Have no idea why surf culture is top of mind as I sit here in Colorado but
thinking about the awesome Taschen book on Bunker Spreckels I bought last
time I was in LA. Bunker was the ultimate surfer playboy whose life of
excess came to a halt at that epic age of 27 (if you are a follower of rock
legends and the like, many many burned out at this exact same point in
life). He was Clark Gable's stepson and heir to a vast sugar fortune. Bunker lived
fast and was the ultimate hedonist- taking in the Cali surf scene but also
traveling the world, always with a gorgeous babe by his side. The story of
his life is pretty fascinating- the wild California playboy who lived too
"much" may seem clichéd now, but this cat set the tone for such pursuits and
looked pretty cool doing it. He even created an alter ego for himself so
photographers and reporters could chronicle his debauchery. Check out
"Bunker 77", a documentary which came out in 2008 which is amazing. A
raucous life cut way too short, but a pretty incredible existence none the
less.
thinking about the awesome Taschen book on Bunker Spreckels I bought last
time I was in LA. Bunker was the ultimate surfer playboy whose life of
excess came to a halt at that epic age of 27 (if you are a follower of rock
legends and the like, many many burned out at this exact same point in
life). He was Clark Gable's stepson and heir to a vast sugar fortune. Bunker lived
fast and was the ultimate hedonist- taking in the Cali surf scene but also
traveling the world, always with a gorgeous babe by his side. The story of
his life is pretty fascinating- the wild California playboy who lived too
"much" may seem clichéd now, but this cat set the tone for such pursuits and
looked pretty cool doing it. He even created an alter ego for himself so
photographers and reporters could chronicle his debauchery. Check out
"Bunker 77", a documentary which came out in 2008 which is amazing. A
raucous life cut way too short, but a pretty incredible existence none the
less.
