Beautiful Babs

Three Up

Free Sticker Love

Email me, liveyoungdiefastmn at gmail

"Smell it dude"

Max

Forever Loser

Jared has begun the resurrection of Forever Loser. Godspeed my friend.

Ben Yanok - Making Pretty Pictures

I'm fortunate to call Ben one of my very close friends, he's an incredible artist, tattoo artist, fisherman, Dad and all around good dude.Ben's done the majority of my tattoos and almost all of the ones you may have seen on here. I'm lucky in that he always seems to just get what I want, I know I'm certainly not giving him the best reference material to work with but it always comes out better than I could have imagined. In talking to Ben you'll find that his influences are pretty broad; ranging from comic books to renaissance masters to graffiti artists. He's also a traditionalist when it comes to a lot of his work, be it Americana, Japanese or Catholic imagery. Ben seems to have a great knowledge of and respect for the artists and styles before his time.

I asked him what he draws his inspiration to create from and his I love his answer so I'm going to quote him verbatim here: "My inspiration is kind of a letdown to people that ask. This is all that I'm good at. It's what i do when I'm stressed out, or can't sleep, it's what i daydream about when I'm driving.  I know a lot of different people that do all sorts of things, from people that build cool cars and bikes, to soldiers, to nurses, to mothers; and they are all filled with fascinating stories. What they all do is so interesting and unusual. I just make pictures i think are pretty."

I don't find it at all surprising that Ben is so humble about his work, or just making pretty pictures, usually the folks that do what they do well are not the guys out throwing it in everyone's face. They're usually the quiet guys in the corner just letting you talk. That's pretty much Ben. You may also recognize Ben as having had the honor of being our very first moustache of the month:

Anyways, enjoy the art and tattoo pictures below and if you want to get a hold of Ben for some ink you can reach him at:

Ink Factory Tattoos and Body Piercing
407 2nd Street
Hudson , WI 54016
715-381-2957
Ink Factory

Split Lip Rayfield

Split Lip Rayfield will be playing May 29th at Memory Lanes Bowling in Minneapolis. I was lucky enough to stumble upon a show they were playing in St. Cloud a couple of years ago and they've become one of my favorite bands out there. Seriously, get on the youtube and check these cats out now. Take advantage of this show since we don't get them in the area often.

Luther Cole

Boy oh boy do I have good news for all you music lovers in central MN. Luther Cole is returning to the St. Cloud area! It's kind of a premature announcement so I'll be reminding you all closer to the show but Luther will be performing at the Local Blend in St. Joe on June 23rd at 7pm. This is kind of a double whammy for me since I'm a huge fan of Luther and I really dig the Local Blend, if you haven't seen him yet, this is the show to be at. Oh, and he's working on a new album, good news all around people!

Pandrea Bensen

Might Be Right, Might Be Crazy

I’ve got this theory that everyone should create as many great adventures in their lives as possible. I’ve tried to live my life this way more recently and it has had a profoundly positive effect. Some of the adventures turned out great, some didn’t, either way they all make pretty great stories. Really, it’s just a way to make sure that you are living your life to the fullest and not wasting a moment of it. That doesn’t mean that you need to always be active and on the move, some times the greatest adventures you can have could be sitting in a garage or around a fire with some friends. It just means that you should not go through life unhappy. I see so many people in relationships, jobs, living situations that they aren’t happy in. It drives me nuts, I want to kick them in the shins and tell them to make whatever change they need to in order to be happy. Life is far too short to go through it unhappy, not even unhappy really; anything less than ecstatic deserves change. I know that is an overused saying so it can very easily lose its meaning but life really is short. Sometimes it seems that the only people who can appreciate this are the ones who have “stared down the barrel of the gun” as it were. I get that, I could see how it may be difficult to grasp for some people, but just think back 5 or 10 years ago and think about how fast that times seems to have gone by. Now tell me that you could really see yourself living the rest of your life in whatever unhappy situation you are in. Really? Why in the world would you want to spend the rest of your life with someone that doesn’t make you think every day is better than the last, or go to a job that you aren’t overjoyed to go to?? Why would you do that? I don’t get it, certainly everyone has to do things in life they don’t want to but if you find yourself doing more of what you enjoy and less of what you don’t I guarantee you that your life will be exponentially better.


