Phil Esbenshade
Encyclopedia
Phil Esbenshade, also known as Phil E., was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He was a well known professional skateboarder in the second skateboard heyday of the late 1980s. His oddball antics and his unusual appearance garnered him magazine and video coverage worldwide. Several skateboards bearing the E logo on them were made in his honor. He retired from the sport in the 1990s and later became a Prosecutor in Northern California
.
Esbenshade also played bass guitar
and sang in the underground indie rock band Custom Floor
with Miki Vuckovich, Garry Davis, and then later, Atom Willard
(currently the drummer for The Offspring
and Angels & Airwaves
). Custom Floor released one 7" while Phil was in the band, on Goldenrod Records
.
Phil E. appeared in Transworld Skateboarding
magazine, Thrasher Magazine
, Freestylin', Homeboy Magazine, Warp Magazine, and Poweredge Magazine numerous times between 1987-1992. Sponsors included Gullwing Trucks, Santa Cruz Skateboards Speed Wheels, Venture Trucks, Smallroom, Zorlac Skateboards, and G&S Skateboards.
There is a chapter about Phil Esbenshade in the book, A Skateboarder's History of the World by Jocko Weyland. Photos of Phil Esbenshade appear in the photography book, "Rat a Tat Tat Birds" by Jeff Winterberg.
Esbenshade is an alumnus of the University of La Verne College of Law
, United States International University (now Alliant International University
) and San Diego Miramar College.
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
.
Esbenshade also played bass guitar
Bass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
and sang in the underground indie rock band Custom Floor
Custom Floor
Custom Floor is an underground indie rock band that was formed in 1991 in San Diego, California by Garry Davis, Phil Esbenshade. and Miki Vuckovich. Although Garry and Phil were former pro skateboarders, Custom Floor was never a skate rock band, instead displaying a heavy Sonic Youth influence...
with Miki Vuckovich, Garry Davis, and then later, Atom Willard
Atom Willard
Adam David Willard , known professionally by the pseudonym Atom, is an American drummer who has been a member of several notable musical acts. Willard's drumming career began in 1990 when he joined Rocket from the Crypt, whom he remained with until 2000...
(currently the drummer for The Offspring
The Offspring
The Offspring is an American punk rock band from Huntington Beach, California, formed in 1984. Known as Manic Subsidal until 1986, the band consists of lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist Dexter Holland, lead guitarist Kevin "Noodles" Wasserman, bassist Greg K. and drummer Pete Parada...
and Angels & Airwaves
Angels & Airwaves
Angels & Airwaves is an American alternative rock supergroup led by Blink-182 guitarist/vocalist Tom DeLonge, also including guitarist David Kennedy from Over My Dead Body, Hazen Street and Box Car Racer, bass guitarist Matt Wachter from 30 Seconds to Mars and former Lostprophets and Nine Inch...
). Custom Floor released one 7" while Phil was in the band, on Goldenrod Records
Goldenrod Records
Goldenrod Records was a record label formed by Tod Swank in 1991 in San Diego, California to release the first 7" record by Custom Floor, a band consisting of skateboarders Garry Davis, Phil Esbenshade, and Miki Vuckovich. After the release of the Custom Floor record, Swank's other project,...
.
Phil E. appeared in Transworld Skateboarding
Transworld Skateboarding
Transworld SKATEboarding is a skateboarding magazine, website, and production company.Founded in 1983, TWS was a response to Thrasher Magazine and specifically to the December 1982 article ‘Skate and Destroy’ written by C.R...
magazine, Thrasher Magazine
Thrasher magazine
Thrasher is a monthly skateboarding magazine founded in 1981 by Kevin Thatcher, Eric Swenson, and Fausto Vitello. It regularly publishes articles , skateboard photography, interviews with professional skateboarders, interviews with and reviews of musical groups, skatepark reviews, and miscellaneous...
, Freestylin', Homeboy Magazine, Warp Magazine, and Poweredge Magazine numerous times between 1987-1992. Sponsors included Gullwing Trucks, Santa Cruz Skateboards Speed Wheels, Venture Trucks, Smallroom, Zorlac Skateboards, and G&S Skateboards.
There is a chapter about Phil Esbenshade in the book, A Skateboarder's History of the World by Jocko Weyland. Photos of Phil Esbenshade appear in the photography book, "Rat a Tat Tat Birds" by Jeff Winterberg.
Esbenshade is an alumnus of the University of La Verne College of Law
University of La Verne College of Law
The University of La Verne College of Law is a private law school in Ontario, California. Founded in 1970, it is part of the University of La Verne. The College of Law was provisionally approved by the American Bar Association in 2006, but the approval was denied effective June 30, 2011...
, United States International University (now Alliant International University
Alliant International University
Alliant International University is a private, non-profit higher education institution based in San Diego, California. It offers programs in six California cities and four locations outside the United States...
) and San Diego Miramar College.
External links
- Skull Skates Phil E.'s sponsor