BMX Society Collector Spotlight #3: Truly Odd

[S.Brothers]

You've seen his incredible bikes at the gatherings and during Bike of the Year, for the past few years. You've seen him on Fantasy Factory, promoting Impakt sidehacks with Greyboy. You've noticed his passion for hip hop, in the off topic threads... who is this mild mannered Truly Odd cat?

 

Well, let's find out! In early July I got together with Patrick, we sat down between rows of incredible bikes in stands and hanging from hooks on the ceiling, and crates and boxes full of LP records stacked to the roof... so I turned the recorder on and we had a long talk... this is BMX Society Collector Spotlight 3, and this is Truly Odd.

 

 

Starting with the essentials, what is your name & occupation?

 

People know me as DJ truly odd, my real name is Patrick Freitas. Occupation is DJ, producer, musician for most of my life but now a co-owner of a BMX sidehack company called, Impakt.

 

 

 

What’s a typical day in the life of Truly Odd like?

 

A typical day is talking with djs, record label and industry people and downloading music. I also run a Dj & Music Service (Record Pool) called the Heavyweights. It’s a crew of about 50 DJ’s and it's basically a company for he recored labels to come to, to get their music out to the masses. We're all highly active dj's and the labels are looking to introduce their new music to dj's that can help promote & brake their songs. So i spend a lot of time going though emails and downloading music. And of course a lot of BMX… as much as possible. Whether it is riding to working on the company… Impakt or collecting stuff. And, you know, hanging out with my girl.

 

So you aren’t married.

 

Actually just got engaged.

 

Big ups to you both.

 

Your music work, is that a subscription service?

 

Yes, the DJ’s pay to subscribe…but they get a ton of new unreleased music. I’m the middle man between record companies and DJ’s. We got together as an outlet to break new music… in the clubs, on radio, internet, etc. The labels come to me with their music and i get it to the DJ’s.

 

 

Do you have other hobbies or collecting interests other than BMX?

 

Yeah, record collector for a long time. Definitely a big vinyl collector.

 

How large is the vinyl collection? I’ve seen some of it… so I know it’s a lot.

 

Oh man.. I couldn’t even put a number on it.. I mean pfff.. rooms full, garage full, storage units… I don’t know. Hundered thousand.

 

Whoa. Everything… Hiphop, rock, Jazz, everything?

 

Mmhm… definitely everything, I guess predominately hip hop though. You know growing up as a kid, I was into rock, heavy metal…Black Sabbath, you know… Zeppelin, Kiss and all that. But I got into Hip Hop in the early 80’s - I really gravitated towards it and just got into the Hip Hop scene, and by the mid 80’s,you know everything was all about the music and the beats and creating trying to be a producer and buying records and dj’ing all the components of Hip Hop pretty much.

 

I think most people on the site and in the general BMX community, don’t really realize that you are not playing around here… you are the real deal… important, I mean this is a legitimate career. You’ve worked with a lot of big people, and that kinda goes to show your not just like spinning at parties and bar mitzvahs (laughing) you are an acknowledged and respected cat amongst your professional peers… and that’s real. You are super humble about it, but I’ve seen the platinum plaques on your walls. You worked with Everlast and other big names… you’ve been around.

 

Ha haa, well in the beginning it started like that, back in the early 80’s but I wanted to produce records and create. I always liked DJing but it wasn’t just about that, but my DJing took me to college radio, first San Diego then here in LA at USC. That led to me meeting more people and eventually landing a show on Power 106, which at that time was the biggest radio station in Los Angeles. Every Friday night for 8 years. I got really involved in the 'scene' and met a lot of people. Everlast – I knew him from the radio shows, and after House of Pain he wanted to do something else, Lethal was doing stuff with Limp Biskit, so Everlast wanted to put a band together, so he called me up and was “hey man, I want to auditon DJ’s why don’t you come out”, so he heard me and was like “yep that’s it, I got the DJ, let’s find the guitar player and everybody else” so that was it, we had a band and I recorded on his albums and we ended up touring for like 3 years. On the road with a rock band was cool...I wasn’t in the night clubs anymore. I always looked at Dj'n as more of a turntabelist, than just a DJ that plays records… sure I can play records, but the band is where i could really use my turntables like an instrument, as my means of expression.