I don’t mean to say that I have all the answers in life, I really don’t, and I’ve made boatloads of mistakes. Not that long ago I was going down a path that would put me in a dramatically different place now and I couldn’t even fathom still living that life. It’s not me, it wasn’t me, it wasn’t what I wanted, and so I changed. I still got it wrong! I changed into a worse person, more mistakes were made and I changed again and I’m pretty positive I got it right this time. So, no, I don’t have all the answers but I do have some experience and I do know this. It is your own responsibility to create the adventures in your life and often times that means doing some out of the normal and making some pretty bold decisions. Hell, you may fall flat on your face; I did a couple of times. You might not though, think about that, it might work out really well. So step outside of the box and do it. Do what makes you happy. If you choose not to and you read this whole thing thinking I’m an idiot then first of all, you’re kind of an idiot too for continuing to read it and second that’s fine with me if you don’t want a better life, just please don’t complain to me about how much your life now sucks. Alls I’m saying is that it’s worth a shot. Trust me. I’m still stepping outside of the box all the time, I’m comfortable being uncomfortable (my old boss and mentor taught me that one). I’ve learned to do this because life is always changing and I’m always looking for new experiences. Maybe you’re down to live a cookie cutter life, but that’s not my bag and if you gave it a shot I think you’d find that it’s not yours either. I’ve said it before, but think about it this way. When you’re an old man or woman and your grandkids ask you about your life, what will you have to tell them? Will your story be exciting or will it be the typical path? Really think about it, then decide if you want to keep living your life the way you are.

Say hello to your mother for me.

J.

God Damn Lonley Love

This may or may not be my favorite DBT song, I'm not quite sure yet.

More of the Beautiful Lindsey

Don't forget to check out the LYDF Store to check out our full line of clothes!

365 Days

This seems like an appropriate time for me to offer my continued gratitude to all of the rad people in my life. I've learned a lot over the last year, today marking exactly one year of continued sobriety for me. One of the biggest lessons I've learned is that its the people you surround yourself with that will help you get through the gnarly stuff in your life. Getting sober meant a lot of changes and difficult decisions for me and one of the decisions I've made is simply to not allow negativity in my life. It just isn't worth the effort to deal with negative people or situations, that time could just as easily be invested in creating positive change. I've made a conscious decision to surround myself with outstanding people and it has had a incredibly positive impact on my life.

I'm forever grateful to be blessed with those outstanding people that I have had by my side through all of this. I know I've said it before on here, but there is absolutely not a better group of friends on the planet than the guys I consider my brothers. They never gave up and supported me through times when it would have been much easier for them to walk away, especially considering all that I put them through. I could not be sober today if it weren't for them. Thank you Nightmares. My family has been by my side and proud of me ever since I started this journey. They were there to pick me up when I was at my lowest and cheered me on as every new milestone was reached. I couldn't be happier for how close I am with them today.

I remember being so worried when I first got sober that I wouldn't be able to deal with the day to day stresses of life without the release of alcohol. As it turns out, alcohol was the cause of most of those day to day stresses, whoulda thunk it. I still get stressed out, still have to deal with heavy shit, but I've just come to realize that nothing that happens means so much that you should lose your head over it. I've learned that life is a lot easier lived if you're just a little bit more laid back and easy going about things, more like a kid really. The sun will indeed come up tomorrow, life will go on. Take a deep breath and just try to put a smile on your face. Make a bad joke, fart in public, whatever blows your skirt up.

