Conversation with Baghead Crew

Today we are having a conversation with Forde Brookfield, the man behind Baghead Crew. In this interview you can find out about the origin of Baghead, SkateboardGB, SATAN video and what it's like working with the world’s most awesome Skaters.

 

Can you kindly introduce yourself and the Crew for us please?

My name is Forde Brookfield and the Baghead Crew is an ever-evolving group of very talented Skateboarders whom I admire deeply.

 

Where did the name ‘Baghead’ come from? And what's the story behind it?

Sometime around 2010, myself and a few of my friends from Leicester were Skating a pole jam in between two buildings down an alleyway. As we were Skating, two guys approached us and asked to have a Skate on our boards. One of the guys stepped on one of the boards and was trying to Skate, to which his friend replied “You can’t Skate, you’re just a Baghead!”. That’s where the name derived from and it stuck after that. We wrote it on our grip tape, made stickers and a run of Skate T Shirts just for the guys who were Skating at the time. 

 

So how did the idea of BAGHEAD Crew form? Can you tell us a bit about where the idea came from?

Well, at first we adapted the name simply from “Baghead” to “Baghead Skateboards”, but not long after that it changed simply to Baghead Crew. We added the “crew” at the end when we released our first full length in 2014. A lot of people we were filming at the time were being hooked up by various people, so putting “Skateboards” at the end of the name just didn’t make sense. We wanted to keep it more of a crew vibe rather than a company vibe. That’s not to say that if we release boards in the future that we’d change into a hardware company because we wouldn’t. I just like bringing out various products and giving them to the people I look up to.

 

Recently you have collabed with SkateboardGB. How was that and working with Jake Powell?

Jake Powell is a great videographer, so working with him was a dream come true. I actually met him around a year ago and cracked the joke “we should make a show, or a series about something…”. I remember that we hadn’t spoken about specifically filming any documentary series of the Baghead Crew, but it happened to end up being just that. I was getting more along the lines of helping Jake document Skateboarding but when he approached me about tailoring it to filming behind the scenes for our upcoming video, it was obvious that we were going to jump at the opportunity. Jake and SkateboardGB continue to push Skateboarding forward. I can’t thank them enough.

 

 

You've had quite a bit of coverage over your group recently. What have been some of the most unexpected happenings from it?

I think (so far) the greatest thing to come from the coverage is the amount of people that mention quotes we’ve made. For example, when our friend Shaun says “Can I snack now? Or snack later?” And I reply “Snack in the car”,  we’ve had a few people mention that exact quote to us. It’s absolutely mind boggling. It makes you realise just how much reach coverage has. As long as it impacts people in a positive sense and makes them want to Skate, film their friends and make a video, then it’s performing exactly as it should.

 

What's the most rewarding thing about being part of the group?

Aside from great Skateboarding, the most rewarding thing is the great friendship that comes from it. It gives you friends for life. I can talk to a lot of the crew about numerous issues in life, no matter how big or small, and they’re always there for me. Just as I am for them and always will be. They’re a great group of people and it’s a blessing to have that bond with so many of them.

 

Have you guys travelled to other places with the crew, if so where's been your favourite place?

We’ve been travelling a lot up north, specifically Hartlepool and Middlesbrough to see Andy Pike, Matt Burns, Connor Stockton and all those dudes. I absolutely love it up there. Every time I visit, there’s something new being built or a spot that we’ve not Skated. Plus, it’s by the sea and it’s immediately calming. I love it.

 

How did you come up with the name “Satan” for your video?

I was listening to a Daniel Johnston record I’d bought earlier in the day. One evening whilst looking at some new footage with Myles Rushforth and at the end of “Don’t Play Cards with Satan”, you hear Daniel Johnston shout “SATAN, SATAN, SATAN!” to which me and Myles just laughed and jokingly said “We should name the next video “Satan”” and it kind of stuck.

 

You’re currently based up in Sheffield, how is the Skate scene up there?