 

 

Cool. So was that the Whitey Ford album?

 

Yeah, thats when I started, then the album Black Jesus… those 2 albums and then in between there he recorded with Santana on the Supernatural album and he won a Grammy. So we stayed on the road touring for 3 years.

 

I remember seeing a Saturday Night Live show back in that era…that had him on there… were you there that night?

 

Yeah, we did SNL, HBO, Rosie Odonnel, Letterman, Conan...Leno, We did Howard Stern and others.

 

So back to BMX then…how do you fit BMX in to the daily schedule? Your occupation allows flexibility?

 

That's right, my schedule is flexible, I work mostly at night with the music, and my business right now is Impakt Sidehacks. So, you know, whether it’s developing the sidehacks or riding.. it’s BMX. And the collecting kind of finds it’s way in there between everything. So the whole BMX passion… I like to ride a lot too.. as much as I can.

 

 

Let’s get some personal history with bmx… were you a racer?

I was… I guess my initial interest in BMX was from watching Evel Knievel. I wanted to jump stuff. That was the whole thing… hanging out with other kids who wanted to jump. I grew up in Merced California… Merced was a town that BMX was "live", it was really happening there… from an early stage. Kids were getting bikes, the shops had bikes...tracks were everywhere. I started racing in the late 70’s until about 85 and that’s kind of when Hip Hop took over, and then high school and from then on it became about driving and then college. Then I moved to San Diego for school, my buddy down there had a Quad and was wanting to ride. I told him “I got a bike at my parents still” and ended up racing my same bike again, so I had a little come back in 94.

 

You were on the Star?

Yep I was on the Star. There in Kearny Mesa. Mikey King and Charles Townsend were out there. I remember tripping like, “damn, Mikey’s still riding”, so I was going out there for practice and one day on the gate, he looked over at my bike and was, like, “oh man... that thing is old school” ha ha ha! And that was only like 94! But I liked it and that’s what I rode. I just wanted to ride… to race, so I came back to it. So I did for a while… nothing too serious. In my mind I could still ride… but the tracks were different and I was getting tossed. (laughing) Then I hurt my knee real bad and that was it.

 

So… then when did youcome back to it as a collector and how did that happen?

 

I guess about 2006 or so. I knew Greyboy from San Diego… we had recorded music together and knew each other from the music scene since the early 90’s. But never for any BMX stuff. He had moved up here from San Diego and I went over to check out his place and I saw the chrome 24" CW phaze 1 and that red Nomura 26 inch cruiser… and I was like, “dude, what are you doing with these bikes?!” And he told me he was into the 80’s stuff, collecting it and that there was kind of a little scene surrounding it. And I said, “I still got my bike… it’s at my parent’s house” and he said, “what?!, what do you have? Go get it! “ (Laughing). So I went and got it and that was it… I got the bug , it all came back…cause you know I’m a nerd-collector of records and shit. It was like that with the bikes, it just happened first, I got my bike back into shape and it didn’t stop there… then I started collecting all the other bikes that I couldn’t have as a kid.

 

So it started with bringing the Star back into form?

 

Yeah, I had a lot of parts still at my parents’ in the garage. My parents knew my bike was a grail to me back then… when I bought the star I bought it from x-factory rider Kevin McCarthy. I really wanted his bike… it was rare and nobody had that. It’s the same with record collecting… I like to have things that are really uncommon, so it was the same with the bikes. I really liked it, it was tricked out, I was on my bike 24/7 and my parents knew that. When I went away I told them you know…“don’t do anything to the bike”, but it set at my parents house for years. My dad would even ride it to the store and stuff… he said kids would trip off of him on it. so yeah I told Grey… you know it still has Patterson bars and all that on there, and he and Lionel told me to go get it .

 

I remember when you first came around… I think there was really only like one other Star on the sites… or maybe even just a photo. So that’s why I was always blown away by yours… it was so dialed, and then the fact it was yours since back in the day…forget about it. That rules.

