ENCINO, CALIFORNIA 1992.

I can think of 3 films that immediately come to mind when picturing how my fascination with California lifestyle and California state-of-mind started and those films are The Lost Boys, The Wizard and Encino Man. When TNUC was a young brut, these movies shaped my vision of California, or what I at least could imagine the coastal state being like. The Wizard marked the beginning and birth of the fascination, with the little Nintendo wiz-kid's struggling journey to California seeming almost dreamlike. Lucas Barton's trench coat, oversized Vision Street Wear shirts, puffed blonde hair and of course his blessed POWER GLOVE became TNUC's pubescent-era essentials. Things rapidly change course with The Lost Boys. This film gave TNUC the sleep all day/party all night/never grow old/never die attitude that was previously described in full detail here.

Finally we come to Encino Man. The sun-drenched shots of this Valley city that are portrayed in the movie combined with the day-to-day action that these characters engage in were enough convincing to realize that this was home. Mini-Mart mornings and Magic Mountain afternoons were the essence of my upbringing. Without raiding these local mini-marts to stock up on junk food, harassing the foreign employees and combing Ventura Blvd for Betty Nuggs (babes), I would be a ship lost at sea. Lastly, lets not forget Blades, a place where one could play ice hockey, find an endless supply of Betty Nuggs or play arcade games such as Rad Mobile. Ahhhh, home sweet home. Now watch the above video of Vince Neil'sYou're Invited (But Your Friend Can't Come) from the Encino Man soundtrack.

PSYCHEMAGIK.

Everyone can relate to the feeling of discovering a new artist/band that with every song you pull out of their catalogue, one by one they keep getting better. Psychemagik, a DJ duo from a cosmic forest in the UK (their words), had me at the first .02 seconds of their edit of the Talking Heads classic, This Must Be the Place. Just when you thought the original song couldn't be anymore tropical sounding, the DJ duo enrich it, casting a galloping, island adventure feel over the track that encompasses everything going on in the above picture, plus way more. Imagine this song playing on a remote island where girls donned in loin cloths ride tigers down the beach, bringing you the finest local coconut rum you've ever tasted.

This Must Be The Place (Psychemagik Naive Edit) by Psychemagik

The fun continues with their edit of Fleetwood Mac's Everywhere. The build up they create to the chorus is almost supernatural and has TNUC almost spilling his lunch. Once it hits you, you feel no pain. Great edits like this one give you a new perspective on the original song and begin the love for it all over again.

Fleetwood Mac Everywhere (Psychemagik Edit) by Psychemagik

Lastly, Valley of Paradise is exactly what the title suggests. With samples borrowed from the David Crosby solo track Orleans, they've birthed 9 minutes-plus of pure, desert-heat ecstasy. The acoustics, violins and swooping bass lines will bring you to sacred, ancient caverns of the mind while simultaneously setting your thoughts at ease. Songs like this one often start out promising but then drop off, leaving you underwhelmed and stranded, not reaching that oasis that you visioned back while perched up on the sandy dune. But not this track, Psychemagik reach their oasis, and take huge gulps from its natural, mystical spring. Now go purchase the full song!


Valley Of Paradise - Psychemagik (Clip) by Psychemagik

OFFICIAL BARBARIC FASHIONS.

Everyone knows that being a Barbarian can be fun. But not everyone knows just how difficult it is to be recognized as one. In fact, most Barbarians are constantly fighting a battle of mistaken identity. And theres no telling what that can lead to. That is why The Barbarian Brothers wear these official barbaric fashions whenever they go pillaging, and now you can to!

Made of a heavyweight cotton blend, these barbaric tanks, tees, sweats and shorts are puff-printed, to give them that really pumped up look and feel. And they're available in a variety of styles and designs that make them perfect for almost any barbaric outing.

TNUC's personal Barbarian wardrobe essential - the white, 100% cotton gym shorts with side-seam pockets featuring the Barbarian crest, for $15.00.

Barbaric Fashion Wear. Strap it on....if you think you're up to the part!

YOU CAN'T STOP THE DISCIPLES.

VENICE BEACH, CALIFORNIA:

COLOGNE, GERMANY:

DIRECT QUOTE:

"...as for the TNUC uniform shirt, I hereby promise that this fine and noble garment will exclusively be touched only by my tanned german muscles, Kouros and Azzaro perfume, the seats of my Pontiac Firebird, the benchpress in the gym, gold jewelry and OF COURSE crisp, hot, sweaty and young female teen hardbody flesh by a maximum age of 21!"

- Mike Ballermann

Don't forget to submit YOUR pictures on Facebook.com/UncleTNUC and they will be featured in the upcoming WARRIORS OF THE WIND special. Also, stay tuned to the official TNUC Store for new sizes and colorways!

LET LOOSE.

I can think of no better top down, shade tippin' summer anthem than this Harold Faltermeyer-produced heater from the Fletch soundtrack. 'Bit By Bit', by Stephanie Mills, is a heart-pumping dance number with polished, gold-plated production from Harold Faltermeyer. Modern day producers like Chromeo, Diamond Cut and Com Truise should be drooling when they hear glitzy production quality like this.

Stephanie Mills - Bit By Bit [Fletch] by TNUC

This number goes out to all the people slaving away at their day jobs all summer, breaking their backs for the corporate pigs up in the ivory tower. Same goes for the delinquents and degenerates forced to sit through summer school this season. Hit the download button then throw this one on a blank cassette, drop the top down, turn it up and watch the RPM's rise right in front of your crystal eyes.