ALIEN WORKSHOP: 14 Things You Didn't Know About Alien Workshop Skateboards
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 21 ก.ค. 2024
- 14 Things you didn’t know about Alien Workshop Skateboards!
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The brand was started by Mike Hill, Chris Carter, and Neil Blender, who had all gotten to know one another through G & S skateboards. The brand is named Alien Workshop based off of their love for Conspiracy Theories, especially one which noted that the US stealth Bomber plane had actually been developed in an Alien Workshop.
The Alien Workshop logo was designed by Mike Hill in his basement. He designed the logo with inspiration from the Denny’s Logo and the Marathon Gas Stations logos.
Now, Rob Dyrdek has launched many tv series with MTV such as Rob and Big, Fantasy Factory, and Ridiculousness. Rob Dyrdek also played a large part in launching Street League Skateboarding.
Alien Workshop releases their first movie Memory Screen which came out in 1991, and Mike Hill did most of the filming. For the video they bought a bunch of super 8 cameras and filmed everything they thought was cool.
The Alien Workshop team was composed of many iconic figures in skateboarding: Jason Dill, Anthony Van Engelen, Josh Kalis, Heath Kirchart, Dylan Reider, Grant Taylor, Anthony Poppalardo, Brian Wenning, Rob Dyrdek, Fred Gall, Bo Turner, Duane Pitre, Tyler Bledsoe, Jake Johnson, Gilbert Crockett, Arto Saari, Ted De Gros, Steve Berra, and Mikey Taylor.
Dinosaur Jr front man Jay Mascis was introduced to Hill and Carter through Neil Blender. And was down for the brand, letting them use his music. It has become very tied into the brand over the years with songs from Dinosaur Jr in Memory Screen, Timecode & Mind Field.
In the latter half of the 90’s Alien is growing fast and the “second phase” of Alien Workshop starts to take form: Jason Dill, Ave and Danny Way, join Dyrdek, Kalis, and Fred Gall on the team, they start working on another video. Habitat skateboards is originally introduced in 1999 and led by Joe Castrucci.
In 2000, Photosynthesis is released, a video by Joe Castrucci. This video features: Anthony Papalardo, Anthony Van Engelen, Brian Wenning, Danny Garcia, Danny Way, Fred Gall, Jason Dill, Josh Kalis, Kerry Getz, Mark Appleyard, Pat Corcoran, Rob Dyrdek, Rob Pluhowski, and Tim O’Connor. Jason Dill has his iconic last part skating to Radiohead, and this part solidified him as a legend in the skate world, amidst his struggles with addiction, fading in and out of the limelight. This video also features additional filming by William Strobeck, who you might know from his Supreme videos.
Alien Workshop then releases Mind Field: a video by Greg Hunt, with music scored by Duane Pitre, an OG Alien team rider. This video features standout parts by Jason Dill, Arto, Grant Taylor, Heath Kirchart, amongst others.
Then, there was the mind-altering Alien Workshop section for The Cinematographer Project in 2012. This project represents an assembled 13 teams of skateboarding’s finest filmmakers to each produce their own original three-to-five minute short. We definitely think the result was a truly creative and diverse take on the current world of skateboarding, and featured infamous parts by Dylan Rieder, Stefan Janoski, Dennis Busenitz. Alien Workshop’s section also featured the pro debut of Jake Johnson and Gilbert Crockett, and one of the most iconic clips of Dylan Rieder as he does an impossible over a picnic table. In 2013, Alien partnered up with Alex Jones and the info wars crowd to release a “Divide & Conquer” deck. Hill said in the book Agents Provocateurs by Seb Carayol “the graphic was kind of speaking to that fact that no matter who you vote for it doesn’t matter.” “It’s like the super bowl, where people pick one of two teams and get worked up in a frenzy around them”
On Feb 5, 2008, the world is shocked when Burton announces they have purchased DNA distribution, parent company of Alien Workshop, Habitat and Reflex. During this time, they did do some really cool stuff including partnerships with Andy Warhol, and Keith Haring, that now sell for loads of money online. Jason Dill & Anthony Van Engelen leave to start Fucking Awesome, a brand that Dill had already been running for a couple of years. At this time the workshop kind of crumbles. Grant Taylor leaves for Anti Hero, Heath retires (2010), Steve Berra and Mikey Taylor get the boot, and Dylan Reider leaves for Fucking Awesome. Eventually, Rob reacquires Alien Workshop, giving the brand back to its original owners: Chris Carter, Mike Hill, and Joe Castrucci.
