SPEEDtv.com Reviewed: “Choppers: Heavy Metal Art”
Written by: Gregg Leary Charlotte, NC – 6/24/2007

By Mike Seate
Photography by Michael Lichter

“Choppers: Heavy Metal Art” is a unique book…as unique as the many one of a kind creations that grace its 239 pages. Photographs are normally utilized to supplement the text of a book. In this case, more than 400 Michael Lichter portraits provide the skeleton of the work…Mike Seate’s words are the “icing on the cake”…or the “metalflake on the tank,” as the case may be. Both the words and the images are very well done.

Portraits range from gorgeous two-page spreads of the two wheeled sculptures to extreme closeups that illuminate unique features of the custom masterpieces or highlight vignettes of some of the fantastic paint schemes. In his “Photographer’s Notes” Michael answers the question, “Why do I shoot most of my bike features in the studio on plain backgrounds?” He answers, “For me the BIKE is the art. By controlling the light and the background, the focus stays on the bike.”

It seems appropriate that the front and rear cover feature the work of the late-great “Indian Larry” Desmedt. Larry’s bike had been selected to grace the cover months before his untimely death. It serves as an appropriate epitaph. His story is told in the book.

“Choppers” is divided into three sections…Legends, Young Guns and New Blood. Each division includes brief bios of the builders and beautiful images of some of their most influential bikes.

LEGENDS

Arlin Fatland,Don Hotop, Pat Kennedy, Fred Kodlin, Indian Larry Desmedt, Arlen Ness, Donnie Smith, Eddie Trotta,

YOUNG GUNS

Tank Ewsichek, Rick Fairless, Al Gaither, Kendall Johnson, Billy Lane, Donny Loos & Jeff Cochran, Michael Pugliese, Kim Suter, Russ Tom, Mark Warrick, Paul Yaffe,

NEW BLOOD

Roger Goldammer, Jesse Jurrens, Brian Klock, Tom Langton, Kai Morrison & Jason Kangas, Hank Young,

Of the 27 featured chopper builders, my favorite has to be Rick Fairless. His unique style with the irreverent and outrageous sense of humor in his designs and paint schemes tickled my funny bone and massaged my sick sense of humor. Flames, dice, skulls, Maltese crosses, checkered flags and 8 balls have been overdone in chopper paint work. Fairless is unique. His “Psychedelic Chopper” features images of John Lennon and Yoko Ono, Charles Manson, Jerry Garcia, Frank Zappa, and Rat Fink. Talk about an eclectic mix! Fairless says, “The Psychedelic bike came about because I still love the 1960s and the music from those days, so I started designing it to represent all the stuff I’m interested in.” Spelling is not Rick’s forte. “ Abby Road ” without the “e” graces the right side of the tank.

The “Tattoo Chopper” is my favorite. Rick got the idea for the paint work from his “heavily inked clientele.” I imagine the bike is a huge hit at Sturgis…because it sports a very clever link to another town just down the road in South Dakota ...Deadwood. The Aces and Eights “Dead Man’s Hand” occupies the left side of the tank. It was the poker hand held by Wild Bill Hickok when he was fatally shot in the “Number 10 Saloon” in Deadwood in 1876.

Rick’s inspiration comes from many sources. “After downing a few beers with some friends,” Rick came up with the “Six Pack Chopper” which “resembles a pair of rolling beer cans linked together with pool cues.” Rick is one of more than two dozen excellent custom chopper builders…each with a unique story to tell and a portfolio of custom rolling artwork to display. “Choppers: Heavy Metal Art” garners four out of five lug nuts.

“Choppers: Heavy Metal Art” By Mike Seate is available now from the SPEED Book Store. Click the books icon to add it to your collection now or to browse other titles.

Gregg Leary is a Researcher/Writer for “Wind Tunnel with Dave Despain” and
Book Reviewer for SpeedTV.com.

Leary was track announcer for Hooter’s IHRA Drag Racing at National Events in the USA and Canada and entertained event crowds during “down time” by conducting “crowd participation” and product giveaways with the Hooter’s Girls. He was Marketing and PR Director and track announcer at Lake Erie Speedway.

As Photo Editor, feature writer, columnist and swimsuit calendar chief photographer for “Sports Jam Magazine,” Leary covered Auto Racing, Major League Baseball, the National Football League, and the National Basketball Association. He has photographed dozens of celebrities from A-Z…including Mario Andretti, Jim Brown, AJ Foyt, Ken Griffey Jr., Michael Jordan, Jay Leno, David Letterman, Mark McGwire, Paul Newman, Walter Payton, Alex Zanardi and Presidents Gerald Ford, George Bush and Bill Clinton. Gregg’s wife, Lynn and daughter, Caitlynn live in Jefferson, Ohio and his son, Sean is a student at Appalachian State University in Boone, NC.

Leary has conducted motivational seminars and performed stand up comedy around the country. He is a graduate of Wittenberg University in Springfield, Ohio and Exeter University in England. Gregg has hitchhiked 40,000 miles through 36 states and 10 European countries and is a licensed pilot and skydiver. Leary is available for motorsports consulting on a limited basis. Contact him via email at gleary@speedtv.com .