It’s not an understatement to say Bam Margera is a cultural icon. Professional skateboarder. Jackass and Viv La Bam star. Merch magnate. His innate penchant for filming each side of his life paid dividends early on. Earlier than MTV, actuality tv, and Jackass, Bam constructed his status by means of home made skate movies, prank footage, and a tight-knit West Chester, Pennsylvania crew that grew to become generally known as CKY, brief for “Camp Kill Your self.” The movies blended aggressive road skating, absurd stunts, destruction, music, and the sort of chaotic humor that later contributed to the blueprint for Jackass.
The unique CKY circle included Bam, his older brother Jess Margera, and longtime pals like Brandon DiCamillo, Ryan Dunn, Rake Yohn, Chris Raab, and Brandon Novak. Bam began skating critically as a child within the late Eighties and early Nineties, and early CKY tapes circulated bodily by means of skate retailers, copied VHS tapes, phrase of mouth, and underground skate tradition. Bam rapidly understood that character and storytelling may matter as a lot as technical skating. Whereas many skate movies on the time centered strictly on methods, CKY combined skating with buying cart crashes, fireworks, public pranks, faux kidnappings, and fixed torment of his mother and father Phil and April.
That mixture made the tapes unfold past Pennsylvania. Skate retailers throughout the East Coast began stocking and duplicating them as a result of youngsters stored asking for them. The CKY movies grew to become cult staples in skateboarding circles earlier than mainstream media had any concept who Bam was.
On the identical time, Bam was turning into a official skilled skateboarder. His early sponsorships included native skate retailers and regional assist earlier than bigger manufacturers took discover. He finally rode for Toy Machine early in his profession earlier than gaining wider visibility by means of Factor, which grew to become carefully tied to his rise. Bam’s mixture of technical road skating, charisma, and rising video recognition made him commercially worthwhile in a approach few skaters had been on the time.
Phil incessantly filmed contest runs, yard stunts, and journey footage whereas Bam’s pals edited the chaos collectively into more and more polished VHS releases. These tapes finally landed within the palms of Jeff Tremaine and the longer term Jackass manufacturing crew. Tremaine, who was then editor of Large Brother journal, acknowledged that Bam and the CKY crew had already developed their very own totally fashioned model and viewers.
That led to Bam becoming a member of Jackass within the early 2000s alongside Johnny Knoxville, Steve-O, and others. However in contrast to many solid members, Bam entered the present with an current skate profession, a built-in crew, profitable video distribution, and a recognizable visible id already established by means of CKY.
This transition from underground VHS tapes to MTV occurred remarkably quick. Inside just a few years, Bam went from filming pranks in suburban Pennsylvania with Phil behind the digicam to starring in Jackass, releasing signature skate merchandise, directing music movies, launching Viva La Bam, and turning into one of the commercially recognizable skate boarders of the early 2000s.
The well-known line from Viva La Bam’s opening, that includes a narrator’s voice asking “What is going to he do subsequent?” And Bam’s response of “Regardless of the fuck I need,” embodied Bam’s model completely. However that ethos inevitably led him down the darkish paths of alcohol abuse and dependancy later in his profession.
Now, after a decade of choosing “getting larried up” as Bam would say, on the expense of skating, he’s sober and again on the board. This transformation is, in no small half, attributed to his spouse Dannii, who has partnered with Bam of their new enterprise, Bam THC. Dannii’s understanding of hashish as a pure drugs led to Bam reassessing his relationship with the plant. In his comparatively newfound sobriety, he’s using hashish as a wellness instrument, serving to him deal with the aches and pains related to many years of skating and wild stunts.
Providing lidocaine THC balms, gummies, pens, flower, and CBD roll-ons, Bam THC is poised to take the U.S. hashish market by storm. On this dialog, Bam and Dannii expound on the model whereas relating marriage, sobriety, skating, and their subsequent chapter collectively.
This interview has been edited for size and readability.
Hashish & Tech Right now: Bam, you’ve credited skating for preserving you alive. How has hashish helped you proceed pursuing that keenness?
Bam Margera: Effectively, in 2013, the physician declared my legs as dry rotted rubber bands from alcohol abuse and mentioned, “Good luck attempting to skate.” He informed me to succeed in down and contact my toes and I did, and my hamstring popped and I used to be out for a yr. So I sort of gave up on skateboarding at that time and I drank much more than I ought to have and actually confirmed me.
Then once I met Dannii, my spouse, practically three years in the past, she mentioned, “I’m a stretch coach. Don’t take heed to that physician moron. I’ll stretch your legs and they are going to be again very quickly flat.” So an hour a day, I lay on a desk. She does all of the work and it hurts so good.
She began utilizing this lidocaine sort of THC menthol stuff. That’s once we met Jason Alvarez, who really makes and distributes this proper outdoors of Miami. So we got here up with the right potion that anytime a skater or athlete thinks they’re too sore to do something, as quickly as you apply this, you’ll be altering your thoughts very quickly flat.
