Brian Bell’s late ’90s video “My Daily Routine” is a certified classic. It’s the perfect place to kick off a column about blade treasures from the past. “My Daily Routine” looks exactly like what it is, a bunch of friends going out and fucking around with a video camera. It makes skating look like a lot of fun and doesn’t take itself too seriously. It is full of shots filmed with poorly-sized fisheye lenses, lines on small ledges and benches, 360s off of curbs, graffiti, break dancing, booty shakin, boozing, fights, enough mushroom blading to make those guys from Vancouver proud, homemade bombs, and plenty of other shit to make your mom upset that she bought it for you. All of that B-roll helped keep the video interesting and added to the flow of it. It was always a favorite of my friends that didn’t blade…
It can also be said that “MDR” did a lot to change the musical landscape of skate videos at the time and the style of bladers themselves. Some of the people you see skating these days in outfits that make them look like the commander of the Salvation Army were probably rocking baggy pants and writing their wack tags all over skate spots in their suburban neighborhoods back in the day because they saw this video. This is also one of the first — if not the first — video to feature sections of future icons Josh Petty and Louie Zamora.
Quality filming and editing and style and progression of tricks is great, and I am all for it, but something seems to have been lost in the transition from the days of Medium to Mindgame to now. A lot of what made this video great is missing in the DVDs coming out today. A lot of edits and videos try to make skating look epic and serious. People enjoy watching clips of big gaps and drop rails, but I think our culture could benefit if there was more of a focus on lines, creativity, and having fun.
During a conversation the other day with two friends who recently started skating again, they both said they felt that the new generation of kids doesn’t have as much fun skating as we did. They noted that most of the kids we were skating with didn’t talk and joke between tricks. Instead, they stood around with headphones on in their own world with a serious look on their face, focused on the rail. This observation made me realize that I’m getting a little tired of hearing people describe their skating as an art form. Get over yourself. Sure, skating can be artistic, but all you are really doing is going out and having fun with your friends.
Though you may not agree with my opinions, check out this video and think about it the next time you go out and shred. R.I.P. Kevin Karis.
— Ben Rogers (@Deecizzy)
Very Sick. Well done, I want more old school videos!
Sorry everyone, the 2nd video is messed up. It starts working correctly at the 6:39 mark. Scroll up to there and enjoy. You don’t miss any tricks. Hope to have this fixed tomorrow. Peace.
How appropriate. Just saw B-Bell at the OB old-man session and started reminiscing about how it must have been to be in San Diego during the mid-late 90s. All the spots would have been uncapped. Loads of people to skate with all the time.
Good times back then and rollerblading was so much bigger too. I agree with your statement Ben but we can’t judge those were much different times people were generally more social than they are now. I still think kids have fun skating its just not like it was in the 90s.
Well said. I get that sense too! Every time that I have been going out I’ve been trying to have more and more fun and just goof around like the good ‘ole days. I remembering watching this video so many times when it first came out and then going to blade around my town.
Thanks for posting!
Awesome!
R.I.P. Kevin Karis!
Wow. I was just watching some MDR footage last week.
I still see some MDR tags out there but not sure if is the same. Maybe someone can clarify this for me. Isn’t “My Daily Routine”, “My Daily Ritual”, and “Making Dreams Reality” all the same MDR?
I remember my friend, who got me started Roller Blading showed me Street Dwellers and Street Dwellers 2, saying these we’re different variations of MDR.
this is my back in the day video probably my first skate video and to top that off i still have this video . i can agree this is what most if not all new skate videos are missing the fun factor . for some reason people know we are same when compared to the skateboarding community but we are loyal and we may fear not being recognized for what you take pride and passion in so in result we do skate as if we are determined to stick our trick and keep them looking fresh case we know what’s going on around us . well with that said we aren’t going anywhere but up so relax people and enjoying skating .I skate in virginia beach . you know where Vinney minton and Brian Allen( former B. unique roller) are from i live in a seen that is falling apart due to lack of intreats . did you know we have parks here it’s almost like every year we get some random new indoor park or thaw city builds a cool park . any how besides that what little we have left in bladders we are strong but it’s small. we have borders here who have never roller skated then alone rollerbladed . it’s kinda sad but i’m sure if they had seen our videos back in the day that might change . any how thanks for taking it back in the day .
On Saturday I asked B Bell what year this came out and he wasn’t sure. He said whatever it said on the video or in the video was right. The sticker on the actual VHS says © 1997 T-Bone Films.
@Steve Was Brian Bell skating? Someone told me years ago that he can’t skate anymore and gets weekly Cartilage injections in his wrists because he broke them so many times. Just curious.
@Earl Do you post on the rolldc.com messageboard? (www.rolldc.com/board) There are still plenty of people that skate in the Norfolk/VA Beach area that post all the time. There might be less people that skate now, but as far as I can tell everyone in that area still loves to skate and cares about rollerblading deeply. A big group of skaters from southern VA made the trek to Detroit for BCSD. I think that is proof of the scene still being healthy in the 757.
@Royal and Alan The order of Brian Bell’s videos was My Daily Routine, Making Dreams Reality, Wanted, and Street Dwellers 1 and 2.
Thank you to everyone for all of the positive responses. I will try my best to keep this fresh every week. Check out Brian Bell’s website! http://www.bbellproductions.com/
If anyone still got Street Dwellaz 2, could you post the sound track list ? I’ve been trying to remember a specifiq song and I just cant remember ..