The scene in Sheffield is mega, although I’m back in the midlands now, but I visit frequently. There’s too many shredders in Sheffield to name, but obviously, some to look out for are Rasheed, Dead Dave, Hassan, Max Weir, Moggins, Timmy Garbett, Ronny Calow, the list goes on and on. Follow them all, they’re rad. Big up Martin Kennelly & Louis Slater at Slugger also.

 

How has the scene grown, and when did you start to notice a change?

Overall, scenes have grown rapidly with the help of social media. Despite all the social media flaws, you can’t be angry at seeing scenes flourish. 

 

What or who have been your inspirations in Skateboarding?

I always admired U.K. companies and overall weirdos. Heroin Skateboards & Death Skateboards always stood out and still do to this day. I credit them for making me want to get up and find some weirdos of my own. Thanks Zorlac & Fos!

 

What and who have been your inspirations in filming?

Filming gets tedious at times, but seeing the dudes dedication keeps my fire lit. My inspiration comes from the guys themselves. If you’re filming Myles, you know you’re going to film something technically brilliant, if you’re filming Dead Dave, you can guarantee you’re going to a spot deep out in the peaks, or surrounded by water, if you’re filming Rasheed, you know you’re going to be filming something utterly insane. Everyone in the video has a different sense of spots and exactly what they want to do on it, so it’s never the same. Each person you film has their certain spots which reflects their overall style. Since we go out in a crew, everyone’s spot ideas all merge together. You can take Myles and Rasheed to a random ditch that Dead Dave has found and just watch them all tear it apart. It’s a delight to see, and that’s what keeps me inspired.

I often say my dream sessions are when Myles and Seb are together, because they’re both outrageously gifted on a Skateboard and can Skate the same spots with a completely different approach. I love those sessions. Sessions with the crew, be it in a big crew or one on one are always productive. I thrive from that.

 

 

You’ve gradually been assembling a crew of some of the world’s most awesome Skaters. How do you come across most of them or get in touch with them?

I just message them on Instagram telling them that I’m a fan. It’s as simple as that. I’m a fan of them all and at one point I guarantee you I would’ve messaged them, or randomly met them and fanned out. I’ve got no shame in that. If you like the way someone Skates and they like the way you film and present the crew then it’s a match made in heaven. It’s good working with new people. 

 

We've been a big fan of Rasheed Osman ever since the Fastlands jam. How did you come across him? We’ve seen him popping off everywhere at the moment.

I met him at a Skate event in Derby. He was super quiet and I was super loud which probably threw him off originally. I didn’t see him for a while after that as he was in Sheffield and I was in Leicester filming the second Baghead video. I’d ran into him a few times, but when I eventually moved to Sheffield in 2019, I knew immediately that I wanted to film more with Rasheed and Dead Dave. They’re both rad.

I’m a huge fan of Rasheed and have been for many years and I continue to be. I’ve literally just came off a session with him around an hour ago before writing this answer. He’s a machine. Big up Rasheed.

 

 

Let's talk about Chris Pulman. He's awesome. How’s it been filming him?

Chris is a positive force. An exceptional human being with a heart of gold. Fos initially set up filming with Chris. I believe he’d been on hiatus for some time and wanted to go Skate. At the time, we were filming a lot of Dead Dave parts for Heroin & our video “Funeral”. Fos told me to contact Chris (as he probably told Chris the same thing) and we went from there. I called Pulman over instagram and a week later, he drove up to Sheffield for a Skate. I was blown away. I’ve been a fan of Chris since I first got into Skating, so filming with him as you could imagine was out of this world. Having Chris on a session with us just felt out of this world. Myles rode for Chris’ company Decent a few years back, so they already had a great connection. 

 

 

Who can we expect to see full parts from in Satan?

There’s a lot of people in the Satan video. Rasheed, Myles, Dead Dave, Sebastien Batty, Will Sayer, Mike Simons, Andy Pike, Mani Haddon all have a great load of footage. Then you’ve got Chris Atherton & Chris Pulman who have come along for the ride but haven’t had the chance to be on as many sessions as the rest of us which is understandable, we all have lives to navigate - but they’re in the video and they have a lot of footage. 