All of this may sound very cheerful and what not, but it wasn't easy to get here, it took a lot of hard work, a lot of sweat and a lot of tears. By no means was I always such a positive guy, hell, for a long time I wasn't a very nice guy at all and that sucks, I have a lot of regrets. The only thing I can do about that now is try to be a better person in the future and not let my past hold me back but instead learn from it. All in all, I'm happy with both the new and repaired relationships in my life right now. I'm proud of where I'm at today, especially if you compare it to just a couple of short years ago, and I look forward to what the future holds. Hell, not only am I closer to the friends that were by my side through all of this but I've got tons of great new friendships through being sober (and a bunch of them are really beautiful chicks, yeah buddy!).

Now that you've read all of this and you're all like "oh, that guy is such a tool!" that's fine, I don't mind, just remember these two final things; always do what makes you happy in life as long as you're not hurting anyone else and (most importantly) always shift in front of girls, always.

I love you all. Say hello to your mother for me,

J.

Happy Birthday Rick!

Enjoy your day my friend, feel free to bring us any fish you don't need!

Livin the Dream

Here's lookin at you, kid...

New pictures coming soon...

Grandma and Esther

My Grandma and her sister Esther stuck in the mud, I think they were coming back from church, I may be wrong though. Grandma isn't around anymore, but her sister Esther turns 90 today so I thought this picture was appropriate.

Two Friends

We made the paper! I wonder what a guy's gotta do to get from the second page to the first... LYDF Article in the St. Cloud Times

There's probably a really good chance that you're sitting there, hanging out, and you're all like, "Oh, man! I really want some Live Young Die Fast clothes!" Well, lucky for you you're in the right place. If you're in the St. Cloud area I highly suggest you swing by The Youth Shelter and check out our stuff there. If you can't make it there, don't fret, you can click right here to go to our online store. If I'm out of your size right now, I really apologize, seriously I feel bad about it. Just shoot me an email at liveyoungdiefastmn@gmail.com and I'll let you know when I can get it to you. If you're looking to get some stuff printed for yourself, feel free to email me about that too, I know a guy. Trust me.
J.

St. Cloud Pet Expo

Make sure to head down to the St. Cloud Armory in a week to check out the first St. Cloud Pet Expo. Sounds like they've got a bunch of cool vendors showing up, should be a great time to support the Tri County Humane Society, local events and businesses and maybe even gain some knowledge for all you pet owners out there. It runs from 10am - 4pm on Saturday, April 2nd.

Black Out City-LYDF photobooth video- Everything I've done to you

Excellent video by Black Out City using our photobooth pics from Dumb Love Celebration, thanks Chad!

Heatbox!

Thursday, March 31st at The Rox with Werid Ass Trio! Definitely make it down to this show, Heatbox is an amazing show and only $8....doors open at 9pm, 18+ You can check out more info on Heatbox at HEATBOXMUSIC.COM ALSO, anyone at this show gets first dibs on tickets to the upcoming Twista show at The Rox. BOOM! See you there!

Chicks Dig Scars

I got this for you.

The Youth Shelter Supply

Don't forget to check out The Youth Shelter Supply for all your LYDF needs in the St. Cloud area!

Motorsickle Trips

I'm just gonna throw this out there, mostly for the guys I do a lot of my riding with, so we've got a bunch of dates listed to remember when different shit is going down this summer. Here's what I got so far...let me know what I missed. This just seems easier than trying to text, email or call all you dudes.

May 14-15: Gonzo Bash in Hudson

June 2-5: Tower Ride

June 10-12: Dice Party in Des Moines

July 15-17: Chopperfest in WI

July 29-Aug 7: Heading south...FL?

September 8-11: Tower Ride

This isn't including any races or other weekend trips so we'll fill in those dates as we can. Bitchin stuff.

Pabst Blue Rebellion

After a brief hiatus (because their drummer fell down and broke his arm) PBR will be playing at the Tav again on April 1st. I'll be the dangerously handsome guy running the merch table. Stop by to check out some good tunes, say hi and buy stuff. See you there!

