Steve O

February 12, 2014

Steve-O here.

I'm pretty sure I don't have to give you a bio. Let's do this!

http://instagram.com/p/kVrkKuwq_Z/

I'd love to do this all night, but I gotta go film something with Bam (check my social media pages in 30 minutes or so to see what he looks like tonight). Thanks for this, all of you, love,

Steve

P.S. It may not have seemed like it, but the purpose of this was to spread the word about my fuckin awesome YouTube channel: http://youtube.com/steveo If you are reading this and don't subscribe to my channel, you're dead to me! xoxo



Hey dude, excuse the bromance but i cant even describe how much of an inspiration youve been to me. Ever since I saw the first jackass movie i knew thats what i wanted to be when I grew up. So my life goal since then has been to become this totally rad stuntman in hopes of gaining enough notiriety to meet the man who inspired me to get there. Ive tried mailing you letters, sending you messages on facebook and even called a few hotels in vegas trying to find out where you were staying. (Dont be creeped out, you gave me the idea) anyway, steve-o i hope you see this im really working hard trying to get out there and even knowing that you saw this would literally make my life. I guess this really wasnt a very good question but if i need to ask one Its definitelyfor you to come back down to the Florida Keys and do some gimp bridge jumping with me. Yeah Dude!

I got crazy love for you, too, but for God's sake, people, let's ask questions, not write novels over here!


Hey Steve-o! Please tell me if this is true or not.

One of my film professors (I'm not gonna give his name for his own privacy) at the University of New Mexico claims to have had you as a student before you were famous, and your videos consisted of stuff like riding your bike into the Duck Pond on campus. I can't find any proof that you attended UNM, just that you lived in Albuquerque before. Is his claim true?

I did attend UNM in 1996/97, and I did take a film class during that time. Never rode any bikes into any duck ponds, though, but the guy gave me shitty grades for submitting my stunt videos as class projects. I respect that man deeply for doing so, too, he pushed me to try harder. One criticism-- I got through the class without ever learning to edit at all, everything I did was with two VCR's plugged together. HAHAHA!!!


Why the porn stache?

Just trying out a new look, and it could help me get a movie role that I tried out for.


Hey Stev-O ... When and how are you planning to get rid of your mustache. Are you planning to wax it, super glue it off like you did with the eyebrows, or burn it off with a lighter?

Hadn't thought of that! I might just do something along those lines, thanks for the tip!


Can you still perform in bed? You know after all those blows to the Johnson .

Yeah, but I've never been very impressive in that department.


Hey Steve-O, I love you and your alarming mustache! Proud of your accomplishments!

I was wondering if you've experienced any serious health problems from the stunts you've done in the past?

Yes, I have Barrett's Esophagus, it's a pre-cancerous condition in my throat/esophagus for which I blame all of my vomiting, drug abuse, and generally shitty living in years past.


Hey Steve-O! Are the BBs still in your ass?

I squeezed them out like if I was popping insane zits, but the footage was so horrifying to look at, I figured it would get that video taken down. Maybe I'll make that type of "too gnarly for anything" footage available some other way in the future.


He also has a BB in his nipple, is that still there too, Steve-O?

You bet it is. And, the "special surprise" I posted about today just might be the footage of that BB going in my nipple, and Bam breaking my nose right after.


Are you happy?

That's an intense question, thank you! Generally, I'd say not really. It may not seem like it to you guys, but I'm super high anxiety, and most always dissatisfied with whatever is going on. Before anyone jumps to the conclusion that this is bad news, let me assure you that I'm quite grateful, because never being happy always keeps me working to do more awesome shit.


[No question]

Over the years, lots of people have said that my grammar and spelling are too good for it to actually be me writing the words I post. The fact is that I grew up attending super top-notch schools (I was the son of a corporate executive, who wasn't initially thrilled about my career path). My dad also gave me two choices the summer I turned 16: get a summer job, or go to secretary school to learn how to type. I skated to secretary school so fuckin fast it was incredible. In short, it's me, it's always me-- I think anybody who ever authorizes another person to communicate as them is a fucking moron. Love, Steve-O


Secretary school? So I guess it's safe to say there'll be no type-Os from Steve-O.

