Big world

Thrasher Magazine, Feb, 2003 by Patrick O'Dell

DUDE, THE PACKAGE IS THE MOST EPIC DUDE EVER. I know I've said that about other people in the past, but this time I mean it. I wrote those very words about Dave Duncan in my last article, but I don't think Dave would mind be de-throned by Package. Did you ever hear about the three-way call between Package, Duncan, and Hosoi while Hosoi was in the slammer? Whatever. I use Package as a friendship test. Whenever I meet a skater, I'm like "Have you ever heard of the Package?" If they have, we're usually bros. If not, they're later'd. I first started hearing about Sid "The Package" Abruzzi from Sloppy Sam when he lived in the laundry room of the Howard House in SE Sam would always tell these wicked gnarly stories about this 50-year-old skater who Sam described as a father figure in the Rhode Island scene--the guy that brought skateboarding to New England, or at least made it what it is today.

The day I first met the Package, me and Sloppy went to his house--or rather Ruthie's house, his 90-year-old mom. She was really nice. She made sure everybody was fed and happy. I hung out with her and she told me some great stories. Later Sid started getting too wasted and started flipping out. Trying to smash everything down in the pit. I felt bad for Ruthie. Usually when your kids get over 18, the mothering ends. Sid is known for his generosity, and before I left had a stack of classic patches and stickers, a Big World 7", and my head filled with the stories of a man who has truly lived.

Sid's band is called Big World. The show they played recently was the first show in 20 years. Who else is in the band? Chris Mess, Shaun Devlin, Victor World, Iggy... I don't know, there's a bunch of wipeouts in the band. Big World, in its hey-day, played with such pile icons as Iggy... Pop and Johnny Thunders. My memories of the show are sketchy at best so here's a recap my friend Logan offered:

11 :00pm--Package and the band are primed. The place is packed. TFL are such a huge element at this show. Big World belts out all the anthems. Hoisington's head is broken by his sunglasses and the lads get showered by his bloody mess. Fuckin' rock and roll. Jesus Christ it was a heavy show. Package is an absolute legend.

12:00pm--Holy shite...people are going mental. Fred Smith epic stage dives. TFL front row. Heavy metal smoke fills the stage and the boys smash out "Paint it Black" by The Stones. Heavy! It's spine chilling.

It all ends and bodies are everywhere. So many heads are bloody. Some older birds are scrappin' over The Package's dick. No shit! One broke down and started crying 'cause he wouldn't take her home. I heard him tell her she had to carry his instruments up the road. Fucking great! The bird was a Medusa anyway. Package lives.