User:Springbreakpanamacity/Marcus McKenzie

Marcus McKenzie (born December 9, 1980) is an LA based artist, musician, producer, architect, model, tour guide, ride leader and trouble maker. Known aliases include; Pizza Wolf, Skidmarcus, and Mok McKenzie. Marcus is a member of the seminal L.A. bicycle band Funderstorm and is known for his devious schemes and beautiful performance pieces.

Life and Career Marcus was born in Arlington, TX and studied architecture at the University of Texas Arlington before moving to Dallas, TX. In Dallas Marcus put his architecture degree to use by day and began painting frieght trains and walls by night. It was during this time that Marcus became a member of the notorious outlaw bike club; Skid Marxxx Pizza Gang. Following his move to Los Angeles in 2006, Marcus became an active and crucial member on the Midnight Ridazz bicycle community. Marcus' many contributions to night-time group rides in Los Angeles include; Westside Watergun Ride - Ride Founder - Jan 2007 Cubcamp - Ride Co-founder - Feb 2007 CRANK Mob - Ride Co-founder - Sep 2007 Friends OF The Friendless - Ride Founder - Nov 2007 Los Angelopes - Ride Co-founder - Jan 2008 FUNDERSTORM Marcus is one half (1/2000th) of Funderstorm! the L.A. bicycle party band, know for throwing guerrilla shows on rides in vacant parking lots, block parties, dirty graffiti havens and forgotten railroad tunnels in LA and across the country. In 2008 Marcus and fellow Funderstorm founder B-rad Watkins went on a cross country tour from LA to NY, becoming the first band to play shows and tour from west to east coast via bicycle completely unsupported. Funderstorm's "Greatest Hits: The Debut Tribute Album" was released in 2010 and has been described as 'ridiculous and hyperactive beyond belief.' Vandrew Vandrew is Marcus' 12 person passenger van that has ferried dozens of Ridazz on trips across the west coast and country. Ridazz trips, known for their overindulgence, mental and physical extremes and incomprehensible beauty, are a right of passage for many Midnight Ridazz. The following is a list of trips Marcus has facilitated; Austin 1 - Mar 2009 SF/Portland 2 - Jun 2009 San Francisco - July 2009 Burning Man - Aug 2009 San Diego 3 - Sep 2009 San Diego 4 - Oct 2009 Santa Cruz/SF - Oct 2009 Deep Creek - Nov 2009 Austin 2 - Mar 2010 San Francisco - Apr 2010 Phoenix 1 - Apr 2010 Portland 3 - June 2010 Austin 3 - March 2011 Vandrew also doubles as Marcus' home in times of need. Notable Quotes "What motivated you to decide to organize a ride? I am motivated solely by the fact that I firmly believe we are an art movement. We need to spell this with capitals. The Midnight Ridazz Art Movement of the Early 21st Century. Why are we different? I can’t speak for other ride organizers but for me - I am only interested in ride concepts. Socializing, drinking, and exercising are bonus features of this Art Movement, but I want the concept, the setup, the giant expressive social machinized chaos I can provide you as a Ride Artist. If you don’t know what I’m saying, come find out. We are pioneering Art right underneath your sleeping cars. We don’t care if you bike to work, just ride it to the party. We’re a modern graffiti movement, except after we get our kicks in, we’re leaving no trace. Join us. Or failing that, document us."