Bam Margera
Bam Margera (born Brandon Cole Margera on September 28 , 1979 ) is a professional skateboarder and television personality. He released a series of videos under the CKY banner and came to prominence after being drafted into MTV’s Jackass crew. He has since appeared in Viva La Bam, both Jackass movies and Haggard which he also co-wrote and directed.
Personal life
Margera was born in West Chester , Pennsylvania to Phil and April Margera . He is also the younger brother of Jess Margera . He attended East High School and cites friend Chris Raab as his only reason for attending high school, and dropped out after Raab got expelled for smearing feces on a locker. He later successfully received his GED at the insistence of his parents.
Margera was previously engaged to Jenn Rivell, a divorced single mother six years his senior. Rivell played a prominent part in several of his projects and the couple appeared to be co-habiting in various episodes of Viva La Bam. However, the relationship ended in 2005 and Margera would later become engaged to Melissa “Missy” Rothstein, a childhood friend. In November 2006 Margera filed for “protection from abuse” from Rivell after she allegedly broke into his house. He further alleged that Rivell had exhibited irrational and aggressive behavior towards him on several previous occasions including destroying several computers and vandalizing his house immediately after their initial breakup. Rivell’s lawyer dismissed the allegations as “speculative” and “hearsay”. Their break-up was attributed to rumors Margera had slept with pop star Jessica Simpson, which Margera initially denied before admitting they had been “intimate”. Margera reasserted that nothing untoward had happened after he and Simpson met at an MTV Video Music Awards after-party in 2006.
Career
Skateboarding career
Margera is a member of Team Element , the demonstration team for Element Skateboards . He is also sponsored by Adio Footwear, Destructo Trucks, Speed Metal Bearings, Electric Visual, and Fairman’s Skateshop . Although Margera does not compete at the higher levels of skateboarding, his large sponsorship packages assure him of “pro” status. Bam also appeared in a movie called Destroying America also starring Tony Hawk, Brandon DiCamillo, and many more.
In January of 2005, Margera successfully landed The Loop in Phoenix, Arizona . He became the 13th known skater to land it, and was the first street skater to successfully land it.
TV, film & radio
The CKY videos
Margera began filming himself and his friends skateboarding and doing stunts and released a compliation of his work as CKY: Landspeed in 1999. CKY2K, CKY3 and CKY4 have also been released. CKY stands for “Camp Kill Yourself”, a reference to the film Sleepaway Camp. These early videos feature many of Margera’s friends, including Ryan Dunn, Brandon DiCamillo, Rake Yohn, Chris Raab, Brandon Novak and others who form a loose collective known as the CKY Crew . CKY is also the name of a rock band featuring his brother Jess, and the history and relationship between the video and band projects is heavily interlinked.
Jackass
Former Big Brother editor Jeff Tremaine noticed Bam’s videos and drafted him into the team which would eventually become MTV’s Jackass series. Margera and Ryan Dunn became mainstays of the cast while other CKY crew members played supporting roles to various degrees. Margera went on to appear in both Jackass: The Movie and Jackass Number Two.
Viva La Bam
After Jackass, Margera was given his own MTV series entitled Viva La Bam. The show ran for 5 seasons between 2003-2005 and followed Margera and his crew as they performed various stunts and missions. The show was primarily filmed in West Chester, Pennsylvania but also visited New Orleans, LA, Brazil, Finland, Mexico and Transylvania. In addition to the regular series, special episodes have included Viva La Spring Break and a “lost” episode included on the Viva La Bands CD.
Haggard
Margera co-wrote, directed and starred in Haggard (2003), an independent film based on real events in the life of his friend Ryan Dunn. Dunn played himself as the main character while Margera played “Valo”, a character based on himself and elements of HIM singer Ville Valo. Tony Hawk made a guest appearance as a police officer.
Radio Bam
Margera began a weekly Sirius Satellite Radio show on Sirius channel 28 Faction on November 24 , 2004 called Radio Bam. The show features Margera along with friends from the CKY and Jackass crews.
Other projects
Margera owns a music label, Filthy Note Records , and has directed videos for Clutch, Turbonegro, Viking Skull, Vains of Jenna and several for CKY . He also directed four music videos for the Finnish band HIM: Buried Alive By Love, The Sacrament, And Love Said No, and Solitary Man.
Margera has been animated as a character in pro-skateboarder Tony Hawk’s video games: Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3, Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 4, Tony Hawk’s Underground, Tony Hawk’s Underground 2, Tony Hawk’s American Wasteland, and Tony Hawk’s Project 8.
Margera is currently writing, producing and directing a feature film entitled Kiss a Good Man’s Ass . The film is a loose sequel to Haggard and will feature the “garbage juicer” invention from that film.
He announced he would be working on a film called The Dream Seller . The title is a nickname for long-time friend and fellow skater Brandon Novak.
Margera is set to appear in a new MTV show on January 30th, 2007 entitled Bam’s Unholy Union. The show will follow Margera, his fiance Missy Rothstein and their friends in the lead-up to their wedding.
