Tony “TNT” Trujillo: Fuse Still Lit
Preface By Nate Brooks
If you were to take Jimbo Phillips’ iconic Santa Cruz “Slasher”—that bloodthirsty, wild-eyed, razor-fanged demon ripping straight out of a screaming deck—and manifest it as a breathing human being, you would end up with 2002 Thrasher Skater of the Year Tony Trujillo. TNT doesn’t skate transitions or streets so much as he completely obliterates them, charging into concrete bowls with the same unhinged, eye-bulging savagery depicted in Phillips’ classic ink. Every frontside grind is a violent, sparks-flying assault, executed with long hair flying, teeth bared, and a raw, feral energy that looks less like modern professional skateboarding and more like a possessed monster clawing its way through the asphalt. He is the ultimate living embodiment of Northern California skate-rock iconography—a man who approaches a vert wall with the exact same bloodlust that he brings to the stage.
That exact brand of manic, unvarnished chaos naturally spilled over into the music world with Bad Shit, the infamous skate-rock powertrio formed alongside his drummer wife, Ashley “Trixie” Trujillo, and the late, legendary, gravel-voiced Thrasher Editor-in-Chief, Jake Phelps. Born out of blood, sweat, and late-night sessions at San Francisco’s Double Rock warehouse, Bad Shit was never meant to be a polished studio band; it was a traveling circus of pure noise, designed to whip mosh pits into a frenzy at contests and dive bars across the globe. With Phelps howling like a lunatic on lead guitar, Tony pounding out basslines and barking vocals, and Trixie driving the beat like a runaway freight train, their sound was a primitive, heavy-metal-meets-hardcore-punk sledgehammer. Bad Shit didn’t just play shows—they threw unpredictable, beer-soaked, adrenaline-fueled block parties where the line between the mosh pit and the skate jam completely dissolved into glorious, screaming anarchy.
Interview
By
Brandon Bristol
I remember seeing the Transworld video “In Bloom” for the first time somewhere around age 14, right when I first started skating and immediately being stoked on the entire thing. The variation between styles, songs, filming and the intros got me hyped to get out there and skate. Tony Trujillo’s part stood out to me as I was really getting into punk, metal and that “I don’t give a fuck” attitude. This was the start of something monumental in my life and I had no idea yet. Fast forward 24 years later, Tony and I have crossed paths many a time since I moved to San Francisco in 2010. His career has spanned decades with epic parts, pro Vans shoes, contest wins and no signs of stopping. I caught up with him to see about shredding with his family, building DIYs, Bad Shit, moving back to SF and keeping the fuse lit in 2026.
What’s up Tony? How’s it been livin’ back in Santa Rosa?
It’s been a nice break from the city. After almost 18 years and having a couple boys, I thought it would be nice to slow things down for a bit. Get out of the concrete jungle for a while and have some space from it all.
You’ve been building some rad stuff up there, how’s the community been responding to it?
Thanks, yeah, the community has been really positive about the diy that’s happening up there. The skate community is obviously stoked to have a new spot to skate but, the folks in the nearby neighborhood have been by to tell us they love what they’re seeing happen to that abandoned space. If it wasn’t for skateboarders staking their claim there, the homeless and tweaked would’ve continued to treat it like a land fill and keep it full of needles and garbage.
I think we are all ready for some more action. Ya know Waylon’s 17 now and all he wants to do is skate. Reno is 12 now and he’s been kinda over his school scene up there. Bunch of little leaguer shitheads with jock parents. Trix has been ready for awhile. Our house in SF is at the bottom of Bernal and she loves the hikes just outside our front door. We are also gonna set up a salon space for her at the house so she can start working from home.
I, have grown pretty tired of maintaining such a large home. It’s endless cleaning and yard work. It was great for the 8 years we were there, and being there during Covid was nice and relaxing but, eh, time moves on and so do we.
It’s been sick to see you and your family skating together over the years on the gram. How often do you all get out and rip together?
It’s been hard for me to do anything in the past six months, trying to get our house up north ready to put on the market. It’s such a juggling act I’ve almost spun it a few times. Not being able to see the light at the end of the tunnel suuucks.
But usually, we will get out and skate when we wanna get outta town.
You’re still getting gnarly into your 40s and I’m sure you won’t stop til ya can’t anymore. What’s your regiment like these days compared to back in your 20s?
Back in my 20’s, booze, weed and skating non stop was my regiment. Keeping that up at my age just wasn’t working anymore. So I dropped the booze and I feel better than I have in a long time.
Recently I was working out for a couple years on and off. It really helped my recovery time after skating. I’d be jumping off big shit all day and the next day my legs would feel fine. That was an incredible feeling. Knowing that the work I put in off the board, really made an impact.
Who gets you most stoked to skate these days?
Shit, anyone I get in the van with. Vans trips have been sick. Seeing and skating with all the skaters on the come up is awesome. Finn Pope, Gus Gordon, Diego Todd, T-Funk, Zion Wright, Raney Beres, Simon Bannerot. These are real Skateboarders down for the cause. And seeing guys my age or older still out there getting it. That’s probably what keeps me going most. You got your Lance Mountain, Gonz, Tony Hawk, Peter Hewitt, Andrew Reynolds, Frank Gerwer just to name a few. It really gets me pumped to see how far you can take skateboarding with you in life.
Can ya tell us one of your gnarliest stories from the road?
All I gotta say is Skate Rock South Africa. Yall should know the rest. (this was a trip where, the breaks went out on a rental van in the valley of a thousand hills, luckily The Nuge crashed the vehicle into a yurte saving the entire hellride crew from certain death)
When is the next Bad Shit show?
When we get our studio, and shit back together.
Best advice from Jake Phelps?
Rip it up kid
Top 5 best skate spots?
Burnside,Pizzey Park, Rhodes park, FDR, Sam Hitz driveway
Best taqueria in SF?
It’s in Noe Valley. Casa Mexicana.
Worst slam?
Snapped ACL on Skaterock Mexico wasn’t the worst but sucked. Pumping through a bowl, didn’t see a pump bump, got pitched and landed all off balance, snapped the ACL right quick.
“Chainsaw” by the Ramones or “Chainsaw Gustfuck” by Mayhem?
Depends on your anger level.
Thanks for the interview Tone! Wanna leave these people with some words of wisdom?
Don’t wait around for shit to happen. Go and make it happen