Then on prime of that, we got here out with some gummies that aid you sleep rather well and a few flower as nicely.
DM: After we met, I had already hung up ingesting. I select to not drink. I received a bikini contest in 2021, received Prime 5 Worldwide, didn’t drink, by no means picked it again up. A pair glasses of champagne right here and there or no matter, but it surely continuously made me sick.
So once I met Bam, I had already completed with that life-style. I’ve liked hashish since I used to be about 16. It’s helped me with anxiousness, urge for food, sleep, and issues I’ve gone by means of in my life.
After I realized Bam’s dependancy wasn’t about smoking weed, I confirmed him there’s a method to take pleasure in hashish with out simply getting excessive or smoking all day. When he smoked with me, he felt snug. It helped him break free from alcohol. That’s why he understands it otherwise now.
He’s not an enormous smoker. If he feels prefer it, he’ll hit it with me on film night time or one thing. He’s actually grown out of truthfully all the things. This was one thing that broke him away from the nasty satan alcohol.
BM: I’ve a homosexual boyfriend and it’s referred to as vodka. If it touches my lips, I’m dishonest.
DM: And I’ll ship his ass proper to Wilton Manors the place he belongs when he cheats with vodka.
BM: That’s the West Hollywood of Florida.
DM: I don’t need individuals to get the impression Bam’s an enormous smoker as a result of I don’t suppose he ever has been. It’s extra about him understanding the plant outdoors of his previous experiences.
BM: I needed to put it away for some time for 2 causes. One was once I went on Snoop Dogg’s tour bus. I knew he was going to go me a joint and I couldn’t say no. I counted him puffing it 11 occasions earlier than he handed it to me. I took one puff and stopped speaking. He’s like, “Are you alright, homie?” I’m like, “What was that?” He goes, “Purple Billaden weed.” I’m like, “Be aware to self. No extra Purple Billaden weed.” He requested if I used to be going to overlook the present and I mentioned, “I’m going to put on this bush and stare on the moon.”
The primary motive was once I was 23 anyone dared me to eat $100 price of weed. I swallowed all of it and fell asleep on the sink for 2 days. Awoke with a large bruise round my neck after writing loving goodbye letters to everyone as a result of I believed I used to be going to die. For per week afterward, all the things had a yellow tint to it and I may solely eat vanilla ice cream. It actually fucked me up.
DM: When he informed me that, that’s why I mentioned, “Oh, you need to perceive the plant otherwise.” At first of his sobriety, it was simply one thing to take the sting off cravings. So he understood it much more than simply these two experiences.
C&T Right now: You talked about the menthol THC mix and getting Bam again into form. What led you to creating that product?
DM: I’ve been a private coach and stretch coach since 2016. I’m not an athlete. The gymnasium has all the time simply helped me mentally, and getting physique is a plus.
When Bam realized he wasn’t this unhealthy POS that he thought he was, issues modified. Lots of people are extra versatile than they imagine. When you get into the gymnasium and decide to a seven to 14 day program, your thoughts modifications.
So when he began hanging out with me, figuring out with me, stretching with me, doing sit-ups and understanding soreness, it grew to become a wholesome behavior. The lighter he’s, the higher he’s on his deck.
BM: My fuck piece is my stretch coach, nutritionist, and exercise accomplice.
DM: We like hanging out. I believe you’re alleged to need to hang around along with your accomplice. His sobriety is my principal concern. He’s going to be in Grind 2. Tony Hawk desires him concerned. We’ve acquired a Fallen shoe coming. We’re engaged on 23 initiatives.
And this hashish challenge is my child with him. I really like hashish. When Jason approached us, it was a no brainer as a result of they’re simply good individuals. Good household individuals.
Constructing BAM THC
C&T Right now: What sparked BAM THC and what was the method like turning the concept into actuality?
DM: We’ve been approached by numerous hashish firms. All people desires to place Bam’s title on one thing. However this got here together with a relationship. Paul and Jason are fellow skaters. They know the Plan B crew. They’re simply household individuals.
My mother smoked in entrance of me and didn’t make it an enormous deal. I believe that’s the technology arising now. If anyone can mild up a Marlboro Mild, what’s the massive deal?
BM: Jason Alvarez actually labored for me as a result of he began from the underside and now he’s right here with 4,500 distribution locations and big warehouses. He did all of it himself from scratch.
DM: So I used to be very pleased with that. They usually’re household individuals. I really like them. That was the spark. Plus, they get to skate collectively, I get to hang around along with his spouse, and we get to hopefully change lives on prime of it.
Costa Rica and Skateboarding
C&T Right now: We heard you guys are headed to Costa Rica. What’s the plan there?
BM: I’m actually good pals with everyone from Plan B. Danny Method, Colin McKay, Pat Duffy, Chris Joslin. When Jason mentioned, “Would you want to return do demos with us?” I used to be like, “Hell yeah.”
He’s acquired a mini ramp on prime of his mountain with 4 homes on it. It sounded phenomenal.