These days, Alien Workshop is still thriving under the careful guidance of Mike Hill. The Alien Workshop headquarters is back safe and sound in Ohio again, built into an old nuclear military bunker. It’s actually a bunker where they worked on the detonator for the Manhattan Project!
DEEP DIVE INTO THESE SOURCES:
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Josh Kalis was definitely one of the most influential skaters for me and him and Dyrdek were the faces of Alien when I was coming up.
LOVE park era Kalis is pretty legendary.
I was big on Heath !!
@@ShredzShop Love Park Kalis and Stevie = the dream team! Alien and DC were pretty much the pinnacle of skateboarding at this time.
Fuck yes and Fred Gall even though he was on Habitat.
@@ShredzShop some of the most buttery tre flips lifting up them tiles.
Alien is missing a huge opportunity not doing some classic deck reissues. Those classic EXP fluorescent decks would be so dope among many others they could reissue.
Edit: I realize they have some reissues but really I’m talking about the EXP series around 1997-98. These boards were like nothing that had been done before. The neon day-glo phosphorescent coating and the insect/ nature themed graphics made them instantly catch your eye and make you think. That series also ushered in the changing of the guard at Alien, when Ave, Dill got on. That’s also when Don Pendleton and Joe Castrucci were hired. Just saying, I’d love to see those again because they’re basically impossible to get your hands on them now.
I loved the rainbow horizon with the grey alien infront.
Tht n THE MISSING LINK one for sure.
And let's not forget merch re-issues, like Graphic T's, Hoodies and Crewnecks!
Have you guys checked their website? Haha I bought I tee shirt a few month ago...
Carter still has the rights most likely
They've done some reissues, I'm sure eventually those will come. Not sure if we'll ever get any reissued Pendleton graphics. Either way, best company to ever exist. That new guy they just got on, Joey O Brian is a very good look for the company, dude fuckin rips.
As a 32 year old Dayton native who still lives here Alien workshop will always be something special. We will always support our little brand that went global.
I'm also from Dayton and skated many of those spots in the 90's.
The fact Photosynthesis hasn't been released on DVD is a shame. It still holds up to this day and should be shared with the new generations.
Agreed!!!
It’s posted on the Alien Workshop’s TH-cam channel
Cheers
Photosynthesis was my shit back when back it came out. Watched it everyday before skating!
Me too! That's my VHS copy in the frame! Loved that vid.
@@ShredzShop Hell yeah! We had it recorded onto a VHS with a bunch of the other videos of that era, Photosynthesis, Fulfill the Dream, Menikmati, Zoo York Mixtape, The End, Sorry, Yeah Right . . . Then we ran outta space. We used to just pass off every week. Haha. Good shit! Thanks for the Videos.
So glad I still have my VHS copy. Brian Wenning on constant rewind kinda messed up my tape though haha
Alien Workshop was my first skateboard and I've always had a fondness for their art and quality. I'm 32 and probably will just cruise these days but I'm glad the brand is still alive.
To me, the name of Rob Dyrdek will be always linked to Alien Workshop. At least here in Germany, he was their most well known team rider when AWS became popular.
Next creature skateboards or blind skateboards pls guys
Blind!!!!
@@bobtheblobfish8572 yes, Blind!
Creature!
Mindfield got me back into skating after 20 years. Back in the days H-Street's Hokus Pokus was the shit. My all time favorite Alien Workshop teamrider is Jake Johnson - especially his part in mindfield triggered something within my mind.
Being an Ohio kid I absolutely had Alien Workshop shirts back in the day. I had the missing link shirt for 20 years until it was more holes than fabric, somewhere I still have the design from it cut off as a scrap.
