Jimmy Astleford: "my house has more puss than yours"

Thrasher Magazine, Sept, 2004 by Nick Scurich

What's up, Tangy? What's the Jimbonics word of the week?

Blowouts! Because I've been eating shitty lately and having mega blowouts.

How's life in San Marcos?

It sucks here in shitty San Marcos. I'm banned from my favorite bar, so I'm stuck going to high school parties, which I thought I was too old for like four years ago.

I thought you were going to stay 16-years-old for life, so you could ride for the company forever?

I'm still down for all those guys, like the team manager Rodney; we chilled the other night. But everyone has gone their separate ways.

Weren't you really 17 when you were on the company?

No. I think they booted me when I turned 17, because I broke my knee right around there. I was fucked for a while.

So you were out of the scene?

Yeah, I was out of the scene for like a year-and-a-half

What did you do during that time?

Basically sat around, had sex, got a tan at the beach, and rehabilitated myself.

How is it different riding for World now, rather than Sixteen?

It's a lot more serious. Back then I would just go out and skate, not really think about anything. Now I travel a lot more, and I think about what I do. I like World now because everyone gets along. Now that the team had some changes it is much better for the travel scene. We are all pretty close, it's like a family or something.

When did you officially turn Canadian and become a Red Dragon?

I'm 100-percent American! I got hooked up pretty much through Colin McKay, then this guy Sid called me and asked me to be on Red Dragons. Colin also hooked me up with DC flow. Then we went on the Tough Guy tour.

Is that the tour where you got socked up?

Yeah. Ryan Smith was insane, throwing blows at my face. My black eye looked like Evander Holyfield's after bad fight. It was crazy, though; parties on houseboats and shit.

Didn't Hastie punch you out, too?

Dude, Hastie said he did in his interview but he didn't. On the way back from Vans one day we got into a scuffle and I threw his hat out the window; I also threw Colin's out the window. It wasn't anything, really.

Why do you have a receding hair line?

Why? Because I've had a girlfriend for the last five years. Why do you think?

Would you rather do the loop or get another root canal?

The loop, definitely.

Why does everyone refer to you as Doughboy?

Because I'm fat now. It's been a lot of partying.

What is a day in Tangy's life like?

Everyday is the same: I wake up and go to Smith's house. Then he and I and my boy J-bone go to either the DC or Zero park. It's pretty chill.

Are you down with the Skate Mafia?

Fuck yeah I'm down with The Mafia. I would get Merked if I wasn't, living in SD and shit.

Which Piss Drunk are you most like?

Fuckin' Trainwreck, who do you think?

Who's your favorite Wu-Tang Clan member?

RZA--gold fronts and phat beats, yo!

That's Tangy's flave?

That is just the way of the Tangster.

What's the deal with all the animals in your house?

We got two birds, a turtle, four cats, and probably about 5,000 fleas that come along with each of them. They all rip, but Murphy is the best. My house has more puss than yours!

Whose names are on those paychecks nowadays?

There aren't too many, but the names of the sponsors are World, Mada clothing, DC, and RDS.

What's it like living on an am's salary?

What it's like is being a bear with no fur coat--it sucks! But, it's better than having a real job like some of my friends, selling roofing and shit.

Tell me your best Slash story.

One time we were at Bobier's party and the place was going off; there were tons of chicks. Then this old guy was in there being a dick, so Slash went up and started talking shit to him. The guy charged at Slash and broke a bottle over Slash's head. Then the whole party beat the hell out of the guy. I guess it was some old neighbor guy who was bitter.

Words to live by?

Tommy Guns die trying, baby!