Sneaker Pimps: Q&A with Peter Fahey
Hip-Hop plays a huge role in the street scene, along with skating. The entire scene is reflected within Sneaker Pimps. Early on, how did you manage to land such prolific Hip-Hop acts into your shows?
I really just pushed to get good music acts at the shows, it was like a personal goal. Before a tour, I’d sit around with my crew and we’d make lists of the artists we most wanted to book and then start going after them. The hardest part was getting sponsorship dollars together to pay for it because booking artists like Public Enemy, Nas, etc. isn’t cheap. But it does help when 99% of Hip-Hop artists are sneaker fanatics.
That’s for sure. Who’s the biggest sneaker nut out of the acts Sneaker Pimps has showcased?
Hmmm… I’d have to say Nas! Also can’t forget about DJ Clark Kent, there is a dude who lives and breathes sneakers.
So you guys travel year round, what has been your favorite stop thus far?
Man, I can’t front, I love New York City! People here really love and appreciate the show, so I’d have to say NYC. But we once did a show in Jakarta Indonesia that brought out over 10,000 people.
Damn, that’s a ton. With you guys traveling so much, do you have an actual city that you can call home?
Nah not really. I lived in Hong Kong for a year, lived in New York for a year, live in Seattle, Los Angeles, and Vancouver. But yea, still on the road with my wife and baby along with our touring crew. I think pretty soon we will settle in a city, but for now its city to city.
How big is the Sneaker Pimps traveling crew?
There is 7 of us. Sometimes we bring other people in for certain tours though.
Must be tough work, props man.
Yeah man, it’s a huge job. None of us were trained for this, so we are still learning on the job you know?
No doubt. What’s the biggest difference you’ve noticed within the sneaker audience now and when you guys first began?
The age range has shifted from 23-35 year olds to about 15-25, so we see a lot of kids coming through these days.
Yea, kids are starting off young in this industry, developing their own brands, etc. Do you guys have any plans for further Sneaker Pimps product?
Well, we did the whole brand thing and it was cool but I think, product wise, we are more into doing like straight tour tees and merchandise you can buy as memorabilia at the Sneaker Pimps shows.
With 2009 almost half way through, what plans do you have for Sneaker Pimps for the remainder of the year? or heading into 2010?
We still have another 17 cities of this US Tour left, a Canadian tour, a show in Mexico and a tour in Australia. Keeping it moving.
Best of luck in your travels Peter. Thanks for catching up. Any last words?
Thank You. I remember Hypebeast when it first came out, its dope to see the progression. Thanks goes out to my sponsors as well, Verizon Wireless & X-Box, my crew and of course all the fans!
Peace!