Fav memory of workshop has gotta be the first time I saw a memory screen and how different it was from every other skate videos out at the time!!
Fav riders are Kalis, Dyrdek and Dill!!!
YESSS!! this was super sick dude! Keep up the excellent work. I’m now going to frame my photosynthesis VHS.😎⛽️⛽️⛽️🤙🏽🤙🏽🤙🏽
I don’t know anything about skateboarding, but this video helps to learn the history. Thank you for sharing.❤😊
Bro. Dope video. I've been a fan of alien workshop since I scored a deck from the warped deck bin at a Zumiez in like 2002. I still remember it. It was a ""Ride Everything 3" with the HGP High Gloss Paint that was surrounding the whole board. Like they dipped the whole deck in white paint. Dopest deck. It was either a Dyrdek, Kalis or a Pappalardo. I can't even remember.
I just bought a couple of the old shirt designs off their site. Their artwork was so forward at the time that it’s still relevant and new looking today. And of course, more relevant than ever.
One of my fav brands and i didn't know any of this! Would have loved a mention of Don Pendleton though
Photosynthesis was my first skate video back in 2000. This video was super rad. Thankage!
It was one of my earlier VHS tapes I owned too. Kids today will never know the struggle of having to rewind the VHS skate video before watching it.
Midfield's intro gave me goosebumps
Stoooooked on this one!!
Omar in Mind Field. Best energy!
aww shux, i always forget one
I started skating in '08 then in '09 Mind Field came out, then I said this is how full length skate videos should look like!!!
I was just about to ask you to do video on Alien Workshop. It was one of my favorite board companies back in the day. They had such a badass team too, Rob Dyrdek, Steve Berra, Dylan Rieder, Jason Dill, Mikey Taylor, Josh Kalis, and many more! Their videos were made so cool. I was sad when it went out of business. I wish Rob kept Alien Workshop, would have been dope to have one of the OG’s have ownership of it and have new upcoming skaters skate for Alien. They still have pretty cool graphics but, the company just isn’t the same anymore. R.I.P. Dylan
Rip
Im excited it's back in the right hands after the Burton fiasco, hopefully it goes back to being a really great brand with amazing art direction.
I know absolutely nothing about any skate brands, but I just picked up one of their boards from a Goodwill today for $10. It's pretty beat up, but it's my first board ever and I'm excited to learn!
As an 80s Dayton skater I love this !! Long Live SURF OHIO
Skate ohio!
1306 Wyoming St.
alien workshop was my favorite skateboard and was the brand i owned the most boards of in the 2000's
I really want the Infowars deck
How did I miss this series of gems !?
It´s such a pleasure watching the knowledge, presentation and level of production. Dacapo !!
-Bjorn1977
Damn! Thanks for the kind words! Glad you enjoy the vids! 🙏
The first board I ever owned, bought second hand from a flea market was an alien workshop. The graphic was almost gone and the trucks were pitted, and had huge grind gashes but I had more fun on that board learning how to skate than any other time of my life.
4:45 ayeeee pioneer jr high I live right up the street from that spot! I love skating there. Mindfield was an insane vid
Fantastic series! Thank you for putting these out! Would love to see a 14 things about Zorlac
Glad you enjoy!! Zorlac would be an amazing episode! It's definitely on my list, gotta find someone from there to interview.
@@ShredzShop - if you'd like to email me - geezerskateco@gmail.com - I can put you in touch with some of the Zorlac members.
This was rad to see! Fred Gall was such an influence to me. That was at the time of the Philly Sub Zero days.
Was amazing to see a Cheap Skates clip too!! Was rare for peeps to film their back then. Along with the OG Philly city hall clip!! Best layout ever!!
As for the "aliens".... If they are legit... They made a very good ant farm on this planet!!
Photosynthesis was one of my 1st videos ever along with Maple Black Cat.... Those are some bangers there boys!!
Black cat was soooo good!
My fav rider of all the time is Jake Johnson for sure! His style is unique!
Regarding Alien, it's nice to see the brand back, however, I still having a feeling that I'll see something like back in the days, which makes me not so excited when I see new footages! However, it's a great brand, so relevant to the culture and, personally, I love the link with Dinosaur Jr - love these guys!