 

Yeah, there was a pic but i didn't see any around for a while. a couple others have popped up recently… one in Australia, StevenBven had one… don't know of any others. I actually have two now though. A buddy of mine found one at the scrap yard… he saw the bars in the pile and pulled it out. Then was down to work a deal.

 

So that is just sitting on ice for now?

 

Yeah..it’s actually a first gen with no serial number, first gen decals, bars… all survivor, good chrome and all.

 

So has Greg Hill seen your bike?

 

Yeah, he did… I took it to one of the shows, he checked it out, but he wasn’t overly impressed. Kind of like “yeah cool” kind of no biggy. (Laughing).

 

Hm, yeah it seems like collecting may be something he doesn’t fully relate to. Anyway, when did Star frames come out?

 

I’d say early 82.

 

So after the Star…what else are you into, from a collector’s perspective? What did you get into?

 

I don’t know… 70’s & early 80's stuff, I like the 70’s cause that’s when I started and they are just real interesting to me. But really, I like rare, small companies, especially small Southern California companies.

 

What was your first purchase when you came back to it?

 

Redline Proline… rusty survivor. I wanted the redline, because I had an MX-II back inthe day. So I got the Redline Proline and built it up and then that led to the Rebel stuff with Lionel and Grey. I wasn’t that familiar with Rebel, but realized how sick these bikes were… again, the small companies. I like that stuff.

 

So let’s take some of the bikes that surround us here where we sit… roll call.

 

Panda, CW, PK, Torker, Hustlers, the other two Hustlers all that stuff… then the rest is inside… several more. CW pit, Hustler pit, some GJS projects. One of them G Ryd is building the rims for right now. I’ve got the Hutch Hollywood, Nomura… another Hustler… a bunch of projects.

 

Have you been acquiring these in a slow process or did you hit it hard this past year? I didn’t remember you having all this.

 

I dove in pretty serious and jumped on some stuff that I knew didn’t come around very often, and yeah, I just picked it up when I had the chance over the last few years.

 

Has your collecting changed much since the beginning? Have your tastes changed? I can see you were kind of a natural at all this by the looks of your bikes. Mad tastefull compositions, I think.

 

My tastes changed, but i always was into knowing products and brands. I’ve learned a lot more in the past few years, but I still had a lot of memories....and going back through the magazines freshened the memory too. I also saw Lionel and Grey and knew they were building high level, era correct and understanding the qualities of survivors rather than jumping on refinished stuff. That was the environment.

 

Have you ever had to refinish a bike?

 

No. Not that I’ve had to refinish. There was a bike that I got in my collection that I didn’t know at the time had been refinished, but because of that refinish… it just doesn’t hold that… value to me. I just like original finish. I see the “artisanship” of it too. I see this stuff … it's like art. all the hand made stuff from right there in Southern California or elsewhere here in America. I appreciate it. From the 70’s to the present. I ride 2010 bikes now… the quality, the geometry, etc....everything about the new shit I appreciate too.

 

That’s kind of what I meant. You didn’t have a big learning curve. You seemed to have an immediate high level appreciation of the important aspects of collecting. Lot of dudes come in and feel they have to re-powder and re-chrome everything. You know, they have to fuck up a few bikes before they get some realization on how these things are best handled. But you didn’t do that. You were immediately, kind of “boom” - connoisseur.

 

(laughing) I think that kind of goes back to my music stuff… my record collecting. I brought that kind of appreciation with me. You don’t want a re-issue, or a bootleg. It has to be an original press, I’m looking for a promotional copy, small limited runs, a test pressing. Stuff that is rare and unique and… most of all GOOD. But not because mass media told us it was good. I'm searching out quality stuff that wasn’t promoted in the typical channels -- the real thing, i knew quality and that’s what I wanted. And that’s what I carried over into bikes. Not just shiney, re-produced… whatever. I want the real thing.

 

What about the sites…were web bmx sites a big part of it for you when you first came back to BMX after, what… 15 years or so, since your little early 90’s come back dalliance?