Everyone has guest tricks from friends in their parts. With the crew being so big, you have to negotiate who has the most footage for parts, who has guest tricks, who’s in friends sections etc. it’s great to have guest clips in parts when tricks have gone down at the same spots. It makes it flow together nicely and really makes you realise that it’s quite simply a crew, and we’re all there together on these sessions.

 

 

Are you excited about the premiere ? I feel like it would be a huge task to pull off. Have you done others in the past? 

I’m excited and nervous. Those feelings never change. The biggest task is trying to figure out when you’ve got enough footage for a video, and once that’s out of the way, you set a date. I usually set a date for a premiere a few months into the future so it still gives everyone plenty of time to get the final bits they need and allows whoever needs it to catch up.

Once you’ve got a venue, everything else falls into place. I think we may have a band or two play the premiere night before the video. It’s premiering at Rollersnakes on Saturday, February 4th, 2023. They have a huge Skate space, so it works out well that everyone can arrive, Skate, meet their friends, watch a live band and end the night by watching the video. 

 

What new tricks are you working on right now?

Rasheed has been battling a few final bangers. Same with Will Sayer and some of the Hartlepool guys. Nothing too specific - a lot of ideas in different cities so we have to work around schedules. Everyone works and has stuff they need to do aside from Skateboarding. Aside from getting the final bits, I also have to continue editing, finalising DVD covers, venues and whatever else comes with it. As stressful as it can be, it’s fun and I enjoy it.

 

If you had any advice for beginners getting into Skateboarding what would it be?

Just start Skateboarding. Skate anywhere, Skate with everyone. Invite everyone to Skate no matter who they are. You’ll make friends for life. 

Also, buy a video camera and document it all.

What’s next, this year and in the future?

This year is simply to finish editing, get DVD’s pressed, release the video and immediately start working on the next one. 

 

Anyone you want to give a shoutout to?

 

An immense thank you everyone in the video and for sticking it out with us. Thank you to everyone who buys our t-shirts and DVD’s. Thank you to any shops in the past who’ve stocked our DVD’s and help promote what we do. Thank you Jake & everyone else SkateboardGB for believing in us and documenting what all my friends get up to - they’re great Skateboarders and humans. They deserve as much recognition as possible.

Thank you Samantha Bache for allowing us to do this interview and for pushing Skateboarding as much as you do.

 

 

 

We also got to speak with Rasheed Osman, one of the skaters on the ‘SATAN’ video.

 

Can you kindly introduce yourself?

My name’s Rasheed. I’m from Shrewsbury, Shropshire and currently living in Sheffield.

How did you first come across Skateboarding?

 

It was through a childhood friend. He lived across the road from me and had a board, he could do a couple of tricks. That was the first time I’d ever seen or tried Skateboarding in real life.

What’s your highlights of Skateboarding? 

All the wonderful people I’ve met and places I’ve been through Skateboarding. Filming videos, shooting photos and going on skate trips. I’ve also been lucky enough to meet some legends in real life at demos and stuff, which I’ll never forget.

You are a part of the satan video right?

That’s right.

How and what is it like working with Forde?

Working with Forde is always a good time. He’s one of the most driven and dedicated filmers I’ve ever met and a great friend.

How did you guys meet?

It was at the Rollersnakes jam in 2017, at the outdoor Skatepark in Derby. The contest got rained off, so everyone moved to Snakes to skate the indoor mini. Forde and his friends were kind enough to give me a lift and it ended up being a really good session. He moved to Sheffield a couple of years later which is where we got to know each other properly.

Are you excited for the premiere? Will you be going?

I’m a bit nervous, but I’m looking forward to it.

Yep, I’ll see you there!

 

 

Baghead Crew are coming out with a full length Skate video “SATAN” it will be premiering February 4th at Rollersnakes.