Michael Prince a skateboarder, drummer, and lover of 80’s glam from Oceanside, California. Photo: Lusteg
Some tragic news slammed my morning. Michael Prince, a skateboarder, drummer, and lover of 80’s glam from Oceanside, California has died. The details are sketchy at this point so I will refrain from hearsay until we know more. If you are unfamiliar with the Michael Prince I got to know, I will attempt fill you in.
Michael was a standout in our Battle Of The Shops contest where he skated the handrail for Asylum Skateshop. He had gobs and gobs of natural talent and it seemed to me at the time, he had materialized from thin air. I had never heard of the kid when Asylum Skate Shop picked him to represent their shop on the handrail in the 2nd Annual Battle Of the Shops contest. He showed up in dirty-ripped-up-jeans and a threadbare tee shirt and absolutely destroyed the rail. He threw at that rail an amazing diverse display of tricks. You can read about it here.
Though he had the talent to “make it” in skateboarding his passion was glam rock. He played the drums in various bands over the years; most recently he tore it up in the glam band Purple Church. He was good sport when I hurled some offensive questions at him back in 2005 for our “Shop Talent” department. You can read the interview here.
Just like Michael Prince seemed to materialize from thin air, he’s gone. If there is an afterlife I’m sure he’s hanging with Razzle from Hanoi Rocks and shredding with Van Wastell and Shane Cross.
Leave your memories, stories and comments about Michael Prince below.
gary chase
July 30, 2013
RIP MIKE UR GONA BE MISSED BROTHA WE’RE NOT GONA TAKE IT NO WE ARENT GONA TAKE IT ANYMORE ROCK ON BROTHA
ztrhus
August 15, 2013
how’d he die?
Automatic
August 19, 2013
Apparently it was a drug overdose.
ztrhus
August 19, 2013
…my condolences.