The Duct Tape Years is a tribute to those times of struggle and dedication in skateboarding, and the camaraderie and authenticity they bred. Contests and concerts were held at people’s houses. Kids made t-shirts and stickers with one color graphics because it was cheaper. Visiting a new city meant finding skaters and asking to crash. Money was not flowing, so the day you blew a hole in your shoe or ripped a pair of knee pads, you had recourse to one thing: duct tape. It was this time together in the resurging 90’s New York skate scene that the idea of The Duct Tape Years was born.

We hit Scott up and asked him about his youth and his influences; all of which were also encapsulated in a couple of playlists he made for us. Check out the answers below...

What got you in to skateboarding?

My older brothers and other people in my neighborhood skateboarded. I was 5 years old. This was 1975.

Did you have a favourite magazine/video during your youth?

Plenty.. THRASHER, TRANSWORLD SKATEBOARDING, Poweredge, HOMEBOY was rad… some ACTION NOW too...

The Duct Tape Years is your new label, and there are a few references to 80s post-punk/punk/hardcore. What’s the significance of these genres?

Well The Duct Tape Years is a tribute brand to the following; Skateboarding, Art, History and music (Reggae, Hardcore, Punk Rock and Hip Hop) in the 1980’s!! The 80’s were a magical time for Skateboarding: 1984 McGill does the first 540 McTwist in Sweden, Street Skating takes over the late 1980’s, Bad Brains show in Daytona Beach during Spring Break 1987 - I was there (just turned 17) for that show and spring break being from Orlando (40 years later I would befriend Daryl Jennifer from BAD BRAINS, and he told me that performance in Daytona Beach Spring Break 1986, was their best and tightest live performance-FACTS!)

Reggae shows like Yellowman, Eek A Mouse and Mutabaruka would play downtown Orlando at NEGRIL COVE BAR (Jamaican Bar, on the edge of the hood in downtown Orlando) and then NEGRIL COVE BAR would also have shows with GG ALLIN and other bands…there were other clubs around Orlando too and all the good hardcore and punk bands came thru. Being a skateboarder with a vert ramp in the mid 1980’s gave me a lot of access to shows and some of my friends played in bands… My buddy Matt dropped out of high school in 10th grade and his band opened up for Black Flag in Tampa.

You’ve been in the industry since 1992, working with PERVERT, creating MANKIND and MIKE; what has been the biggest learning curve over the years?

Yes, it is a long time. Decades have gone by but, I still find myself doing the same things. I have always skateboarded and have always been creative doing graphics, designing clothing (spent the last 5 years building collections as the SENIOR APPAREL DESIGNER at BRANDBLACK). I’m still learning everyday, that is what is great! I constantly challenge myself to stand out and be ahead, to lead. It’s something I have done, since I was young…if everyone has this, I’d take that. Many can follow, few can and will lead.

If you could hold a ramp jam from any era, who would be skating and what bands would be playing?

Lee Ralph, Chris Miller, Tony Farmer, Peter Hewitt, Darren Navarette, Mike Rogers, Alan Losi, Duane Peters, Omar Hassan with Bad Brains playing at some sick amoebas shaped backyard pool at an undisclosed location with J Grant Britain shooting film only, in BLACK & WHITE!

"The last song is rad AF..the video is even better it's shot in 1986 in California but this was the vibe at most clubs that played new wave, goth, punk, etc… if you have video capability…this should be played!! "

-- Scott

Scott created a playlist for SUPPLY below of tracks that have influenced himself and The Duct Tape Years...

Stay tuned for Scott's second playlist...

Images from The Duct Tape Years/Scott Nelson

Thanks Scott!