Deathwish Skateboards: The Most Extreme Side of Modern Skateboarding

Deathwish Skateboards is one of the most iconic, aggressive, and respected brands to emerge from the American skateboarding scene over the past twenty years. Born within the legendary Bakerboys Distribution, the brand quickly built a massive reputation thanks to a devastating team, hardcore videos, and a philosophy fully dedicated to the rawest, heaviest, and most uncompromising skateboarding.

Since its inception, Deathwish has represented the most violent and technical skateboarding of the new American street generation. Huge rails, impossible handrails, absurd spots, and high-risk tricks have always been the brand’s core DNA.

Behind Deathwish are two legendary figures from the Baker scene: Jim Greco and Erik Ellington, riders who contributed enormously to defining the aesthetic and attitude of 2000s skateboarding.

The Birth of Deathwish Skateboards

Deathwish Skateboards was officially founded in 2008 within Bakerboys Distribution. By that time, the Baker Skateboards roster had become so strong and talent-packed that there was a need to create a second company with an even more extreme, dark, and aggressive identity.

Jim Greco and Erik Ellington therefore decided to found Deathwish, building a brand completely different from Baker while maintaining the same hardcore street skateboarding spirit.

The imagery created by Greco draws heavily on cult films from the ’70s and ’80s, American exploitation cinema, horror aesthetics, and the dark atmospheres typical of U.S. underground culture. Even the famous Deathwish logo takes inspiration from the 1970s film of the same name starring Charles Bronson, quickly becoming one of the most recognizable symbols of modern skateboarding.

The first Deathwish graphics were aggressive, provocative, and immediately distinct from any other skate company of the time. The brand immediately managed to forge a powerful connection with skaters seeking a rawer, heavier, and unfiltered style of skateboarding.

Bakerboys Distribution and the brand’s hardcore DNA

To truly understand Deathwish, one must grasp what Bakerboys Distribution represents in the history of modern skateboarding.

We’re talking about the distribution company founded by Andrew Reynolds and Jay Strickland that completely revolutionized the way street skating was viewed in the early 2000s. Baker, Deathwish, Shake Junt, and the other brands associated with the distribution company built a style characterized by speed, punk rock attitude, massive spots, and high-intensity skateboarding.

Deathwish was born right within this culture. It is not simply Baker’s “little brother,” but a company that takes the concept of hardcore street skateboarding to even greater extremes.

Andrew Reynolds has always played a key role within Deathwish as well, overseeing products, the team, and collections alongside the founders. This direct connection to Bakerboys contributed enormously to the brand’s rapid growth.

The Deathstack logo and the birth of the “gang”

One of the elements that made Deathwish instantly iconic was the famous Deathstack logo and, above all, the legendary “Gang” logo.

This symbol quickly became one of the most recognizable logos in the global skateboarding scene thanks to its aggressive aesthetic and strong street identity. The concept of the “gang” perfectly reflects the Deathwish team: riders out of control, lightning-fast, and ready to skate any spot without fear.

The skateboarding scene’s response was immediate. Deathwish T-shirts, decks, and hoodies quickly began selling out worldwide, and the brand grew impressively even in its early years.

The first video, “Baker Has A Deathwish,” also played a huge role in spreading the brand’s reach by showcasing the new team and the company’s attitude to the world.

Antwuan Dixon, Ellington, and the riders who built the legend

One of Deathwish’s first iconic riders was Antwuan Dixon, arguably one of the most charismatic and controversial skaters of his generation.

His raw, creative, and completely unpredictable style contributed enormously to building the brand’s identity in its early years. Despite the personal struggles and legal troubles that marked part of his life, Antwuan has always remained a beloved figure within the global skateboarding scene.

Alongside him, Erik Ellington embodied the perfection of fast, technical street skating. His powerful lines, incredible control, and ability to tackle massive spots defined the Deathwish style from the brand’s inception.

Over the years, the team has continuously evolved, introducing increasingly devastating riders.

The Deathwish Video and the Team’s Evolution

In 2014, “The Deathwish Video” was finally released, still considered today one of the best skate movies of the new skateboarding generation.

The video showcases extreme, technical, and incredibly intense skateboarding where every rider constantly pushes the limits. Gigantic rails, absurd ledges, and extremely dangerous spots become the natural terrain of the Deathwish team.

The video features skaters of the caliber of Lizard King, Erik Ellington, Neen Williams, and many other riders who push the boundaries of modern street skating in new directions.

Over the years, Deathwish has continued to grow stronger thanks to the arrival of skaters like Jamie Foy and Pedro Delfino.

Jamie Foy quickly became one of the most important riders in the global skateboarding scene thanks to his incredible ability to destroy massive handrails with heavy-hitting tricks like fs feebles, fs krooks, and technical grinds executed with absurd power.

Pedro Delfino, on the other hand, perfectly embodies the brand’s most brutal and transition-oriented side. His raw, lightning-fast, and totally out-of-control style has made him one of the most spectacular skaters on the modern scene.

Alongside them are top-tier riders like Brian Hansen, Jon Dickson, Taylor Kirby, Jake Hayes, Eric Ellington, Lizard King, and many others.

Deathwish Skateboards Today

Even today, Deathwish Skateboards continues to be one of the strongest and most respected brands in the global skateboarding scene.

Videos like “Uncrossed” have further confirmed the team’s devastating level, showcasing skateboarding that is increasingly heavy and technical. Their participation in the famous “King Of The Road”—the craziest contest in skateboarding history—has also demonstrated just how much the Deathwish team is considered among the most hardcore in the world.

Deathwish decks are known for their lightness, crisp pop, and high-performance construction. Crafted from premium Canadian maple and featuring top-tier U.S. manufacturing, the brand’s decks are prized by countless skaters for their quick response, solidity, and precise technical feel.

In addition to skateboard decks, Deathwish continues to produce apparel, griptape, accessories, and streetwear collections while maintaining its strong original identity.

Deathwish Skateboards and Pleasures Milano

At Pleasures Milano, we select only brands that truly represent the most authentic skateboarding culture, and Deathwish Skateboards is undoubtedly one of the most important brands of the new generation of American street skateboarding.

We’re talking about a company built by real skaters, grown within Bakerboys Distribution, and capable of redefining the modern concept of hardcore skateboarding. From horror-inspired graphics drawn from 1970s cinema to the most hardcore team videos on the global scene, Deathwish continues to this day to represent one of the most credible and respected brands in modern skateboarding.

At Pleasures Milano, you’ll find a selection curated by those who have lived and breathed skateboard culture every day for over twenty-five years, choosing only decks, apparel, and components truly designed for real skateboarding.