Kings Way The Book : Graffiti : Melbourne : Australia

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2010-09-03T12:42:00.001+10:00

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The Paperback Reprint of Kings Way!

2010-05-27T16:25:00.004+10:00

That's right, first edition, 5000 copies, Sold Out in under 10 months from release! It's already been reprinted, this time round in a paperback cover, and is now on a ship from China. It should be in stores in the coming weeks. Here's some pics of the advance copy; matt laminated, embossed and some slick gloss varnish goin' on. Enjoy.

The Now School!

2009-12-23T21:20:00.001+11:00

5 Minutes V.09.04 from I Love Graffiti on Vimeo.

BOMBING THE BOMB

2009-10-06T22:35:00.002+11:00

NHA and MBA letting loose on a dumped car circa 87'. The ultimate tag-mobile!

Who Would Have Thought!

2009-09-25T12:18:00.002+10:00

Four Legit Whole–cars on the Thalys! JONONE, SEAK, SOZYONE & ZEDZ!

Aerosol Era Launch

2009-09-25T12:17:00.003+10:00

TOP FIVE WITH A BULLET

2009-09-16T22:01:00.004+10:00

Like it or not, it's a top seller!

OUCH top to bottom

2009-09-11T20:30:00.002+10:00

By special request, here's the original 88' unslashed OH burner prior to transit bastardization.

Awesome Old Footage!

2009-09-07T18:08:00.001+10:00

The Book Launch Video – By MASE

2009-09-07T11:02:00.006+10:00

Some classic old footage from a number of sources digitized and mixed by the original west side Frantic City Bomber and Zimbabwee breaker Master Mase One. He's a tattoo artist these days at Eternal Instinct Tattoo. Look him up for some ink.

Dynamic Force

2009-09-04T21:26:00.002+10:00

This is now, that was then... The Dynamic Force breakers from Melbourne's outer Northern suburbs rocked up to the recent Melbourne Writers Festival. We've fished out their Fabulous 4 burner from 84/85'. The boys reassured us that they've still got the moves, let's get out the lino for some boppin' & poppin'!

TFA DMA

2009-08-31T20:29:00.004+10:00

A recently discovered gem, 23 years young! This piece sat along side the legendary Kingsway piece, Camberwell Canyon. Circa early 1987 by Pose, Tune, Raz and Evil.

old skool graffiti discussion @ NGV

2009-08-22T22:00:00.004+10:00

The kingsway authors will be present next weekend at the Melbourne Writers Festival, NGV Fed Square. Check out the official festival site for details.

Outre Signing

2009-08-19T20:40:00.001+10:00

Big thanks to everyone who came down to the Outre book signing last Saturday, it was another great turn out. We really appreciated the old schoolers who turned up to chew the phat and sign some of the last available limited edition copies. Special mention to Gemma Jones and the Outre crew for hosting the event and being so supportive. Gemma kindly supplied the drinks, the root beer was a real winner!

Outre signing this Saturday

2009-08-11T14:38:00.007+10:00

Kings Way will be conducting a signing at Outre Gallery,

249 Elizabeth St Melbourne. Saturday 15th August, 2pm onwards.

There will be a very limited number of Limited Edition books avaliable for purchase on the day.

Early DMA

2009-07-24T21:02:00.005+10:00

Vintage Surrey Hills head Rerun sent these through via email. Possibly the first panels by Tame and New 2, certainly one of the first painted DMA productions. LARGE !

BORDERS : Melbourne Central Signing : TOMORROW 4:30PM

2009-07-20T09:27:00.005+10:00

There will be another book signing this TUESDAY at 4.30-5.30pm, BORDERS; MELBOURNE CENTRAL. It's part of the TWO BLOCKS street festival. This is a good opportunity for those that feel they were hard done by with not getting there limited editions signed by hand. Please bring them down.

KINGS WAY BOOK LAUNCH TODAY

2009-07-17T22:39:00.011+10:00

This is it! The Kings Way Book launches into orbit at ACMI, Federation Square, 6 til 9pm. The biggest Australian graffiti artist congregation in over a decade. Don't miss out, this will be the first and last time an event like this will take place. See you there! Kings Way authors.

ARTS HUB Review!

2009-07-16T09:31:00.003+10:00

Great review by Emma Johnston who remembers back. CLICK HERE

Limited Editions – DELIVERY UPDATE!

2009-07-15T16:39:00.003+10:00

Yo peeps that ordered the Limited Editions! We've just been told there is yet another hold up with the ship container and the books wont be delivered until tomorrow! We are as pissed off as you are, believe me. We're doing our best to makes sure they get out the door on tomorrow's Express Post run meaning you should receive them the next day THIS FRIDAY. If we miss it and you are fumin' cos you wanna get some signatures Saturday night don't swet as there will be another final signing next week in town. Deets will be up on the blog soon so check back!

The Official Launch! 6 to 9pm!

2009-07-13T14:54:00.004+10:00

Intermission

2009-07-12T10:24:00.007+10:00

Seems the developed world understands the relevance of Graffiti Art Culture. Hopefully we'll see the same here in the not so distant future. CLICK HERE

See mum, I told ya!

