https://us.bsdforever.com/collections/bsd-revolution/products/revolution-hub

PRINT MATTERS: Heavy – A Memoir of Wyoming, BMX, Drugs, and Heavy Fucking Music

A New book By J.J. Anselmi

29 Jun 2016

Heavy Cover Print Matters

Words by Martin Mahlert

I read this book in 3 days. That was a month ago, and I’ve been trying to find out what to write about it since then. Autobiographies can usually be classified as justification literature. Especially men of power or cultural relevance in past centuries have gone to great lengths to either declare their schemes as beneficial for everyone or to claim that certain crimes were not their fault. For some reason this has a dark and sinister attraction for me. The author of Heavy takes a different path. His approach to past actions seems so brutally honest, it blows my mind. Multiple times while reading this book I remember thinking to myself how hard it is to tell if this guy was naive and intelligent, or easily impressionable and crazy stupid.

https://shop.digbmx.com/collections/all-clothing

This is the story of a man who fought through multiple identity crises  in his youth. Many of Anselmi’s decisions reflect an all-in attitude, something that can be seen throughout BMX and also made me think about the wide range of addictive personalities I have encountered in our world. Me being one of them. At some point he decided to no longer say no to new things, and then massively overdid it. The word moderation never comes to mind. For the most part Anselmi gives recollections of episodes in his life, followed by passages in which he reflects on how he views his actions now. Coming from the same generation of riders as Anselmi I can heavily identify with the chronology of what influenced him. From seeing Chase Gouin in BMX Plus to watching Dave Young in Nowhere Fast and buying a Metal Bikes frame I can only say I fully understand where this guy is coming from. I feel a deep empathy for riders who were more attracted to Seek&Destroy, Criminal Mischief or FBM videos, than to Dave Mirra (RIP) and Ryan Nyquist X-Games runs. 

Snapshot of J.J. at spot referred to on the image file as 'BMX Hook'.

JJ Anselmi -Metal Bikes influenced abubaca in Cheyenne.

"a mix of BMX and heavy music was a path away from jockish mainstream bullshit."

This book is way more about heavy music than it is about BMX though, but the two worlds are not so far apart. Being into raw scene crowds, Anselmi at some point decides to move to Austin and pursue becoming a drummer in a band. By his own account he wasn’t very good at it, but this venture is his gateway to a multitude of experiences, from psychedelic trips to questioning his own conservative views on sexuality. The latter being inspired by visits to a very non-judgemental party crowd in a house with well known BMX pros. Escapism comes to mind, but everyone reading this knows the feeling of fearing reality. BMX, or in the case of Anselmi, a mix of BMX and heavy music was a path away from jockish mainstream bullshit. Unfortunately this lead him to overdoing it on the drugs, but who am I to judge. It’s just funny that someone who used to be straight edge went so hard on substances. Someone once told me that taking LSD opens 300.000 doors in your mind. As soon as it wears off, 280.000 doors close again. This means 20.000 chambers stay open. JJ Anselmi opened a multitude of personal chambers, almost leading to suicide. With coming of age though it seems he found the courage to face all demons of his past and come out on the other side stronger than ever before. I’m just really glad I had it easier as a child and didn’t grow up in Wyoming. Read this book, especially if you somehow still regret not getting that huge tattoo of your favorite band as a teenager. JJ Anselmi will set you straight. - MM

Heavy Cover Print Matters Square

Buy the book on Amazon here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Heavy-Memoir-Wyoming-Drugs-Fucking/dp/1940207509

JJ's website: www.jjanselmi.com 

And meantime, take a look at this video of JJ and friends from the time discussed in Heavy.

Previous

Ruben Alcantara: The Master Re-Mastered

His etnies Forward and Grounded Parts Reborn

Next

10 Things You Didn't Know About 'Dollar Bet'

Don't call it a sequel, but do call it awesome...

Related Content

chris-crawford-bone-deth
Play Button

Bone Deth - Chris Crawford

Doing it for the Bone Babes...

5 Mar 2015
Sean Burns Throwback Clips
Play Button

Sean Burns - Throwback Bone Deth Footage

A highlight reel of amazing throwback clips

4 Apr 2016
strongest-man-poster
Play Button

'The Strongest Man' Movie Trailer

If you don't find Meatball entertaining then you might not be a real BMXer...

17 Jun 2015
Print Matters Uphill Work Logan Ostrom By Mikey Almodovar

PRINT MATTERS: Uphill Work

'A Book About Street Riding'

9 Jun 2016
looking-up-sean-burns
Play Button

Looking Up - Sean Burns

Putting perverted notes inside the grips of girls' handlebars...

17 Apr 2015
Christmas Card
Play Button

BONE DETH - Christmas Special

Boogie Wonderland!