Chopperfest

July 15-17 in Earl, WI, about 60 miles south of Duluth. Let's go.

"Everyone is welcome to come to earl for the chopper fest. There will be bike show, poker run, bike games, vendors, music, camping, and more.
The bike show will have all different types of categories. Winner of the bike show will receive a Trophy. Proceeds go to Wisconsin Lion Club Camp for Disabled Kids."

Boom! It's Pat's Birthday!!

That's right buddy, dance like nobody's watching...even though we all are. Have a great day man! Thank you for being awesome and for all you bring to our company. Now, let's just go wild on all the cookies and cupcakes at HQ!

George Helm

My buddy Mike was pulling apart his brothers Triumph motor and found this action inside. That's right folks, turns out it was a George Helm built motor! Pretty cool to see this since George passed away a couple of years ago and was a legend around these parts for his knowledge with British bikes. Too bad for me that even though we share the same last name there is no apparent relation. I only had a chance to meet George a couple of times before he passed and it was certainly an honor to be around a guy so full of history. It's also too bad for me that Mike's going to be using these pistons again so I don't get a nice set of oversize BSA wall hangers. Dang 'ol shoot.

Fat Kid Sunday

Joe Buck Yourself

A little bit of a hellbilly pickmeup for your Sunday Funday.

GONZO BASH v2.0

Get your party pants on, Saturday May 14th in Downtown Hudson we'll be celebrating the birth of Andy Gonzo himself! Here's what you need to know:

"Last year was a blast! Thanks to all who showed up! So in the spirit of last year I am having another theme Birthday Party. Night of 1000 stars. Dress up as your favorite movie or TV character. The possibilities are endless! Get a few friends and dress up in groups if you wish! For example the crew from Reservoir Dogs, Channel 4 news team from Anchor Man etc. If its anything like last year you will not be disappointed! Hope to see you there!"

Wise Words From the Searcher

Everyone is bound to go through dark times in their lives, I think how you deal with these times defines you as a person. Years ago I was going through some heavy shit myself and turned to an old friend of mine who seems to have lived many lifetimes in his own. He has always been a wealth of knowledge for me on so many levels. Anyways, below is one message he had sent me, that I've since shared with others, that I have found myself turning back to. Thought I'd share it. If you don't like it, I don't care. Neener neener neener

"In Buddhism there is the Wheel of Life, and one of the segments deals with the Hungry Ghosts. They are emaciated beings with long thin necks, tormented by unfulfilled cravings and insatiably demanding of impossible satisfactions, searching for gratification for old needs whose time has passed. They have uncovered a terrible emptiness within themselves, and cannot see the impossibility of correcting something that has already happened. They remain obsessed with achieving complete release from the pain of their past and are stubbornly unaware that their desire is fantasy.


Until you accept the incontrovertible fact that it's in the past you will be a prisoner of it, a thing that exists only in your mind. Accept that the shackles are illusion! All will be well as long as you remain aware."

Remembering Sadie

In honor of our very first LYDF Betty and huge supporter, Sadie, who passed away far too soon we will be donating 50% of the proceeds of all our women's clothes sales during the month of April to Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of America. Obviously we can't make a huge impact with this but it's better than not doing anything. Sadie did and still does mean a lot to LYDF and what she brought to this company is invaluable and we will never forget her.
If you would prefer to make a donation right to CCFA that would be amazing as well and you can do that right at http://ccfa.org/
Obviously April is still a couple of weeks away but I wanted to give everyone ample notice because I would rather you wait to make any online purchases so the money will go towards this great cause. Thank you all in advance for taking part in this and helping us support CCFA in honor of Sadie!

Hey JJ!

Happy Birthday!

Art Crawl

5-9pm tomorrow, Downtown St. Cloud.

Tools Explained

Sent to me today by a very good friend of mine...who's also a mechanic.