 

Yeah, well Grey and Lionel were on OS-BMX, so that was where I settled but I nerded out on BMX and I wanted to see anything… so everything I could find anywhere over the internet. I just felt like the OS guys knew what they were talking about – it’s deeper and there were freestylers, old school guys, the legends were coming through too… so it was just kind of a natural, comfortable thing.

 

 

 

As far as collecting goes,are you mainly into race bikes or do you collect other stuff too?

 

It goes back to my own history, primarily I was a racer – I got out of racing in 85 as freestyle was coming on hard, so that was, again, sort of naturally… I leaned towards race. But now when I look back, I appreciate freestyle much more. It’s all bmx. I’m building a freestyle bike now. It’s all two wheels, pedals and a cross-brace handle bar.

 

That’s what I’m sayin! (laughing) What drives your collecting? Are you into brands? Or is it about eras? What is it that inspires your collecting drive?

 

I guess era is important. I like the stuff from the 70’s and 80’s during the period when I rode. I just like unique stuff. With history… a bike that was ridden by a factory rider, or just real nice quality stuff. Finely crafted, quality products. Not just mass produced stuff. The well crafted brands do it for me.

 

As far as brands… I like Star, because that’s what I rode, Star bars all that. I like Rebel, I really got into that.. Very well made, nice riding bikes and they were only around for a short time.. I like, as I said before, the southern California companies… GJS, Nomura, Hustler even SE I appreciate. I am not the biggest SE fan, but they were doing interesting stuff. And I like White Bear… as far as mid-school goes. Cause they’re from Merced up in the central valley, Northern California.

 

You never got into Patterson?

 

Yeah, I did. Richie Anderson was one of my favorite racers growing up. He used to race Merced.

 

If the house was on fire, what would be the one or two bikes you’d save first?

 

Well.. the Star of course because of the personal history. After that, I don’t know…the Nomura maybe. Hard to say.

 

What is your take on the reproduction and retro craze?

 

Ahh.. man. (Laughing). Well, I’m not totally against retro, it has it’s place. I’m just against doing replicas…the full reproduction. If the stuff can be passed off as old school product, I don’t like that. It should be marked, easily distinguishable. Plus, why can't people do something new... make their own thing. Why do they have to put out something other people did 25 years ago?

 

Who builds great bikes? Whose bikes do you admire?

 

Hmm… Lionel and Grey were early influences...gotta mention them. There’s a lot of people that build cool stuff though. Jon…OldskoolPK, Donnie...1966BMX and Larock. Smokin' Endo, Chromey, Relic all do cool stuff on the freestyle… as far as 70’s Sodbuster of course, there’s too many to mention. I like a lot of bikes. It’s hard when I’m on the spot like this to think of people's bikes i like.

 

 

Final question… what is your agenda going forward as a collector? Any dream builds or parts that have not been attained.

 

Well, I’m not actively searching out the next bike, but I always have my eyes open. I’m focusing on some of my existing projects… stuff like the GJS freestyler, a BXC cruiser…

 

You’ve got a BXC?! Wichita,son!

 

Ha haa… yeah. I’ve got a nice BXC. Voris built of course… it’s a nice bike. i got it in a trade...it's a really cool frame.

 

 

Nothing else on your list ?

 

Yeah… a Panda 4. Shocker! I need one of those. I had a couple growing up. I’d like one of those again.

 

 

In closing… what does the next year hold for Impakt?

 

Well, now that we have product in stock, we’re all about promoting sidehacks… the whole bmx sidehack culture, and help it grow. Maybe a sidehack event could get into the X-Games. That sort of thing. Just promoting sidehacks in general. It’s going well. We got tons of positive feedback after the hack race at the BMX Society gathering at Bellflower. People were feeling that.

 

So yeah… just continue to push the “Elite”, the US made sidehacks we do with Impakt, the whole Impakt line and sidehack culture.

 

 

[Kerry]

very, very well done!

 

pat is one of the best around...glad to get some more insight!