2009-07-10T11:40:00.004+10:00

Renaisance, Gothic, Japanese Art & Design, Impressionism, Dada, The History of British Art, Islamic Calligraphy, Cave Art and MELBOURNE GRAFFITI ART. You work it out!

Limited Editions!

2009-07-09T17:31:00.006+10:00

Some pics of the Limited Editions CLICK HERE. To all the peeps that have shown love and bought up big, i have been assured they will be out in the express post by mid next week. Stay tuned for further updates and thanks for your patience!

BiasB - New Track – Melbourne Memories

2009-07-06T15:53:00.003+10:00

From the new Album 'AEROSOL ERA'. In all good stores now! For more go here.

Metropolis Book Signing!

2009-07-06T13:51:00.004+10:00

check all the pics; click here.

"THE DSKYZER"

2009-07-06T09:52:00.001+10:00

I've got to admit that reading this book tonight I was moved to tears. For so long I tried to block all these years out of my consciousness. There were so many unbelievable happy memory's mixed in with out of proportion tragedy and loss. So many young creative people who lost their way and their outlet to make sense of it all and find belonging and community.

Making the decision to turn my back on graffiti back then was one of the most difficult adjustments I've ever had to make. It was a pretty extreme lifestyle that only those at the core of the scene could ever fully understand. It was completely lawless and detached from the regular 9-5 existence that the majority of society labored so hard to uphold. To walk away meant turning the volume of life down from level 110 to a quiet twilight whisper.

By the age of 18 it was mainly the prospect of jail that spelled the end of artistic expression for most, without the life affirming and self worth building side effects of active graffiti writing and creative expression, a large number increasingly turned to drugs to fill the void that had begun to grow within their hearts and souls after retirement. It was so sad to see so many close friends and people I loved either start to fade, look for even more destructive outlets or in the worst situations die by their own hands or by misadventure related to substance abuse. It really darkened my view of the world for a very long time; there were many times there where I even tried to exit the frame. Lucky for me I somehow made it out the other side.

It still fuckin’ drives me crazy that the law makers cant see what a valuable alternative this culture is and that they don’t realise the transformative powers it can potentially have on a young peoples lives? I personally learnt far more about myself and my abilities through my involvement in this culture than I ever did in school, to the point were I could actually use my experiences as a template to be applied to other challenges and learning curves. It's helped me to understand process and how to apply myself over prolonged periods to achieve positive outcomes in everyday tasks and bigger personal challenges that I encounter in my day-to-day existence.

Maybe all schools should adopt community painting projects for every year of study and every student to participate in, how crazy would that be. We could start to play a part again in how our community’s look and feel, and all have some sort of personal involvement and personal pride in our neighborhoods. We are tribal people and we need to belong yeah, as things are now it's like most of us have no connection or ties that bond us to our immediate environments. It's no wonder so many people are out of fuckin order. Oh well I guess there's no profit to be made in a happy, cohesive and functional society? Keep'em all acting like animals and we can turn the misery into an industry yeah, capitalist society, got to love it ha-ha. Anyway I'm getting way of track here, so all I meant to say was thanks guys for making the effort to put this all together, it's an important book in more ways than you can imagine, trust me. ;) Bless.

DSKYZER USA CREW

Today's Age!

2009-07-03T17:01:00.002+10:00

Street Religion!

2009-07-03T14:43:00.001+10:00

as spotted by Duplomatic!

Metropolis Bookshop Saturday signing

2009-07-02T16:33:00.002+10:00

The Kings Way authors will be joined by some of Melbourne's old school legends to sign copies of the book, this saturday 4th July, 3 - 430pm.

Metropolis Bookshop: level 3 Curtin House, 252 Swanston St Melbourne.

Limited Editions!

2009-07-02T08:51:00.002+10:00

The limited editions are flying out the door. Congrats to all the lucky peeps that have snapped em up and also your patience on the wait! They are now on a ship from China and dock on the 12th July. We'll have em all in the post by the 15th. Hold tight, it will be worth it!

The 'Smashed Comeng' is now officially SOLD OUT! 'The Oucher' is moving quick as well so if your hesitating and thinking you'll pick one up down the track you may miss out!

KINGS WAY General Edition IN ALL GOOD BOOKSHOPS!

2009-06-30T15:46:00.008+10:00

MELBOURNE:

Metropolis

Readings

Coventry Books

The Sun Bookshop

Reader's Feast

NATIONAL:

Dymocks

Angus & Robertson

Collins

Newslink

Uni Bookshops

Gallery Bookshops

INDEPENDANTS:

Strictly BMX

239 Flinders Lane (Melb)

Rocking Horse Records (Bris)

Tahnished Productions (Adelaide)

Writers Block (Melb)

Final Outline (Melb)

This Is It (Melb)

Giant Productions (Melb)

clinic116 (Adelaide)

Wax Museum Records (Melb)

Obese Records (Melb)

The Butcher Shop (Perth)

Outre Gallery (Melb)

Villain Store (Melb)

You Name It (Melb)

Northside Records (Melb)

What It Means.