DRILL PRESS: A tall upright machine useful for suddenly snatching flat
metal bar stock out of your hands so that it smacks you in the chest and
flings your beer across the room, denting the freshly-painted project
which you had carefully set in the corner where nothing could get to it.

WIRE WHEEL: Cleans paint off bolts and then throws them somewhere under
the workbench with the speed of light . Also removes fingerprints and
hard-earned calluses from fingers in about the time it takes you to say,
'Oh shit!'

SKILL SAW: A portable cutting tool used to make studs too short.

PLIERS: Used to round off bolt heads. Sometimes used in the creation of
blood-blisters.

BELT SANDER: An electric sanding tool commonly used to convert minor
touch-up jobs into major refinishing jobs.

HACKSAW: One of a family of cutting tools built on the Ouija board
principle... It transforms human energy into a crooked, unpredictable
motion, and the more you attempt to influence its course, the more
dismal your future becomes.

VISE-GRIPS: Generally used after pliers to completely round off bolt
heads. If nothing else is available, they can also be used to transfer
intense welding heat to the palm of your hand.

OXYACETYLENE TORCH: Used almost entirely for lighting various flammable
objects in your shop on fire. Also handy for igniting the grease inside
the wheel hub out of which you want to remove a bearing race.

TABLE SAW: A large stationary power tool commonly used to launch wood
projectiles for testing wall integrity.

HYDRAULIC FLOOR JACK: Used for lowering an automobile to the ground
after you have installed your new brake shoes , trapping the jack handle
firmly under the bumper.

BAND SAW: A large stationary power saw primarily used by most shops to
cut good aluminum sheet into smaller pieces that more easily fit into
the trash can after you cut on the inside of the line instead of the
outside edge.

TWO-TON ENGINE HOIST: A tool for testing the maximum tensile strength of
everything you forgot to disconnect.

PHILLIPS SCREWDRIVER: Normally used to stab the vacuum seals under lids
or for opening old-style paper-and-tin oil cans and splashing oil on
your shirt; but can also be used, as the name implies, to strip out
Phillips screw heads.

STRAIGHT SCREWDRIVER: A tool for opening paint cans. Sometimes used to
convert common slotted screws into non-removable screws and butchering
your palms.

PRY BAR: A tool used to crumple the metal surrounding that clip or
bracket you needed to remove in order to replace a 50 cent part.

HOSE CUTTER: A tool used to make hoses too short.

HAMMER: Originally employed as a weapon of war, the hammer nowadays is
used as a kind of divining rod to locate the most expensive parts
adjacent the object we are trying to hit.

UTILITY KNIFE: Used to open and slice through the contents of cardboard
cartons delivered to your front door; works particularly well on
contents such as seats, vinyl records, liquids in plastic bottles,
collector magazines, refund checks, and rubber or plastic parts.
Especially useful for slicing work clothes, but only while in use.

SON-OF-A-BITCH TOOL: (A personal favorite!!) Any handy tool that you
grab and throw across the garage while yelling 'Son of a BITCH!' at the
top of your lungs. It is also, most often, the next tool that you will
need.

RX Magazine

I'm really really excited about my new gig working with RX Magazine and Weekly Buzz. I'm going to be doing ad sales as well as doing some writing,which is perfect for me. Watch out for new articles coming your way about some of the rad people in the St. Cloud area and ads for the awesome businesses in the area. If you need to contact me about anything RX or Weekly Buzz related you can call me on my cell 320-493-6573 or email me at rxweeklybuzzjon@yahoo.com 

Toasty Dogs

Now its a party.

Beardly

I think I'm gonna bring this look back...

Punktastic

Be there. Like you got something better to do?

Hudson

Thanks again to everyone in Hudson for showing us a great time last night! All the people we met were excellent and the Sprite flowed like water (for me at least). We had a blast and fully intend on making a lot more of these trips in the future. And thank you very much to Ben and Jodi for harboring us at the end of the night.