Trivia
- Bam’s name originates from his childhood when he would sometimes go crazy and run into walls, causing his grandfather Pop-Pop to say “Bam, bam, bam, chill out! Bam!” Bam was 3 years old.
- Bam is engaged to Melissa “Missy” Rothstein. Margera has known Rothstein since the 6th grade.
- In the DVD commentary for Jackass: The Box Set, Margera said that Element Skateboards pays him two million dollars a year to wear their clothing.
- He is good friends with Ville Valo, the lead singer of HIM.
- Margera appeared on Punk’d, in 2005 . Margera’s Element team manager pretended to be a hostage during a staged convenience store hold-up while Margera waited in the parking lot. Police arrived and questioned Margera who was visibly scared, begging them to let him get further away from the store. The real LAPD SWAT team helped with the prank.
- Margera currently resides in “Castle Bam”, a large house near West Chester, PA. The house has a gothic decorative theme, a skatepark in the driveway and is situated on 14 acres of land.
- Margera revealed on the November 13 , 2006 episode of Radio Bam on Sirius Satellite Radio that he had his name legally changed to Bam.
- Margera has a small speaking part in the skateboarding movie Grind.
- Margera has ophidiophobia , a fear of snakes. In Viva La Bam (season 3, episode 3) and Jackass Number Two, Margera was visibly shaken after being “pranked” into close contact with snakes.
- Margera appeared in the video game Scarface: The World Is Yours as a liquor store owner.
Links
BAMargera.com - Bam Margera’s Official Website
FilthyNote.com? - Filthy Note, Bam Margera’s Record Label
February 13th, 2007 at 12:21 pm
cool site
February 14th, 2007 at 2:39 pm
I LOVE U BAM………
February 16th, 2007 at 1:28 pm
Me and my boyfriend love the shows. Keep em coming. you and missy are the greatest
February 16th, 2007 at 3:11 pm
I would love ,just to huge Bam and tohim talk about Jackass 2!!!I love you bam.Its to bad i live in newzealand and i am unable to get stuff you have designed!!lots of love heartbroken stephXXXXXXXXX
February 17th, 2007 at 10:22 pm
steph-77 girl u need to git some help in ur head k hes mine and blueeyesweets he should not be to geather with missy k so nnnnnnnnnoooooooooooooooooooooooo k …………………………………….mj…………………………………………….
February 19th, 2007 at 5:06 am
me and my girlfriend watch your show all the time
c ya
February 20th, 2007 at 12:44 pm
bam is the best skate boarder ever
March 2nd, 2007 at 6:19 am
Bam is a HOT-TIE of note… i love the shows. we just got the new season in S.A on mtv and you and the crew kick bottom!
March 16th, 2007 at 10:54 pm
Hey it’s me and I just wanted to say bam is so hot and I wish he was my age. And I LOVE bam’s unholy union, I’m watching it now! Comment you lata!
April 4th, 2007 at 3:13 pm
im new
do you guys skate board?
April 7th, 2007 at 2:12 pm
Bam Margera is freakin awsome. Skating rocks.
April 18th, 2007 at 4:38 am
bam u r so cool u r my hero in a way , i love skating and u do too i wish i could meet u dude so then u could show me some of your moves on a skateboard i when to a element demo and i was so bummed it was the australian element team i thought it was u , mike v , tosh and others but hey these aussie guys r also good too i live in australia dude i wish i lived in westchester,pennsilvaniya because it would litterally be my dream come true to meet u dude i would love to meet bam , dico , dunn , rake , and raab… bam, dico and raab r so cool and funny but i really like to meet u bam FROM James Perth, Western Australia
April 28th, 2007 at 8:11 pm
hey me and my girlfriend love the viva la bam series and the unholy union where they get married, my girlfriend one wish is to see bam and missy in person if that could happen she would be the happyest person on earth .
we both love all the bam shows and have all the bam merchandice and we are going to buy the wedding series
April 29th, 2007 at 3:25 am
i got the greatest idea for a stunt to do on your show it would be great– musical CARS just get a couple of demolition derby cars and drive them in a circle around a parking lot and stop the music and then everyone has to get a spot!!!! it would be awesome!!!!!!!
June 13th, 2007 at 2:56 pm
yo bam r u going to do a season6 with missy? cmon let us know plz
June 21st, 2007 at 2:38 pm
bam you are my #1 idol beacuse you are lukey you got a tv show your rich and famous. you even got the hot wife.
June 24th, 2007 at 6:01 am
dude u rock more than enyone ur n.o.1 fan
August 5th, 2007 at 12:56 pm
hey bam.
i love ur show
you are very cool u are very good on skateboard and do very funny and cool stunts,
i want to be like u than i be big im just 13 years old.
August 5th, 2007 at 1:00 pm
i see your show every day.
you are soooooooooo cool
August 10th, 2007 at 10:12 pm
hi people jus thought id let u know you will be watchin my cuzions haden and tyler on t.v pretty soon cuz thier the best sk8 boarders ever in our neihborhood thier known as beenin the best sk8 boarders ever so enjoy bam while his show last. k?
