Ben Gilley: "I Just Skate, Eat Burgers, and That's it." - Heads - skateboarder - Brief Article - Interview

Thrasher Magazine, Jan, 2002 by Michael Burnett

Are you any relation to the famous country singer?

Mickey Gilley? No. Although I get that quite a bit.

How did you become known as "The Barbarian?"

I went skating with Jamie Thomas, Mumford, and Ellington, and I asked if I could skate the rail with them. This was a couple years ago. And they called me "The Barbarian" because I would just charge it and die and get back up and try it again.

Were you looking to make an impression?

Nah. I'd skated with Jamie before. I wasn't trying to impress them, it's just when you skate with those guys like that you get motivated.

I've heard you have a high pain threshold, like you don't know when to stop.

Yeah. I have a problem with that 'cause then I can't skate for a week after that. Sometimes I end up making it, sometimes I just get killed.

How does a straightedge kid eat nothing but cheeseburgers?

Straightedge? How do you get straightedge?

Don't you got the edge?

Everybody always thinks straightedge. I don't drink and I don't smoke, but I don't call myself straightedge at all. I just skate, eat burgers, and that's it. I don't really draw Xs on my hand and claim straightedge.

What's your record for the most burgers in a day?

Not burgers, but once I went to this pizza restaurant where I ate 26 pizzas in one day--in one sitting. They had to drag me out of there to get me to stop eating.

Who was the worst teacher you ever had?

I went to high school in Columbus, Mississippi. My English teacher was the worst teacher I ever had. She called me stupid so I got up and left and never went back. We got in an argument and she called me stupid to piss me off and I got sent to the principal. They tried to give me ISS but I didn't think I did anything wrong. I didn't think a teacher should call a student stupid so I refused to go to ISS. They tried to suspend me but I said "Don't worry about it," and I dropped out.

I know it's popular in California, but do kids still get beat up for skateboarding in the South?

They do in the South, for sure. We had a real big problem where we would be skating at a mall after it closed and people would come by and throw stuff at us and call us skater fag. We used to build little ramps in the parking lot of a closed-down mall and the next morning you'd find all the ramps crushed with monster truck tire marks all over them. They'd have a field day with your ramps. It was pretty tough skating in Mississippi and Alabama.

Will the South rise again?

It never fell. The South has some really good skaters, but as far as the Rebel flag, I hope not.

What's the worst tattoo you've ever seen?

I've seen lots. I heard the Mule has a briefcase tattooed on him. I've never seen it though.

Is there any skater whose style you've tried to follow?

When I grew up skating I lived on an Airforce base in Mississippi and most of the other kids I skated with got kicked off for drugs, so I pretty much skated by myself for a couple years. We didn't have a skate shop and I didn't know how to order videos, so I didn't see too many people to copy.

What's been the toughest time you've had on the road to skate stardom?

Skate stardom? Oh man. Dealing with people that make fun of my skating. Not here, not since I moved to California, but when I first moved to Alabama there were people there that heckled me because of my sketchy style. Like I'd land all crazy with my feet hanging off the board, but I didn't care.

What's a good meal for a skater on a budget?

Go to a hotel for the free morning breakfast. That's free so you don't have to pay anything.

Do you own your own towels?

No.

What's the best way to dry off when you've got no towel?

Roll in the grass? Where's this question coming from?

I'm just trying to get to the state of devout poverty that many am skaters live in.

I'm definitely one of 'em.

I'd dry off with my dirty shirt when I didn't have a towel.

I can't do that. I sweat about as bad as Gershon Mosley.

What will you do if you don't turn pro?

Keep skating. Get a job at a pizza restaurant.

Would you rather go to war in Afghanistan or ollie the Leap of Faith?

Ollie the Leap of Faith.

What would you do if you got drafted?

I guess go kill Osama Bin Laden.