Shout out from Brazil!
Alien workshop boards are magical
One of the best companies in skateboarding period
So many Killer sess back in day on my white "Notebook series" Thomas Morgan deck ...luved so much next deck was a yellow notebook slick Duane Pitre deck which totally hated it....( but then discovered "consolidated" decks💙)
Another Killer Informative Video! 👊🔥🤘
Thank you! Stoked you enjoyed!!
Man.. what an awesome episode!! Good fkin job Shredz boys and gals!! Keep it up : ) I love the content 🥵❤️🥰
Thank you!! Stoked you enjoyed!!
Dude pulled out his phone to check a text while rolling
His mom was texting him...
Hell yea been waiting for this one. For as big of a fan that I am of Alien I really don’t know much about their earlier days. The Dill “creeps” deck was my first board. Would kill for that fucking board today.
AWS is one of my fav brands, castrucci is my fav artist within the skateboarding community
We need the Hook-Ups facts man! Fuck demonetization!
It's on our list!!
Wow, I grew up in Xenia. I love the conspiracy part about Alien, and its totally relevant here in the Dayton area, where there have been many reports of top secret projects at the nearby military base. Unacknowledged is a doc that goes into a couple of the things I've heard about locally.
I really wanna do a skate trip out there at some point in my life!
That's why they made the movie gummo about that area
Yep.
I’ve always loved the alien workshop boards! but with my favorite rider for them being Jason Dill, I’m kinda leaning more towards FA, so maybe I just like Dill 😅?
working on a documentary for photosynthesis thanks for everything you do!
Are you really? That’s sick man. I’ll sub to you. I hope you finish the documentary.
@@PhilLayshioh it’s out and on my channel
9:21 that spot was in Budapest - Hungary, they filmed it on a Gravis/Analog trip, AWS is use to be my favorite skate team in the 2000s !
Thats rad!
I just bought a Zoo York and now I want to know more about them. Love the videos man
Curious, where did you find a Zoo York board nowadays?
@@ShredzShop skate warehouse had a flash sale 50% off a few days ago. From what I could find on the internet i think Chapman still makes them in the USA. You can also buy the decks from Chapman’s website.
I'm skating an 8.0 Alien Workshop right now, good shape and great board.
Rad! Nice to know people are still supporting them!
Heath Kirchart was my favourite at the time, but if he wanted to stop then all I could do was be thankful for what he gave us and wave him goodbye.
I'm happy he seems to be enjoying life post skateboarding.
hey guys awesome video, can you guys made a video of hook ups or did you guys did already?
Haven’t done hook ups yet! It’s on our list though!!!
I always thougth the name meant the world is a Alien workshop! Really good video guys👍
Thanks! Hyped you enjoyed!
I remember the Photosynthesis video it was a great video
Alien will always be the coolest board brand.
Agreed
before i liked alien workshop now i love em. didnt know nearly half the stuff about the buying and selling of the company. nice ending though
Stoked you enjoyed!
Yoo G you be learnt ! Mad knowledge .
Hyped you enjoyed!
Just bought the high priest yaje deck! It looks really nice.
🔥🔥
Rob Dyrdek is my favorite skater I still have the Aline Mind Field video today 2021
Always had sick graphics. So much nostalgia.
Agreed! Didn’t realize how much I loved the workshop until I went down the rabbit hole researching this vid.
@@ShredzShop No kidding. Still looking for a sick Alien Workshop hoodie here in Edmonton but no luck. Just some t shirts (which are cool too).
Always loved AWS being from Michigan and skating Ohio a lot. Great info I didn't know much of this. 👽
Stoked! You need to make a pilgrimage to their Alien headquarters! Would be rad spot to visit.
@@ShredzShop I thought the same thing!!
Man I remember back in the days around 08-09 ish , I bought an autographed rob dyrdek alien workshop board at zumiez. I ended up losing it, so I came to the internet to find it.
Stoked you mention Duane Pitre 👍
Legend!
Nice info, i like
Stoked you enjoyed! 👊🏻
Their logo is so dope
Agreed, I feel like I like it even more now than when it came out.
