Philadelphia’s Skate Rock Veterans McRad have been confirmed for this year’s Bergfest in Münster. We’re totally stoked about this! Chuck Treece and McRad will rock the Monster Bowl! McRad was featured in the legendary Powell Peralta’s classic videos like Public Domain, Ban This and Propaganda. The Song “Weakness” became one of the most influencial skate songs ever. McRad’s frontman Chuck Treece was also a pro skater with endorsements by several companies, including Santa Cruz Skateboards, Powell-Peralta, and Airwalk.
Chuck Treece and McRad
The name Chuck Treece often arrives with a prelude – legendary, prolific, influential – to name a few. Everyone deserves an esteemed title but what’s most important to Treece is having music as his main inspiration in life and becoming the person he set out to become.
At first it was all about being a drummer at age 6. But between growing into adolescence, visits to his mom’s in West Philly and trips to the Cherry Hill Skate Park his vision turned to skate ramps and asphalt. When a 13-year-old Treece discovered the Sex Pistols, The Clash, and Minor Threat it became all about the music, and the skateboarding, and the skateboarding music.
Thrasher May, 1984. Cover: Chuck Treece – Layback Tailslide. Photo: Friedman
There was certainly a way to be a skater and a musician and, by 1982, Treece claimed the town of Philly to do just that. Thanks to Stacy Peralta (of Dogtown and Z Boys fame) he became sponsored, and within the year formed the punk rock band McRad with fellow skater Zeke Zagar. With McRad and Peralta came skate rock and skate videos such as Public Domain, Ban This, and Propaganda. In the years to follow Treece turned pro, allowing his two worlds to come together in the best way possible.
In 1990 Chuck Treece ending his sponsorship and began focus on a solo music project. The end result is his most memorable session to date – a full-length album entitled Dream’n (Caroline Records). Around this time Treece worked on remixes through Ruffhouse records for numerous artists including Sting, Amy Grant, and the Goats.
1993 was a year of door-opening opportunities including one of the greatest band and touring experiences ever. After auditioning (and being turned down) to be the new lead singer of Bad Brains in 1989, Treece returned only a few years later as their drummer on three consecutive tours. Life on the road continued as he joined Urge Overkill and toured back to back with Bad Brains.