DM: He’s additionally requested Bam to assist construct a mini ramp indoors to allow them to skate when it’s too sizzling outdoors. And I get a pleasant little journey to Costa Rica as a result of I’ve by no means been.
BM: Jason’s Mr. Costa Rica.
DM: We’re principally going with the mayor of Costa Rica.
The BAM THC Product Line
C&T Right now: Inform us concerning the BAM THC rollout and the merchandise coming first.
DM: There are three lidocaine sticks. Now we have 1,000 milligram, 3,000 milligram, and 5,000 milligram choices. We’ve acquired a number of flower strains coming, gummies, pens, concentrates, sativa, hybrid, indica, all the things.
The gummies are fairly sturdy.
We’re additionally doing greater jars and individually wrapped gummies. The whole lot is as clear and natural as it might get and distributed proper out of Miami.
The lidocaine stick is big for us as a result of Bam makes use of it throughout stretching periods, however I take advantage of it too. I’ve 13 screws in my leg from surgical procedures. I apply it to flights for irritation, cramps, temples, all over the place. My mother has labored in cardiology for over 40 years and mentioned her neuropathy disappeared nearly immediately utilizing it.
It’s not like an Icy Scorching the place it disappears and also you’re nonetheless in ache. It lasts.
BM: It’s instantaneous. I can inform you that.
Hashish and Sobriety
C&T Right now: How does hashish play into your sobriety journey?
BM: My drawback was I’d use it within the weirdest environments. Nightclubs the place individuals acknowledged me and screamed “Bam, Bam, Bam.” I’d freak out.
However when Dannii confirmed me the way in which and I began doing it with shut pals or simply her, truthfully, I grew to become a mellower and nicer individual.
DM: He’s had his greatest sleep with hashish.
He’s ADHD. His mind is continually going. So if we’re on an enormous journey and he wakes up at 3 a.m. with concepts, he’ll write them down.
In the event you get up at three within the morning and also you’re artistic, hit the bong and get artistic. What’s the massive deal? I hit the bong and go do a thousand sit-ups.
Branding and Authenticity
C&T Right now: How essential is branding in hashish proper now, particularly with celebrities coming into the market?
BM: I solely signal offers for stuff I utterly put my coronary heart into. Dannii has been on the manufacturing facility testing merchandise, calling again saying, “That is good, however this might be higher.” This has been a yr within the making.
It’s not like we walked in and picked one thing rapidly. As soon as Dannii gave it two thumbs up, that’s once we formally determined to launch it.
DM: Individuals perceive we’re totally different. This isn’t a faux marriage. This isn’t for Hollywood cameras or to piss off an ex. That is actual.
Simply because he’s sober and I’m the one who partakes extra, individuals suppose my smoking would have an effect on his sobriety. It doesn’t. It really balanced issues out. He understands the plant extra seeing the way it helps me with anxiousness, despair, and on a regular basis life.
It’s not a gateway drug for him. These are simply opinions individuals maintain onto.
BM: Dannii summed it up very easy for me. She mentioned, “Would you relatively get drunk or eat pussy meat?” And I used to be like, “Effectively, I’d undoubtedly relatively eat pussy meat.” She mentioned, “Then you definately’re by no means allowed to drink once more if you wish to be with me.” I mentioned, “Alright, I’m down with that.”
What’s Subsequent for BAM THC
C&T Right now: What does the rollout seem like shifting ahead?
BM: Proper now you may get it on-line at bamthc.com. It’s additionally in 4,500 shops primarily in Florida, Georgia, and Tennessee, but it surely’s increasing.
Possibly we are able to get into mom-and-pop skate retailers as nicely.
DM: We’re going to Vegas for the Champs commerce present and the Large Smoke conference. That’ll be our massive drop.
Then hopefully we’ll begin doing signings, giveaways, product appearances, perhaps get into dispensaries finally. Worldwide could be killer as a result of his UK followers are going to be dying for it.
Music, Skateboarding, and Staying Wholesome
C&T Right now: Any new band suggestions?
BM: I’m working with a brand new band from Puerto Rico referred to as Amore Advert Lunam and now we have an album popping out quickly. It’s timeless music to me.
I additionally need individuals to find out about The Black Capes from Greece, Lacrimus Profundere from Austria, and naturally The 69 Eyes are engaged on new music too. And shout out to Yelawolf.
C&T Right now: What’s your favourite skate spot proper now outdoors Pennsylvania?
DM: He’s obsessive about Mini on the Mountain. He loves Lot 11 in Miami. And there’s one other park outdoors Lakeland, Florida that he loves as a result of it’s quiet.
That was really an enormous motive we got here to Florida. I didn’t need to throw him straight into Miami as a result of it’s excessive power and I didn’t need temptations round him earlier than he acquired stronger. However now he has a very good crew round him right here.
I discovered 5 acres in Myakka Metropolis surrounded by horses the place he can construct a halfpipe. He will get to skate, I get to journey horses, and everyone’s completely satisfied.
