Marseille has held an allure for me ever since +1 editor Hoppy described it as being ‘a law unto itself’. Apparently Marseillians don’t consider themselves part of France, the world begins and ends with Marseille. If they could, they’d have their own government and their own laws, although it seems like they don’t care much for the law. Crime rate is high, driving is survival of the fittest, and frankly they just don’t give a fuck what you think of them. I respect that. Skating is high on the list of priorities with its infamous bowl near the Parc Borely, it is the home Pastis – a 40% proof, aniseed tasting aperatif, and their pizza is world renowned.
So it was with this in mind that we decided Marseille was to be the location for our cover shoot with shit-hot Roxy surfer Lee Ann Curren (daughter of legendary surf champ Tom Curren), and our fashion shoot, inspired by Hugh Holland’s photographs of Californian skaters in the 70s – both for issue 20 (Aug/Sep).
Marseille’s infamous skate park (well, half of it)
Lee Ann and makeup artist Abi in action
We shot some of our fashion story on the roof of Le Corbusier’s amazing Cite Radieuse (The Radiant City) of Marseille. If you go to Marseille, take the lift to the roof and watch the sun set over the sea with a bottle of Rose.
Cite Radieuse from the outside. Yes, people actually live here! There’s a restaurant and a reasonably priced hotel on the 3rd floor.
La Caverne – the most ghetto skate park I’ve ever seen, built in old hangers in the hills above Marseille. The graffiti is off the hook, and there are burnt out cars strewn around. We thought we were going to get shot and then realised it was people playing paint ball.