2009-06-27T10:00:00.005+10:00

I don’t know where to start really. I am writing in an attempt to express my gratitude in respect to your amazing book. Not because I wanted to be recognized for what I painted back in those days. But because of the deeper embodiment of culture and family that was integral to the scene, that you have captured in Kings Way. And by way of inclusion with all the other writers from back in those days, I feel humbled and healed to be a part of this book.

Humbled because I only ever dreamt of meeting all the kings I admired, and healed because of the amount of shit I copped from my ‘family’ at home (whom set me up in 1989, watched me get raided, and gave the police photos of my trains!). It feels more worth it than ever, now reflecting on what we did. But more so who we did it with. I have loved being a part of the graf community ever since I was involved then.

The most dedicated, and interesting people, I have ever met are writers. My closest friends are writers; their loyalty, humour, friendship and respect have helped me in my life more than I could express. To finally have the Melbourne graf family tree, from our era, manifested as something concrete is nothing short of profound. I cannot honestly tell you how moved I am by this work, and what it represents to me.

You have expressed, and set in stone, what was so important, and often so misunderstood, for all involved in those years. The book is remarkable, because of this, and these many levels it operates on. It is far more than the visual documentation of an era. It encapsulates the dream we were all a part of, our countercultural crusade, an underground family that did something so important all those years ago. Which for me always felt somewhat unresolved. Something so personally monumental, that was a secret from the world and a legacy, that up until now remained somewhat in the limbo of our memories.

Thankyou for representing this time, these memories and our lives. I think you have healed a lot of things, for a lot of writers. How does one say thankyou for bringing this peace into ones life? I am not sure, I don’t think we could ever express our gratitude as well as you have represented us. You make me proud to be a Melbourne writer and you have made us all proud.

Thankyou and congratulations on the book. I agree with you...it is bigger than us all!

Respect always,

Rus Kitchin

Australian Edge

2009-06-27T09:41:00.001+10:00

Interview with the authors. Click here.

Herald who?

2009-06-27T09:32:00.010+10:00

Lies and more lies. You decide!

This is it

2009-06-23T18:32:00.004+10:00

The good times roll as another old school Melbournite

revels in the pages of a Kings Way pre release... 8 days and counting!

Fever Pitch

2009-06-20T19:12:00.008+10:00

Melbourne RDC crew native "Shem" painted this killer rendition of 'Kings Way' at Knox today, complete with character straight from the cover. The book is still not on the shelves for another 9 days, but the anticipation is reaching a feverish height... ! Thanks for the kind gesture Shem. Big up!

R.I.P Iz the Wiz

2009-06-20T15:21:00.030+10:00

Without the pursuits of our New York City forefathers, this great culture would be non existent. Iz the Wiz TMB was one of the most inspirational and influential writers of the pioneering New York scene, the longest reigning all city king in NYC history. Iz was known for his quick, simple, two letter throwups and colourful, fun letterstyles. Due to his massive commitment to the art and subsequent years of exposure to toxic paint fumes, Iz acquired Kidney failure and after a lengthy struggle, sadly passed away on the 18th June 2009. The car seen above "Hell IZ for children" awe inspired many Melbourne kids, along with Iz's immortal words in the film Style Wars. Rest In Peace. A true graffiti legend, you will never be forgotten. Chek out Iz's profile here http://www.at149st.com/iz.html

Old School Danny

2009-06-19T15:18:00.007+10:00

"After checking it out slowly and carefully last night, I can honestly say, it's an absolutely outstanding effort. I'm not being provincial in any way, but it's clearly obvious to anybody with any type of interest in the subject, Kings Way is simply one of the best books of its type ever produced or released. Period."

Old School Danny, VISION 14 (pictured)

Pic by DJ Krisy, 1985

Finally a street art with some soul!

2009-06-18T17:39:00.008+10:00

The Graffiti book Melbourne had to have

click here to check it!!!

Kings Way the title

2009-06-17T08:59:00.012+10:00

The 'Kings Way' book title was inspired by this early featured work.

Executed by two of Melbourne's utmost kings; 'Kings' by Prime and 'Way' by The Dskyzer, the burner appeared in the canyon on the southern side of Camberwell station in 1986, with the section of wall and track becoming known of course, as 'Kings Way'. 'Kings Way' came to symbolise the majesty and pride of the early scene and was inititally coined as the title for Duels 'Kings Way magazine' in 1990. Kings Way is also one of Melbourne's crucial road arterials that unites southside traffic with the city centre.

It's real!

2009-06-01T10:53:00.012+10:00

After an epic year and a half the first copy of the book has landed in Melb's. Here's a sneak peak of what to expect. 384 pages from the golden era of Melbourne graf. The real deal old school. For more pics on the book go here.

B-Boy Poster

2009-05-30T14:42:00.007+10:00

Here's a shot of the protective poster that wraps around the book. Its a big fold out printed on a nice uncoated paper. More pics here.

Sneak Peak!

2009-05-30T10:48:00.012+10:00

Some sample spreads of what to expect on the inside!