to die?
I definitely thought I was a goner. I'm pretty sure that was the closest I've come to Death.
Hometown
San Jose, California
Currently Resides
Long Beach, CA
Sponsors
Vans shoes, Element skateboards, WESC clothing , Independent trucks and Fender Guitars
Date of Birth: 10.5.71
First board: Sims wood kick
On Vans since: 89
Nickname: Razor Ray
Stance: Goofy
Shoe size: 13
RAY BARBEE BIO...
When Powell Peralta released the now-classic 1988 skate video Public Domain, one skater stood apart from the rest of the Bones Brigade team in terms of style, terrain, tricks and all-around skate mojo; thusly entered Ray Barbee onto the scene. While the others dressed in neon Spandex and mostly rode vert, Ray dressed in modest jeans, t-shirt and flannel, skated street and had a smooth, effortless and uniquely improvisational style. The following year Ray got on Vans and Powell Peralta released Ban This featuring Ray’s first solo part which turned skateboarding on it’s ass with Ray’s inventive trick repertoire and buttery smooth style. Nearly 25 years later, Ray’s skating in Ban This still stands as a singular monument to one of the most creative and inimitable styles in all of skateboarding. These days, in addition to being an accomplished musician with multiple record releases as a solo artist and with others (notably The Mattson 2 and fellow Bones Brigader, Tommy Guerrero), today Ray is still skating pro for Vans, Element skateboards and other world-class sponsors while infecting everyone he comes across with his ever-positive and upbeat humble attitude.
RAY BARBEE INTERVIEW...
What shoes do you skate?
Been skating the Half Cab a lot.
What’s your set up?
Element board, Indy trucks , Element wheels with Powell bearings and bushings. My board is 8” wide.
What’s the best trip you’ve ever been on?
Got to go to South Africa one year. That was great. Super cool to see. Never thought I would ever get a chance to go there.
What is the best story you’ve ever heard or been told?
Jesus dying on the cross for our sins is my favorite story.
What trick can’t you do that you wish you could?
Nollie heel, switch heel. Could never figure that one out. Pretty annoying.
What’s the worst thing that’s ever happened to you?
Losing my dad to cancer was pretty tough. Not sure if that was the worst thing, but I sure do miss him.
Worst trend in skateboarding right now?
All the shoe brands having a Vans knock-off of some sort.
What are some interests/hobbies outside of skating?
Love spending time with my wife and two boys, playing music and photography.
Last good book you read?
All I read when I get a chance is the Bible and the manuals for a lot of my gear (music and recording). I'll get a lot of info online; Google's my library, but not too many books or novels.
Five songs that have to be on a mix tape?
J Dilla, Shuggie Ottis, Roy Buchanan, Wes Montgomery, and Guided by Voices.
Did you know Jim Thiebaud when he was running that marvelous ponytail of his?
That ponytail ripped--the eighties ripped, for that matter!
Are you aware that your part in Powell Peralta's Ban This film is basically pornography for anyone who enjoys step off tricks?
That was fun. We filmed that within a couple days. I'd meet up with Stacy [Peralta] and he would take me to some spots. It was always exciting wondering how he was going to put everything together. I dug Powell Peralta vids growing up. I couldn't believe I was becoming a part of that.
Almost 20 years after that video part, we’re all still wearing flannels. But what changes have you seen and enjoyed in skateboarding?
The biggest change was the industry changing from vert to street. That opened the doors for way more people to get into it. You no longer needed to know the dude that owned the backyard ramp. You could just open up your door and go shred. That was huge.
What did you do today?
Today I worked on a remix for a rerelease of one of my albums for Japan.
Tell us about your band.
For a while I had a bunch of my friends playing with me to recreate live what I recorded for my first two albums at home. We would play out a bunch. Lately I’ve been playing with my friends Jared and Jonathan Mattson. They’re ripping musicians. They have a band on their own called The Mattson 2. We did an album together called Ray Barbee Meets The Mattson 2. We play out under that name. Also, I'm a part of The Blacktop Project which is Tommy Guererro, Matt Rodriguez and Chuck Treece. We play from time to time.
