10 Banned Board Graphics

Some of the graphics you see on skateboards can really draw you in, so much to the point that you want the board just for hanging it up on your wall. Here we go through some of the board graphics that have landed the companies, riders, and artists in the dog house. From boards being discontinued to being pulled out of shops and distributions altogether.

1. ANTI HERO – EAT SHIT AND DIE SERIES

Antihero Skateboards released this whole series of graphics that were blatant rip-offs of the corporate companies that we are all familiar with; their logos are almost identical meaning Antihero found themselves in hot water and received cease and desist letters and the boards were pulled from the shelves immediately.

 

2. REAL SKATEBOARDS - HELLS ANGELS SERIES

Real Skateboards released a model with the Hells Angels skull and wings logo; needless to say, the club was not happy about it, and the company received threats and was demanded to bring all of the boards to them. Real Skateboards and the artist for the original board graphic T took the boards from the distributors and shops, then drove them to the clubhouse leaving the boards on the driveway inside a truck with a note that said “Here you go. We are very sorry. Here are the boards and a flatbed truck you can have.”

 

3. WORLD INDUSTRIES - RANDY COLVIN - COLVINETICS

This board, designed by artist Marc McKee, was originally made to be for Jason Lee, however, he had turned it down, and the graphic was then handed over to Randy Colvin, this board really pissed off the Church of Scientology, and they quickly received cease and desist letters. As fast as they went onto the shelves they were off again.

4. DGK - CEASE AND DESIST SERIES

DGK went all out with these, basically just calling it for what it is; they knew it would cause a backlash, but fucking with the biggest corporate companies out there with the best lawyers at hand, but still having the balls to dob yourself in is a pretty expensive but courageous move.

5. GIRL SKATEBOARDS - JOVONTAE TURNER - TOMMY HILFIGER

When Girl Skateboards released the Tommy Hilfiger graphic, the clothing company sent letters to Girl ordering them to discontinue the graphic. It is ironic as now they claim to be supporting skateboarders and getting involved with the skate scene.

6. FLIP SKATEBOARDS - CHEECH AND CHONG

Although this board is still around today and can be found easily, there is a good reason. Flip first released these boards without sharing knowledge with the legends themselves; Cheech and Chong didn't take long before they eventually found one online. However, they are such big fans of skateboarding that they decided to make a deal with Flip where they were paid royalties. So the graphic had a re-release shortly after.

7. BLIND SKATEBOARDS - BEAUTY AND THE BEAST

Blind Skateboards made a graphic so disturbing for Disney that they landed themselves more than just angry response letters. They had threats and cease and desist letters, ordering the company to pull the boards from the shelves, and they were then banned from sale.

8. WORLD INDUSTRIES - DAEWON SONG - THE LAND BEFORE TIME

This one is a gem! From 1992, this graphic was so good that it was able to somehow stay on the shelves for some years and had a successful high sale rate. They were however discontinued after some time.

9. BOOM ART - DISNEY LAND MEMORIAL ORGY BOARDS

Probably labeled as the most expensive if ever found, the whole set was colored in by an ex-Disney employee. Disney hated this so much that they also sent countless threats, phone calls, and of course… cease and desist letters from the unhappy Disney company.

10. BLIND SKATEBOARDS - MR BUTTS

This is the one that may have been too far… Blind not only released a graphic which was featuring a “child-friendly” cigarette saying “Hey kids”. The board also came with a single unfiltered Camel cigarette and one match. This board is extremely hard to find and is probably worth a ton of money now if in good condition and still sealed.

As much as it sucks to see our favorite companies get shafted by huge companies and the best lawyers, it doesn’t seem to dampen their spirits that much. At least not enough to have made them stop coming up with witty, creative, and offensive graphics aimed at corporate companies!

 

Speed on over to the DOSE store to get your hands on some shirts and hoodies.