What inspired you as a teenager? 

The first time reading Roll The Dice by Bukowski was it for me. Mark Whiteley published it in ‘The Reason Why’ back when Slap was still a printed magazine, and I’ll never forget it. 

Citing Bukowski as my inspiration, cliche? Sure, who cares, now in my thirties, I may want to omit the parts about losing wives and jobs, but as a kid from the suburbs reading it for the first time and being introduced to Bukowski through skateboarding made my head explode. 

I have sent it to friends as inspiration and think of it whenever my motivation is lacking. 

Something about it will always stick with me no matter how old I get.  

Teenagers are the ones responsible for major changes in society. 

Best to never forget those feelings that inspired us.  

Roll The Dice - Charles Bukowski

if you're going to try, go all the

way.

otherwise, don't even start.

if you're going to try, go all the

way.

this could mean losing girlfriends,

wives, relatives, jobs and

maybe your mind.

go all the way.

it could mean not eating for 3 or 4 days.

it could mean freezing on a

park bench.

it could mean jail,

it could mean derision,

mockery,

isolation.

isolation is the gift,

all the others are a test of your

endurance, of

how much you really want to

do it.

and you'll do it

despite rejection and the worst odds

and it will be better than

anything else

you can imagine.

if you're going to try,

go all the way.

there is no other feeling like

that.

you will be alone with the gods

and the nights will flame with

fire.

do it, do it, do it.

do it.

all the way

all the way.

you will ride life straight to

perfect laughter, its

the only good fight

there is.