24 Dec 2015
fugazi-kilkenny-ireland-RA 1

Fugazi - More than a band

Reflecting on Fugazi's impact, their legacy, and the 2014 release of their First Demo

21 Nov 2014
sewer-dvd-wilson
Play Button

Jay Wilson - Sewer DVD

Brick ledge oppo hangers

13 Nov 2015
collapsing-the-whatever

Collapsing Into The Whatever

False possession, electricity poaching, run-ins with satanists, urban myths and more...

7 Oct 2014
Sean Burns Dead Bang
Play Button

Metal Bikes 'Dead Bang' - Sean Burns

My baby does the hanky panky!

23 Oct 2014
Albie Bennett screen-1
Play Button

Video Vault - Albie Bennett "Off the Map 2"

The whole story of that classic section as told by Sean Burns

13 Mar 2015
Motorhead

Unsound: Sean Burns pays his dues to Lemmy

"I was so influenced by Motörhead's music and Lemmy's demeanor that it drove me diving off twenty sets straight to my knees..."

30 Dec 2015
https://uk.khebikes.com/

Latest Content

Swamp 25 thumb in the cut 3
Play Button

SWAMPFEST 2025 - IN THE CUT

BURN IT TO THE GROUND

19 Mar 2025
R GM In0 Lt Ihqdefault
Play Button
Rad grab
Play Button

RAD DOCUMENTARY TEASER

Welcome (back) to Helltrack!

18 Mar 2025
E2d0r B43g Zshqdefault
Play Button

DOUBLE OR NOTHING DVD

Elf's Fourth Full-Length Video

17 Mar 2025
Manny Kilpack Elf Handoff Ektar100 35

SHAWN 'ELF' WALTERS & THE MAKING OF 'DOUBLE OR NOTHING'

"As long as I’m healthy and into it, I see no reason to slow down."

17 Mar 2025
34 Jvh Uy4 Wo Ehqdefault
Play Button

Source BMX: Swampfest Mayhem 2025

Source in the Swamp

17 Mar 2025
D93ny NEAL Mohqdefault
Play Button

SWAMPFEST - GNARBQ LOG RIDE X MONSTER BOWL JAM & MORE

Playing in the mud never looked more entertaining

16 Mar 2025
Wka Pgrf4u Nghqdefault
Play Button

Meseroll - GET NEGATIVE 2024 - Full DVD

NYC through and through

16 Mar 2025
Rei PSF Aep D Mhqdefault
Play Button
Z l V3j G5vwwhqdefault
Play Button

SWAMPFEST - SOURCE MIDDLE FINGER X THE LIMO

"FUCK YOU FIDS!"

15 Mar 2025
Pac DSH Cusm Ihqdefault
Play Button

SWAMPFEST SHADOW COFFIN X ODYSSEY SWAMP LINE

Outrageous moves, crashes, swamp water, and more.

15 Mar 2025
Swamp 25 thumb
Play Button

SWAMPFEST COURSE PREVIEW

"As long as I don't need stitches or nothin'..."

14 Mar 2025

DIG Partner stores

More Dig This

Rad teaser

Rad Day 2025

Anniversary movie screenings and RAD documentary release.

18 Mar 2025
Expert Top 3 Roll On crop

REPO: Keeping it local at the UK 'ROLL ON' Flatland Jam

"My desire was to give something back" – Mike O'Connell

5 Mar 2025
Snow Fight – Naoki Gaman2

20 Tips For Surviving Simple Session 2025

Check yourself before you wreck yourself!

20 Feb 2025
SS finals samples 4

SIMPLE SESSION 25 WRAP UP

Highlight videos, results and more

19 Feb 2025
Street station graphic

STREET STATION RETURNS for 2025

"Not your average BMX jam"

18 Feb 2025
Stack

DIG BOOK #2024

AVAILABLE VIA THESE BIKE SHOPS AND DISTROS

30 Dec 2024
New dig apparel main image

NEW DIG BMX APPAREL

Available now

27 Dec 2024
30 YRS POSH BOOK MNTN V V 004

(Almost) 30 YEARS OF POSH WOODS

Now available

24 Dec 2024
BSD Grime Safari Reed Stark Austin 6

Reed Stark - A Photo Safari

Safari Forever...

6 Dec 2024
Et FW24 Dig Magazine Collab Shoot 031

Introducing the DIG X ETNIES Collection

Celebrating a 25 year partnership

7 Nov 2024
24 photo comp web leader

THE 2024 DIG PHOTO COMP IS NOW LIVE!

OVER $1000 WORTH OF PRIZES UP FOR GRABS

15 Oct 2024
Greystoke issue 2

GREYSTOKE BMX MAGAZINE - ISSUE 2 OUT NOW

132 pages of tangible, hold-in-your-hands BMX print media.

11 Oct 2024