"I got a phone call a couple weeks ago asking what my thoughts were on a street jam in Newcastle DEDICATED to the/ our NSF movement. Initially i was flattered that someone would want to do that. A dedication to over 10 years of solid commitment and hard work from a small group of lads from Sunderland, Durham, South Shields and Sheffield. As long as it was done right, Id personally have no quarrels with it. Then the flyer came out, which caused some controversy:
'NSF Revival Jam'
a 10 minute photoshop effort of Robs NSF tag pasted over a snapshot of the millennium bridge? designed by someone none of us had ever met. All of our commitment over the years was worth more than that surely? Looked like what had started out as a subtle dedication to the name had been hi jacked and turned into a REVIVAL of some sort? which no one wanted or had asked for. The idea of a revival makes me think of the re introduction of 60’s style space hoppers in the early 90’s or when the Mini Cooper came into production again with a big union jack on the roof. Embarrassing shit like that. Some things need to be left back in the era they belong
The design of the flyer, in my opinion, goes against so much of what we stood for. There was always a collective control in quality of what we put out. Videos, t shirts, premier posters, music used in the videos we made, the riders and crews that we looked up to. We were all pretty much on the same page as far creative output and interest went. A great deal of passion and thought went into everything we did. I don’t think we ever collectively put anything out that i can look back and be embarrassed about
"Seems a shame not to have the name backing the jam, NSF is not somthing that should be ‘owned’ by anybody, it grew from being somthing small and personal to a massive following, and for the fact after all these years so many people were happy as fuck seeing NSF making a return to the scene. The people responsible should let petty things like rights or ownership go and let it do what it does best and rip up the streets of the town. Fuck names fuck differences and just session on”
Yes we did start as something small and personal. About 12 years down the line and to me, it is still something small, personal and very dear to my heart. The following and respect grew over those years, but that doesn’t suggest that it became a big free for all, where anybody could adopt the name and say they were part of it. We created and earned that badge, through 10 years of solid passion and commitment for what WE had created. The 10 or more people who have it etched permanently into their skin via the medium of ink or scars are testament to that.
The Northeast Street Foundation definitely isn’t a product that can be bought or owned. You can’t buy or own friendship. I don’t own the nsf, although i would like to think that after dedicating over 10 years of my life to it id get some say into how it is portrayed in 2014. After all it was the collective combination of like minded people, good creative ideas and friendship that got us the following and respect that we did over the years. We did not let it fall into the wrong hands or be portrayed in a way that we weren’t happy with. If we had let it slip, we wouldn’t have had the following or respect we had at the time. It most definItely wouldn’t be what it is today if we had
Dedicating a street jam to what we created back then is a nice thing to do, everyone loves a street jam. All it had to be was something along the lines of:
"Northeast Street Jam" (a dedication to the nsf)
everyone’s happy
An nsf dedication is one thing. An un authorized revival, along with a re issue of t shirts is something completely different.
I feel like something very close to my heart that provided some of the best years of my life has been kind of manipulated into a thoughtless crappy version for 2014. similar to the re issue of space hopper’s mentioned earlier. Best left the way they were
If you feel the need to have a dedication for something, at least think about what your doing, who your doing it for, and what they would be happy with. Otherwise don’t bother. If for some mad reason you feel the need to revive something that you had nothing to with, without consulting everyone involved. Then common sense should tell you that it most definitely won’t go smoothly
Think up a name, start your own crew, put on your own street jam, put out your own videos, make your own t shirts and zines. Build your own scene. It will provide levels of un matched satisfaction and reward you and your friends with some of the best memories. Do it yourself, don’t rely on a revival of something created over 10 years ago
photo by Sam Ashley
(Chris Souter, James Newrick, Matt Wakefield, Olly Olsen, Rob Hate, Tom O’boyle, Joe Cox seeking shelter from the rain/ Livingston Scotland circa ages ago)"
As seen on Nezza's Tumblr
I'll still be at the Jam but the planning has gone a little haywire and there's miscommunication in abundance!
Sometimes the kids know not what they do.
But were we any different?
I'm sure I've upset a bunch of people along the way, and still do. I'd like to think that I treaded carefully over the years with those who I had the most respect for, but I dare say there are those who see it differently.
The lesson is to be careful and respectful with that which is not yours.
Oh yeah and always ask permission before you reissue a shirt (duh)!
Much love
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