 

I loved that song from Everlast...didn't know you were the man behind it DjTo

 

 

Thanks Pat and Steve!

[Spur]

Awesome interview. Steve nailed it, T.O. is the silent assassin in this little hobby and so humble. You don't hear much from him and then BAM some stellar rig is unveiled. For sure, he is one of the few who seem to really get it and a first class collection ta boot. Patrick deserved some time in the spot light no doubt!

[greyboy]

[1966bmx]

awesome spotlight ! nicely done both steve and truly . and thanks for the recognition patrick . i am very humbled that you like what i do . it means a lot . congrats on the spotlight man .

 

and steve , please keep these coming . it is nice to know more about the people here on the site .

 

 

 

and congrats on the engagement dude !!!!!!!!!!!

[RipVanWinkle]

A master of cool and smooth just like that wheelie shot caught in a sweet spot.

 

I dig the depth and variety of his musical knowledge, and it's pretty obvious that T.O. has natural talent for anything he decides to pursue.

 

Thanks for the work and post, Brother Brothers

[AGUILAR3]

Stellar interview Steve....and Pat,you are a true natural.

[boxline69]

Very Nicely done!

[getset]

Outstanding! I like the BMX and music combo for sure. Great read, thanks for hooking it up.

[reilley1]

Good people and lots of respect for what he and Grey are doing for hacks.

[Contender]

Great interview!

 

I have to say, the Panda wheelie pic is fucking perfect!

 

Mods go ahead and kill the profanity, but it is spot on!

 

Regards,

 

A.G.

[Spur]

Great interview!

 

I have to say, the Panda wheelie pic is fucking perfect!

 

Mods go ahead and kill the profanity, but it is spot on!

 

Regards,

 

A.G.

 

 

 

We don't kill profanity at this site, you must have us confused with another. Cuss on!

 

 

[bravoleader]

[COASTY]

Man, that was a great read. Thanks Steve.

[1966bmx]

Great interview!

 

I have to say, the Panda wheelie pic is fucking perfect!

 

Mods go ahead and kill the profanity, but it is spot on!

 

Regards,

 

A.G.

 

 

 

We don't kill profanity at this site, you must have us confused with another. Cuss on!

 

 

 

 

hahahaha

 

 

 

[Larock]

Patrick is definitely a good guy with much knowledge and has a keen eye with his builds!

Respect...

larock

[blikum]

Great interview Steve! Patrick is definitely one cool cat!

[MelvinsArmy]

Very cool! I love these interviews.

[keep_it_warm]

Great job Steve and Patrick. I totally enjoyed it. The bike stuff is cool, but learning about the person as a whole is the best part.

 

FYI: That last 'wheelie' pic with the big smile is one of my all-time fave pics I've seen on this website.

[lboorse2]

Great interview guys. I didn't realize Patrick had so many rigs! So humble about it all too... humble in general, and that's a good thing.

 

Loved it!

[PlanetX]

Very cool. A good read.

[TrulyOdd]

thanks steve and bmxsociety for the spotlight. i'm honored!!

 

 

appreciate the shouts fellas.

[Raceface]

Killer story!T.O.is one cool cat,tune's and BMX!!Thank's for the kind read!!

[chromey]

AWESOME Spotlight Steve and Patrick.

 

Really a great read.

Great flow, sounds like you guys had a good time with this interview (in person?)... it really comes thru in translation. It's nice to get to see some of the gems in your collection I've only heard about over the years. Maybe sometime, an addition in this thread, I'd love to see a few more detail shots of the bikes and parts that give you the most pride.

 

I love your thinking about truly appreciating the original stuff, and I totally relate to that from a music collector standpoint, and independent artist perspective too. So many times I'd prefer to have a lesser known band's demo tapes, live recordings, etc... things that were not pushed to the masses - but represent a time and place thats a bit more honest and focused. (like smaller, hand-made BMX Brands).

 

(ps, thanks very much for the props too. Means a ton coming from you).

 

[dewabo]

I really dig this spotlight deal! Great to get to know a little more about some of the guys I see on here. Keep em coming!

 

TO is cool great read