Where can kids find your music? Do you have any CDs in the works?
Best place to find my music is on iTunes under my name. Both bands I've mentioned have albums on there.
Would you mind retelling that story from WOOOOO! Magazine?
Basically, I showed up at the wrong spot at the wrong time. I was in Huntington Beach, California one night at a Guttermouth show but I didn't know Guttermouth was playing. We had heard that my friend Gabe's band, Whiskey Biscuit, was playing. So I get there and the show had already gotten broken up. This skater kid saw me and was telling me I'd better bail. I didn't know what he was talking about until I heard this voice yelling, "What are you doing here? Shouldn’t you be in Compton or something? Aryan race! White power! You better run ni___r ." It was a 6-foot 4-inch, 250 pound skinhead with two dudes on each side of him. I took off and they came after me. It was ten thirty at night and I went running into the neighborhood. After a while I looked back and saw that I had lost them. At that point I didn't know where I was. I took a moment to catch my breath when all of a sudden I see a truck full of skinheads pointing at me. I freaked it and ran till I saw an opened door on the block. I ran inside terrified. It was an Hispanic community center. They were having a party or something. They didn't speak English but when the skins got to the door they knew what was going on and let the skins know they weren't going to let them come in without a fight. We called the cops and my butt was saved!
Did you think that you were going to die?
I definitely thought I was a goner. I'm pretty sure that was the closest I've come to Death.
RELATED NEWS POSTS
- COACHELLA: A CULTURE OBSERVED BY RAY BARBEE
- JLAY & Ray Barbee Capture Coachella for Vans Tumblr
- Ray Barbee Footage!
- Waffle When-sdays with Ray Barbee
- Ray Barbee ChromeBall'd
- Barbee, Hunt & Acosta on Leica Camera Blog
- Vans Skate Team Year in Review
- Grosso, Barbee, Chima, Crockett & More in Skateboarder
- Hosoi Signing at Salman Agah's Pizzanista 12/1
- Anthony Acosta Photo Show at FTC Japan
- Watch Cardiel & Barbee in Washington/Get Out & Do Something Tour
- Ray Barbee On Skateboarder Site
- Thrasher's Announces King Of The Road Mystery Guests
- Get Out & Do Something Northwest Tour 8/22 to 8/26
- Barbee interview on HIgh Snobriety
- Cab Twenty Party/Photo Show Amsterdam Footage
- Barbee & Cardiel Footage from Get Out & Do Something Tour
- Ray Barbee Interview on Ride Channel
- Since 66: 7-Minute Video History of Vans
- Cardiel & Barbee are coming to FL & GA 6/20 to 6/24
- Adventures with Ray Barbee Part 2
- Adventures With Ray Barbee Part 1
- Vans Syndicate TWENTY Photo Show Recap
- Adventures with Chris Season 3 Preview
- Ray Barbee on Sk8-TV circa 1990
- Ray Barbee's New Music Show
- Ray Barbee's Ban This Part on Thrasher
- Ray Barbee on TSM 2012 Calendar Cover
- Ray Barbee: Pioneer Interview in TWS
- Vans Team All Up in TSM Photo Annual
- At home with Ray Barbee
Recently the Vans Music Department asked Johnny Layton and Ray Barbee to shoot the Coachella Desert concert. Click through to the Vans Music Tumblr for more of Ray's shots.
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This Past weekend was the first weekend of the legendary Coachella Music Festival. We armed ace photographers Ray Barbee & Johnny Layton with cameras and cellphones and had them document their adventure for the Vans Music Tumblr.
Check out all the fun here
DAY 1
JLay Coachella Part 1
JLay Coachella Part 2
DAY 2
JLay Coachella Part 1
JLay Coachella Part 2
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French Fred shot Ray Barbee frontside heel flipping a picnic table a few years ago for WESC and they recently posted the footage:
And check out this WESC catalog shoot with some miniramp footage of Ray Ray:
WeSC Spring 2013: Epic Sesh! from WeSC on Vimeo.
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Welcome back to our new regular Wednesday column, Waffle When-sdays, where we find out the who, what, where and when from the team, today we catch up with Ray Barbee:
1. When was the last time you were embarrassed?
After a gig I played this brother and sister came up to me after to tell me they dug the show. They went on to tell me that they were twins which I replied, "But you guys don't look like ...