September 5th, 2007 at 12:40 pm
kick don vito’s ass bam
September 23rd, 2007 at 1:37 pm
bam do you ever get miss with from your fan I think it would suck if some one just ran up and kick you in the nuts.and if you are in Arizona come and buy my land.Email me
September 26th, 2007 at 4:50 pm
bam you r the one sk8ter that i look up to thank you for that ummm i don’t know what els to say except love the show and my brother says hi ok well l8ter
January 1st, 2008 at 2:45 pm
Heyy Bam Yu Hottiee !
I cant Skate I have triedd Lots of Timess But Its Just Not My Thingg But It’s Soo hardd :))
I Admiree Yu Soo Muchh
Howw Was it Workinn With The JackAss Guyss ?
It Mustt Be Raddd x_!
Writee Ba Too Me Pleasee x
January 3rd, 2008 at 5:37 am
hey guys, this site rulesXD
is it possible too speak with bam margera on this site??
January 14th, 2008 at 2:22 am
hey bam. i love the show i can’t skateboard as much.
i can go fast and go round cornors short of ollie.
but i don’t skate for the trick i skate to get around quickly.
would be great to talk you one time.
Jake.
January 20th, 2008 at 7:37 am
hey,i’m totally love your show i think that the coolest thing that i ever saw,i love your attitude and also deed to everyone,but i’m very happy you got married with missy,and i want to ask something to you haw can you do many things like that??? and hoe is Chris Raab???
It would be awesome to talk with you
Riga
January 28th, 2008 at 9:56 pm
Bam if ur ever in stigler ok u need 2 do a demo caus theres nothing ever going on in this town and i would like 2 skate with u but im not as good as u ,and i would like for u 2 teach me some of ur tricks.
Rodney.
January 30th, 2008 at 10:12 am
I love Viva La Bam and all Your other shows Bam, force MTV so send them more often !
Anders
February 3rd, 2008 at 7:53 pm
dude i love bam i stay up every time there is a marathon on ily bam your awesome=]?
March 25th, 2008 at 7:27 pm
yo bam how do u honestly feel about don veto do u think hell get mad time in jail u probley think its funny but its only funny if u can viedo tape it listen i have been tellen every one something happen to vito because i never seen him on the new viedos..then i found out something really did happen i hope every thing goes well for u all!!!and bam i just wanted to know if you reamber like a year ago i came to ur house and we were tryen to get in the gate was closed i drove from philly to see u and u just ignored me i had one of the funest ideas u would of loved it.. if u read this send me a massage to my email andblet me know a way to give u my number you gotta hear this idea.. i live mad close to u my email is king.ken24@yahoo.com
July 21st, 2008 at 5:41 pm
WHAT UP THIS IS SICK MY GIRLFRIEND AND I ARE WATCHING YOUR SHOW AND WAS TALKING HOW FUNNY THE STUFF YOU DO AND FREAKING FUNNY AS HELL. AND IM ALWAYS SAYING TO HER HOW I ALWAYS WANTED TO BE PART OF THE CREW AND I WOULD FIT RIGHT IN.. IF YOU EVER HAVE TIME SEND AN E-MAIL sick4life@live.com c-ya sick sends his love and respect to you and the crew
July 28th, 2008 at 1:23 pm
OMG BAM..lets just start by saying that i prettty muc LOVE viva la bam AND UUU! haha but uhm i stay up till about 3 or 4 in the morning just to watch you. and some times i get in touble for being up that late but who cares its totally and completly worh it. nd i have to say this is my new favorite show. and when its not on tv. i watch full episodes on here. but PLEASE if you have time send me an eamail on myspace. it would mean so much to me.i tried adding u on myspace but who knows if its reallly you or some one pretending to be you. but my email adress is mg_hottie03@hotmail.com
you should come to wisconsin to the wisconsin dells so i can finally meet you.
but ur pretty killer on that skate board. i could never skate like that.
July 28th, 2008 at 1:41 pm
sorry for commenting you so much there is just so much i want to say to you. aww i feel bad for ape sometimes. but u guys are so funny but you always find a way to make up for it, like bringin her billy idol..omg wow.haha but ily! ur prty hot to so yeah it would mean like the world to me if i c ould talk to you so come by wisconsin some time =D
http://www.myspace.com/lifeyourlive
go to that its my myspace ! please!!
ok ttyl ily!!
August 4th, 2008 at 10:55 am
hey bam, my name is latisha i live in australia queensland and i would like to be the first one to say on behalf of australia we love you so much. I just love you and the gang your parents crack me up even ya uncle he is so funny i would like to hear form you i cant think of what else to say except you are my hero, i would love to meet you but the odds of that is very doubtful i know you may get this a lot but i am one of your biggest fans you tell it how it is and dont bullshit not alot of people do that. one thing i must say is dont let anyone ever put you down because you are great aside form the fame and money you are a person and you have feelings dont let people push you around, anyways my email is lushlips145@hotmail.com 106 simpson street australia 4701 rockhampton please write to me i know you are busy but it would mean the world to me love always latisha