I just ordered my second AW deck loved the 1st one
rad!
Daaang. I didn’t know they were that down with conspiracy shit. That’s sick. I wanna get my mits on that divide and conquer deck.
It's a older board, so will probably be hard to find apart from eBay.
Lennie was insane before he even rode for alien workshop. He was convinced God would save him from any situation. He would do tricks into traffic convinced God would save him.
hah that's wild!!
An info bomb called Levi :D lol
+ the happy ending
maybe a vision episode
we gotta give credit to Zach and Sam, the filmed/editor and the researcher/skate nerd and the owner of the shop. I’m just the goofy personality and cute face
As far as i remember, Mikey Taylor said that he was kickout of the company, he didn’t leave by his own.
Double check at his Nine Club episodie
It's true. Kalis said in an interview years back that in fact Dill and Ave (probably more Dill) were directly responsible for him leaving the team. They kicked him out and then they both ended up leaving themselves shortly after to start FA.
Yea I think Mikey and Berra both got the boot.
ya man ufos are as real as the treez growing in my backyard ...super good to hear alien workshop is back in good hands
👽🖖🏻
the memory screen mention only featured clips from photosynthesis ...
I met Lenny Kirk... nice guy. That's quite a story for a skate company. My family saw a UFO when I was 12, btw.
Dang I had a Keith Haring AW collab deck. Should’ve held on to it
My first board was a alien workshop AVE ready ranger series 2(if I remember correctly) bought it from a buddy in like 2002/2003 iirc and it sold me on alien/habitat boards, up until current deck(decided to try a death board) all I rode was alien workshop. A buddy has that first one that I leant him like 12 years ago and have been planning to make a trip to see him and hopefully bring it home.
That’s rad! 🙏🏻🙌🏻
@@ShredzShop I've kinda become a hoarder when it comes to boards, still have a few old school boards around too. At one point had one of the old Vision Gator boards that my buddy had given me, his uncle had been given it by Mark one day and it had been signed as well... neither of us knew it was signed it till after he gave it to me, I didn't notice till after I had used it a few times skating to work and messing around. I almost cried when I looked up what it was worth, but damn it felt awesome knowing it's history 😁
@@salsashark8876 I’ve got that Ave ready ranger 2 brand new still in plastic
@@PhilLayshioh that's crazy sweet
I needed a new board n got one of their decks recently
(from a local shop)
Awesome on both!! 🔥🙏🙌
My first board ever was a alien workshop at 13. 7 years later and like 5 boards in , in 2021, I got my 2nd alien workshop deck at 20. It’s the Joey Guevara high priests one. That thing is fucking sickkk man it made me gain my love for alien workshop all over again and now it’s my fav board brand again😈 for anyone wondering what my last board was, an enjoi zack wallin dingleballdom 8.0 deck.
Anyone remember the Anthony van England vans AV era 1.5 alien workshop shoe? Classic shoe!!
Alien Workshop changed my life !
I seen a ufo in Long Beach ca on the 710 freeway at night...it was this blue orb in the sky and it moved super fast like in a triangle shape then sped off and disappeared...will never forget that moment...I let everybody know that it’s real!!!
Yeah I’ve see a ufo too in Lakewood right across from Long Beach in the San Gabriel river by Carson st. Pretty much was looking towards the mountains and that’s when I spotted silver saucer doing crazy shit in the air. This was way back in like 2000 or so.
@@tiefighter3445 I absolutely believe it
I seen it too shit is definitely real
I remembered seeing some in San Diego
Comment #6 of asking for 14 Things About Shake Junt. we the people need it
Its on the list!
Skated nothing but AW my first 10 years skating. Took a long break and when I came back they were defunct and not making decks. So I switched to Girl and Plan B. Now I'm back into skating again at 32 years old and AW are alive again, have my first AW deck in like 15 years on its way!
Why did you have to check your phone mid way through this segment? Lol, just playin love this show and all you friendly Canadians.
His mom was calling him...
@@ShredzShop fair enough. Lol.
