Big Brother (magazine)
Editor | Dave Carnie Chris Nieratko |
---|---|
Staff writers | Sean Cliver Earl Parker Jeff Tremaine Chris Pontius Marc McKee |
Photographer | Rick Kosick |
Categories | Skateboarding magazine |
Publisher | Larry Flynt |
Founder | Steve Rocco |
Founded | 1992 |
Final issue | 2004 |
Country | United States |
Language | English |
Big Brother was a skateboarding magazine founded by Steve Rocco in 1992,[1][2] which was notable for ushering in street skating and the sub-culture of skateboarding. Big Brother ceased publication in 2004.[2]
The magazine often covered various taboo topics in addition to skateboarding. Early articles featured step by step methods of committing suicide and rip-off schemes such as how to make a fake ID. It would also regularly employ odd gimmicks such as printing the magazine in different sizes, packaging it in a cereal box and including seemingly incongruous items such as trading cards and a cassette tape in the packaging. Early writers included Sean Cliver, Earl Parker (Thomas Schmidt), Jeff Tremaine, Marc McKee, Mike Ballard and Pat Canale.[3]
They also released a few videos, including "Shit", then "Number Two", with a few stunts and pranks, but the videos were mostly skateboarding-oriented.
A
History
The magazine contained mostly articles about skateboarding,[1] as well as some nudity, stunts, pranks, and random ramblings from its staff. Its later days were characterized by the clever wordplay of editors Dave Carnie and Chris Nieratko.[5] The magazine was purchased by Larry Flynt in 1997. After Flynt began publishing the magazine, the nudity was toned down or scrapped altogether, though the vulgarity remained.
In 1998,
In one of the more bizarre episodes of the magazine's history, the subscriber list for Big Brother was accidentally swapped with Taboo, one of Larry Flynt's hardcore pornography magazines: Big Brother subscribers were sent issues of Taboo, and vice versa. This incident was parodied on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno in which one of the band members was delivered an issue of Big Brother live on stage, suggesting that he subscribed to Taboo and received it in error.[10]
The magazine was unexpectedly dropped by Larry Flynt publications in February 2004.[11] In early 2008, it was announced on Jackassworld.com that Big Brother would be returning in a digital format.[12]
A similar magazine, KingShit, released its first issue in May 2009. Based in
Big Brother was also credited for the development of the television series
Big Brother videos
Shit
Year released: 1996
- Cover: Showed Jason "Wee-Man" Acuña in blue body paint.
- Dave Carnie attends Wigstock and calls cross dressers fruitcakes.
Number Two
Year released: 1998
- Cover: Johnny Lee Countee in a Devo suit
- Showed an obscure old school skateboarder (Johnny Lee Countee) skating in front of his house, the only area he ever skated at.
- Showed kevlar vest.[13]
boob
Year released: 1999
- Cover: Editor Dave Carnie in a gold spandex suit and rollerblades; ("boob", when looked at in a mirror upside down, reads "poop").
- Contained several skateboarding tours and also featured a Steve-O stunt section and editor Dave Carnie skateboarding in a gold spandex suit.[3]
Crap
Year released: 2001
- Cover: photographer Rick Kosick in an adult diaper while tied to a cross
- Showed the "DependsOlympics" and/or "Jesus Games," which involved the Big Brother staff getting drunk, wearing adult diapers, and participating in games. One of the games was the Jesus Race, where people race while heaving a large wooden cross on their backs.
References
- ^ a b Skateboardermag.com
- ^ a b Vintageskateboardmagazines.com
- ^ a b Skimthefat.com
- ^ Wharton, David (June 4, 2017). "'Dumb: The Story of Big Brother Magazine' uncovers the wild scene that spawned 'Jackass'". The Daily Dot. Retrieved October 24, 2017.
- ^ Chrisnieratko.com
- ^ "Dr. Laura Goes After Surf Shop For Porn". Archived from the original on January 16, 2009. Retrieved December 14, 2008.
- ^ People.com, Dr. Laura: Surf's Up
- ^ Judge Dismisses Dr. Laura Schlessinger Suit Against Beach Access Owner
- ^ People.com, Dr. Laura Makes Nice
- ^ "Concretewavemagazine.com". Archived from the original on August 10, 2006. Retrieved August 5, 2006.
- ^ "Big Brother is Coming Back.. as a Book". Jenkem. January 29, 2016. Retrieved February 23, 2016.
- ^ "Jackassworld.com". Archived from the original on March 30, 2008. Retrieved March 24, 2008.
- ^ Skimthefat.com