Paul ‘Deuce’ Plawa is a bit of an enigma in BMX. I don’t even remember when I first encountered him, but he immediately reached “legend” status in my book when he rode off the stage of a Lucero concert in his wheelchair. Since 2001, he’s been on again, off again with Badashell Clothing, a clothing company with an impressive team that boasts the likes of Big Daddy, Brad Gethard, Clipper and more. I also don’t know how or why, but I started sending him magazines addressed to “Chocolate Santa” a few years ago, and we’ve kept in contact since. Which brings us to the following Q&A with Deuce about Badashell. Read on for some entertaining, drunken commentary from Deuce. And while on the subject Deuce, I’m not going to do a bike check on your wheelchair, so stop asking....
Explain the history of Badashell, how it started and how it got to where it currently is.
BADASHELL started in September of 2001, because I realized that I would never be able to ride again. Most people don’t know this, but I rode throughout the ‘90s. I remember hanging out with a lot of pros when I rode with business being the last thing on my mind. I grew up on old ECD videos and Lansdale-area parties. I was either thinking about riding or getting laid. I got a lot of advice from MCM and Derek Adams, which led to shirts being printed. Keith Gower gave me alot of help choosing the first BADASHELL team. We started to go to all the FBM contests and I started making some good friends that I had never met before. Clipper joined the team and has been on now for over five years. And he’s given me a ride to a lot of out of state contests. He promotes the shit of this company. He’s a lifer. Maybe Butcher too,since, he knows how I feel. Guys which rode for t-shirts would rock my shit in their runs. And now, we’re a big deal in Kahzikstan. I’d like to thank everyone that supports the way Badashell is. If you’re not down, later fool.
What and who makes Badashell possible to exist as a company?
Me,and a lot of help from my mom, my designer Jim Jim, them straps at Dan’s, and my riders then and now.
What are your personal responsibilities at Badashell?
I change Deuce’s sheets when he pisses the bed. I am his personal bodyguard, and I make sure he gets drunk every night.
How do you decide on the art direction at Badashell?
Right now that’s my designer’s territory. He designs almost all of the shirts we manufacture. I suck at designing shit.
What do you think sets Badashell apart from other clothing companies in the BMX marketplace today?
We do whatever we feel like, and don’t care what you think.
How is the team decided on? Who’s the troublemaker?
The team is basically a group of my friends around PA, NJ and NY. I think Big Daddy is guilty here of being the troublemaker because he just makes fun of everyone in BMX.
What plans does Badashell have for the immediate future?
I honestly don’t know. I’ll probably quit. Shit ain’t working out. I’m in talks with another company in the BMX industry and we’ll see how that works out. I have to keep it real. If stopping BADASHELL and doing something else feels right, I’m ready for change. We’re no big deal anyways.