AWS4LIFE … I brought Alien to our shop in Miami upon Workshop launching and still riding AWS/Habitat today. The Team, graphics, legacy… keep it 🔥
Thanks for compiling the archives! 🤙🏽
Glad you enjoyed! thanks for sharing your story! Nice to know there's still die hards out there!
Awesome video. You guys should do FA/Hockey next
It’d on our list but probably be a ways out! It’ll be a banger tho!
@@ShredzShop i’m sure it will be, looking forward to it. Keep up the awesome videos. much love🙏🏽
My fav team rider from back then is Brian Wenning, my new fav is yaje popson, Heath retired way too early, and yes something is out there
Damn, I love Yaje, definitely my fav of the current dudes as well. Been a fan since his Rich Mohagany part, check it out if you have not!
Holy crap, totally forgot about this brand. Can't believe they are still around.
My first board was a Alien Workshop with Venture trucks and AW wheels.
@Shredzshop What band is that @2:46?
Allen workshop still my favorite company! Have a couple techbdeck versions of real boards I’ve skated. I remember before Josh kalis left
I still own a Heath Kirchart deck from 2009-2010. Hope to get it autographed by the Man himself one day
Gall Photo Synthesis Oconner but I wore that VHS tape out loved that tape. I dont know about aliens but Bigfoot Hell Yeah. We had rocks thrown at us camping in Colorado. Maybe 14 things Zooyork Keep Killing It.
Wow so many highs and lows in this one
What happened with „Seek- skateboards“ ? Who remember this company ?
It didn't last, I think money was tight and they has to ditch a company, so SEEK got cut and most of the team when back to Alien or Habitat.
I was about to ask about seek but decided to scroll through to see if anyone else asked about it. I had a flo marfang pro model. I wonder whatever happened to him after seek collapsed. How did that company even come about?
Pappalardo, that style!
Great history. Very great short doc. Yes I've had ET contact twice. The fist contact was the very night i realized they were actually up there. The second time was much less contact but i woke up in the exact same position. I very rarely tell this story because ya get labeled a crazy person for saying shit like this but yall asked so yes they are here and up there. They know everything they see all. The moment i realized they were up there they knew my thoughts. God bless yall and keep skating. Dam I'm fat i haven't been on the board for years. Getting old sux! Lol.
Damn! I love hearing people's alien stories!!
Remember watching photosynthesis in a my local skateshop in stirling, Scotland at like 15 and thinking, damn I better get a real job
What why? I don't get that reaction
@@jimmyberry4451 realised the dream was over and id never be pro as it was just an insane level lol
Wait -- you're not THE Gary Mckinnon, commenting on an Alien Workshop vid, right? jks
P.S. Also far Scotland. Fifeeeee!
@@TheGonzogibby if you are referring to the hacker no 😂😂 i get that all most every time I comment on something on TH-cam
@@MCKINJO haha yea, thought not -- was just the Alien connection here I thought was funny. Hope you're still skating man.
I've dusted off my setup and am ready to get out again when this cold AF wind passes (40 here, so need warm joints at least). peas!
Who's your all time favorite member of the Workshop?! What is the best Alien video & video part?! LAST BUT NOT LEAST: Do you believe in Aliens?!
Mind field
Dylan Rieder for sure has one of the best styles. As for the best Alien video, Mind Filed is just so nostalgic and takes me back. Best part I really like how Mike Hayes’ laser flips syncs with lasers that’s pretty cool. Dylan’s fakie 360 flip over the huge 5 stair is clean. But Mikey Taylor’s is one my favorites. He had some nice rails in his Mind Field part.
Josh Kalis. Everyone on that team was special but Kalis is an icon.
Great video guys. Good job all around. I hear from friends you guys call some of these pros to get the info from the horses mouth. Keep up the good work and keep this cold ass Canadian air out of my country.
For me its Heath kirchart 🙌 . I believe 👽🛸
I had a Black & White
Dyrdek NEW DEAL deck somewhere in
The 90s.
Epic!
"Sir Dyrdek Knight of
The NEW DEAL" sumthin like that, yea😎🤙
We all love you Levi.
Ill let him know 🙏
Should do a hookups video
so good guys
Stoked you enjoyed!!