Overkill Blog

SNEAKER FREAKER TURNED TEN YEARS OLD TODAY!*

Needless to say, life was very different in 2002. The internet was barely up to speed. Facebook didn’t exist. Blogs either. The US dollar was worth more than a peso. Nike put a NYC logo on an Air Force 1 and we lost our minds! Remember when you had to travel to buy sneakers? Yep, they were the good old days.

Something was definitely in the Air ten years ago. Nike’s Sole Provider book dropped the same month Sneaker Freaker #1 came out. Boutique stores like Solebox, Size?, atmos, Alife and SNS started popping up. Slowly but surely, our secret shoe habit was creeping out from our wardrobes and into the mainstream.
The sneaker game was on!

The first Sneaker Freaker took less than a week to throw together. All I wanted was free shoes and the chance to add magazine proprietor to my CV. I never guessed that so many people from all over the world would connect through my Year of the Horse AF-1s that graced the cover. 32 pages of hastily written copy, a few grainy photos with my first (super expensive) digital camera and suddenly life changed forever.

Only 3000 copies of Issue #1 were printed and I gave them all away. The funniest thing is that they go for $200 on the Bay and yes, I do wish I’d kept a few boxes for my retirement.

There are many highlights since then that are worthy of mention, but I have to include the first issues released in partnership with our offices in Spain, Germany and Russia. I’m also proud to say that our colabs with PUMA, Lacoste, Saucony, New Balance, Supra and ASICS will also stand the test of time.

We might be ten but we’re not done yet! We’re planning to mark our anniversary in 2013 with a giant book that will take you through every twist and turn of our journey. It’s going to be a biblical epic that nails absolutely everything there is to know.

After all this time I’d be nowhere without our friends in the industry.

Thanks to everyone who has bought a copy.

Thanks to all the stores that have supported Sneaker Freaker.

Thanks to Hans, Mafia, Remi, Anthony, James, Terry, Ollie, Brendan and Steve. And Paul Chan!

Brett Chittenden and Carl Grebert also deserve a mention.

And most of all, thank you to everyone at Nike, adidas, Vans, New Balance, PUMA, Gourmet, Globe, Supra, ASICS, Reebok, Converse, Pointer, Saucony, PONY, FEIT, Fred Perry, Lacoste, Le Coq and Pro KEDS.

Keep your laces loose.

Woody

Sneaker Freaker Founder & Editor
Melbourne, Australia.

* Actually it was yesterday but I was so busy working on the new issue I forgot to send this email.

overkill no.15 – 20 years of overkill special edition 416 page book has arrived fresh from the press!

only available at overkill shop kreuzberg! worldwide release: 26th november 2012

featuring berlin’s best graffiti writers:

SHEK // AMOK // SOME // MIGEL // WESP // POET // DEKO // PHOS // DEJOE // NICK // GONE // INKA // LEROY // ASEM // CHY // CHIKA // SAGA // AKOR // ABIS // KRAD // LIST // SHUS // BURN // KACAO // SKIM // HEST // ESHOK // PESD // FINO // INCH // TOM // KIX // HONDA // DRIK // CITY // GREB // BOOZER // FUNK // DOOZI // KIMO // ICAM // BIZAR // MESH // CLINT // 1UP // AND MANY MANY MORE…

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back from the old skool! ewing 33 hi are landing soon!

exclusive berlin release @ overkill! 05/11/2012

more info coming soon.

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classic hits – ‘new york’s pioneering subway graffiti writers’ book just arrived in store!

have a look here!

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We are very sad to hear that our homie and long time Overkill neighbor MC Galla died. Rest in Peace!

hello folks,

get ready to celebrate 20 years of adidas equipment with us. this saturday we will have our long awaited exhibition. doors open 8.00 pm, drinks available, happy & friendly people only  see ya!

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Our most beloved and one of the most important clubs in berlin nightlife history in gerenal must close it’s doors due to gentrification. We are really sad and angry to loose one of the places to be. Please read the satement of the ICON Crew.

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Dear Friends!
On January 1st, 2011, it’ s all over!

We’ re an institution in Berlin´s nightlife. A nightlife the city administration loves mentioning in its bid to attract tourists and investors. That brings the city money – but it brings us nothing. On January 1st, 2011, our license is being withdrawn.

A new appartment block has been built next door – modern living in Prenzlauer Berg – chic and expensive. Having a club as neighbours doesn’ t fit into that picture. There’ ve been too many complaints from the new residents, not due to loud music, but because of the people on the sidewalk. The authorities of Berlin´s Pankow district have decreed: we have to go.

That destroys another piece of Berlin’ s world-famous club culture.

Until the end of the year, we’ ll be soldiering on, inviting all our favourite DJs to rock our hallowed halls. On December 31st, 2010, there’ ll be one last “Icon goes …” . And we’ ll be dancing till we drop during the entire week leading up to that final event.

Meanwhile, we’ re working on new plans and ideas to keep our dream alive with the friends who’ ve accompanied us so far. We’ ll leave no stone unturned in our bid to find a new home for high-quality bookings beyond mainstream, false coolness and for the intimate atmosphere you’ ve come to expect.

Pamela, Lars & Team

Wie hochentwickelt, gentrifiziert und superfuckingawesome das Schlesi ist, sieht man gut auf diesem Bild.

One of the biggest fascistic demonstrations ever will take place in dresden this saturday. Please join us  to stop it! All infos here:  http://www.dresden-nazifrei.com/

check out the all in one HardKnocks DVD…

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Hi Folks,

after releasing sucessfully our first Collabo with New Balance we are stepping forward to do the europe release event of the Adidas x Star Wars cooperation. Therefor we will hold an exclusive event @ Overkill this Thursday. The elected audience will get the chance to see and touch seletecd Adidas x Star Wars  products (such as the ZX 8000) for the first time ever. Besides that we redesigned our Adidas room as a cosy cinema and we will screen a Star Wars movie.

If you wanna join us on that special night write an email to: info@overkillshop.com and win some tickets. We got 100 in total.

May the force be with you!

See all upcomming products here: http://www.overkillshop.com/en/search/keywords/star+wars/

Imagine life without: traveling, own opinions, freedom of choice, united families, direct democracy, fancy kickz, underground clubs, easy developping subculture! And now forget about the bad sides of our capitalistic dominated world for a minute and be happy that it turned out that peaceful way. Happy Birthday New Germany!