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Once upon a time Ray Barbee, Tommy Guerrero and Matt Rodriguez hopped on the open road for Slap Magazine to make skate, music and memories. Chromeball has reposted that adventure here.
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Photographer Mark Whitely has teamed up with Leica to introduce a new blog series called Rolling Through the Shadows which will feature portfolios from Ray Barbee, Greg Hunt, Anthony Acosta, Jerry Hsu, Rick McCrank, Leo Romero, Todd Jordan, Arto Saari, Raymond Molinar, Ed Templeton, Thomas Campbell, and photographers Mark Whiteley, Joe Brook, Ben Colen, Marcel Veldman, Tobin Yelland, and Jon Humphries.
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As we enter a new year and take a step closer towards the Vans video now in progress we must bid a fond farewell to 2012 and all the good times we had. From Gilby going pro to Elijah getting Year's Best Am to the release of the Stage 4 to celebrating 20 years of the Half Cab and teaming up with Metallica for the anniversary to all the covers and coverage and contests; the guys have been kicking ...
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If you missed the last issue of Skateboarder Magazine with Leo on the cover you blew it, dude! There was ton of good stuff in there! Luckily for you we know a guy who knows a guy who knows a guy who commandeered some scans of all the Vans bros that were in that issue for your viewing pleasure. So if you missed Jeff Grosso, Gilbert Crockett, Chima Ferguson, Ray Barbee and flow bros Kyle Walker and John Fitzgerald, fear ...
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Pizzanista! presents: A book signing with Christian Hosoi
for "Hosoi: My Life as a Skateboarder Junkie Inmate Pastor" with a live performance by Ray Barbee
Saturday, December 1, 2012. 6 - 10 pm
Pizzanista!
2019 E. 7th Street
Los Angeles, CA 90021
www.pizzanista.com
** Custom Hosoi-designed pizza **
** Limited edition T-Shirt, pizza boxes & stickers **
** Vans giveaways!!! First 10 people to purchase the Hosoi book + pizza receive a Vans gift certificate **
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What are you doing this Friday, October 19th? We know it's a bit last minute but our ace photographer, Anthony Acosta, is having a photo show at FTC Tokyo and you should totally go check it out. If you leave from LAX Korean Air has a flight that's only $1100; leave Thursday, come back Saturday. Think about it. It's going to be sick. Anthony will be showing a bunch of his prints from his latest, small run ...
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Legendary Vans skateboarders Ray Barbee and John Cardiel traveled north to Washington for the second leg of the Vans "Get Out and Do Something" Tour. Check out what went down on the rainy road trip with Ray, John, the Mattson 2 and artist Greg "Pnut" Galinsky as they talk about their personal passions, where they started and what has helped them thrive.
See where all the fun started on the Get Out and Do Something website where you'll find ...
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The latest issue of Skateboarder Magazine has a Stereo/WESC desert road trip with our own Ray Barbee making a cameo.
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Thrasher announced this year's mystery guests for King Of The Road but first they take a look back at the best of the best from over the years, including our own Ray Barbee:
Meet the mystery guests:
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Vans 2012 Northwest Get Out and Do Something Tour kicks off Wednesday, August 22 at the Vans store in Bellis Fair Mall with Ray Barbee and John Cardiel. Ray and the Mattson 2 will be performing live, followed by Cards spinning some of his favorite music. Vans will be giving away a Fender guitar, Element and Antihero boards and more at each stop. Come out and hang with the fellahs.
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While in Amsterdam for the Downtown Showdown High Snobriety caught up and did this interview with Ray Barbee.
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The opening reception of the Vans Downtown Showdown Amsterdam presented by Monster Energy brought skateboarding legends, Pro’s, Ams, local Dutch media and skate enthusiasts together to celebrate 20 years of the iconic Vans Half Cab Shoe with photography, art, skateboarding and music.
Twenty years, twenty skaters, twenty photos and one shoe, was the premise for the selection of images curated by Lance Dawes, to celebrate the legacy of the iconic Vans Half Cab shoe. Twenty customised Half Cabs complemented ...
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Off The Wall.tv has the first installment of the Get Out & Do Something Tour as it got out and did something in Florida and Georgia with Ray Barbee and John Cardiel. Fun times had by all!
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Ride Channel's latest episode of Hand In Hand features Ray Barbee discussing how he got into skating and playing the guitar:
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In this 7-minute piece on the family that is Vans director Eliot Rausch tugs on our heartstrings with beautiful images of just a few of our family members. As he put it, "Vans came to me with a proposal to create a short film that embodied the essence of their brand. The creative exploration and freedom they allowed me was unlike anything I had ever experienced. Pure trust, pure faith, in my abilities as a story-teller / director and as a ...
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If you're in Florida or Georgia this week you better charge your camera batteries because John Cardiel and Ray Barbee are coming to town to play some tunes for you! June 20th to 24th Ray will be jamming with the Mattson 2 and Cards will be DJing some classic reggae tracks. Greg "Pnut" Galinsky will also be in the scene sharing his artistic flavor. At each stop we will be giving away a Fender guitar and tons of other ...
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Ray Barbee's video part in Powell Peralta's Ban This will eternally be regarded as one of the coolest, smoothest epic skate parts ever. Listen to Ray as he recounts the making of that groundbreaking part:
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The latest episode of Adventures With Chris focuses on Ray Barbee covering his humble beginnings, to his Powell days to the secret to longevity. Next week he dissects his Ban This part:
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Twenty years, twenty skaters, twenty photos and one shoe, that was the premise for Saturday's opening reception of Vans Syndicate "Twenty" at New Image Art gallery in Hollywood, CA. From Steve Caballero to Stevie Williams, "Twenty", a selection of images curated by Lance Dawes, celebrates the legacy of the iconic Half Cab. Custom waffle grip imprinted frames were made to highlight the master lensmen's work and to symbolize the sole of skateboarding. Pabst Blue Ribbon provided the brew ...
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Season 3 of Adventures with Chris begins next week on February 22 and features Ray Barbee, Tony Trujillo, Jason Dill, Daniel Lutheran, Omar Hassan, Curren Caples and Steve Caballero.
Here's a sneak preview:
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In honor of Black History Month Bones Bearingsdug up a rare classic.
Check out The Ruler, Ray Barbee in an early appearance on
Nickelodon's Sk8 TV from back in 1990 with that dude from Scary Movie.
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Ray Barbee is one of those guys that is smooth and amazing at everything he does,
be it skateboarding, taking photos, playing the guitar, whatever.
Just as we look to him for inspiration his new music show, Traveling Sounds,
shows us some of his musical inspirations.
In this first episode Ray goes to Ventura California and meets up with
Thump Drums maker Andrew "Jenkins" Jones
and harpist, Xoco Moraza of the band Rey Fresco.
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One of the smoothest dudes ever, Ray Barbee, gave us one of the raddest parts
ever in Ban This. From the tricks, to the look, to the timeless clothing, to all the smiles
Thrasher nails it when naming this part a Classic.
Look for Barbee episodes in the upcoming season of Adventures with Chris
on Off The Wall Tv.
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2012 is barely underway but if you've found yourself running down
your hotel hallway, naked, confused, high on angel dust, wondering,
'WHAT DAY IS IT???' Then it might be a good idea to
BUY The Skateboard Mag's 2012 Calendar with Ray Barbee on the cover
and a sick Geoff Rowley photo as well.
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One of the best/smoothest/nicest to ever step on a board,
Ray Barbee is interviewed by Transworld for their 30th Anniversary Issue.
With all Ray has contributed to skating in terms of style, street lines, casual attire
and opening doors for kids of all races and nationalities Ray could have easily
cracked the Top 10 of their Top 30 Most Influential Skaters of All Time.
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The latest issue of The Skateboard Mag is their Photo Annual
and our ace photographer, Anthony Acosta, killed it,
filling half the magazine with Vans riders.
Grab a copy on newsstands now.
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Strange Notes put together a rad Day In The Lifewith the OG Ray Barbee:
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