HA! I better really stay on my game!


Hey Steve-o, huge fan! I actually put in an "AMA request" for you 3 months ago hoping you could come open the eyes of fans who didn't get a chance to see your documentary. To me, it was life changing. I can't thank you enough for the countless hours of entertainment you brought to my friends and I, at the expense of your life. Your change in lifestyle is inspiring and I just want to say congrats.

In that original thread I was required to ask five questions to post it, if you could answer any one of them I would be incredibly happy.

Thanks for taking the time to do this!

My 5 Questions:

  1. What's the worst stunt you've ever done?
  2. What was the most fun stunt you've ever done?
  3. What's your biggest regret? And what in your life are you most proud of?
  4. Are you 100% sober now?
  5. Do you credit Johnny Knoxville and Jeff Tremaine for saving your life? Where do you think you would be now if they didn't step in when they did?
  1. Worst stunt? Not sure what you mean by that, but if something really sucks, it doesn't make the cut.
  2. Fun stunt? If it's something I enjoy doing, I don't consider it a "stunt".
  3. My biggest regrets, I believe, all happened in roughly the 6-month period before I got sober. I'm most proud of my book-- sorry for the plug right there, but if I'm responsible for a single masterpiece, that is the only one I would take credit for.
  4. Yes, I haven't taken anything stronger than an Advil (no weed, no drugs, no booze) for just about six years now. My sobriety date is March 10, 2008.
  5. I do credit Knoxville and Tremaine for saving my life. I also credit them for recklessly endangering it, and I highly doubt if they are done doing that.

What was your most painful Jackass stunt???

This is so fucking annoying to explain over and over, but here goes: it depends on what kind of pain it is, what duration, etc. Can't continue. Fuck that question. Downvoted! xoxo


Have you reached out to Bam recently? He looks a little rough.

Bam is in LA right now, we have plans to film something together tonight. I'm less worried about him than I am about my apartment. #fireworks


What would you rather fight? A hundred duck-sized horses or one horse-sized duck?

If I really had to, I'd go for the horse-sized duck, but I hate the idea of being cruel to anybody or anything but myself (and the rest of the crew).


What was the low point during your drug addiction?

All of that is pretty well-documented.


Steve-O, I'm your second biggest fan!

I grew up watching you and the Jackass crew and always loved the crazy shit you guys all did, but I also enjoyed how funny and cool you guys all were and how much of bros you all are with one another.

I have a million questions I want to ask you, but I'll keep it simple and narrow it down to two:

  1. I know this is going to sound sort of impersonal of me, but what was Ryan Dunn like when he was alive? I was and still am deeply saddened by his death, as he was my favorite member of the Jackass crew. Was he as cool a guy as he appears to be on camera, and what was your friendship with him like?

  2. Do you still hang out with any or all of the guys, and if so, are there any members of the crew that you haven't seen since Jackass 3, if so, who?

First of all-- HUGE HUG!!!

  1. When Dunn and I first met (in January of 2001), he (like many in the crew) was so annoyed by me, he could hardly stand it. He got better at tolerating me over the few years we traveled the world together on the Don't Try This At Home Tour (that was the craziest time ever, and we really did have a ton of fun), but, it was once I got sober that our friendship was the best. I remember him cracking jokes on the set of Jackass 3D about how I "went from eating heroin off of dead hookers to raw organic broccoli from Whole Foods" That's what he was like, he was hilarious. I don't think he ever gave a fuck about being famous, either-- he was perfectly happy to go by the title "Random Hero" (that would have driven me insane). I can only imagine that our friendship would have continued to get better, and it really fuckin sucks that he's gone.

Yes, I've been in touch with all of the rest of the guys regularly. We're all really stoked lately.


Closest near-death experience?

That's a real toss up!


How does it feel to have been the founder of the butt-chug?

Not sure I was the first to do it, but I think it's same to say that I named the act. Quite pleased with myself, too, thanks for asking!


Do you regret the giant back tattoo?

It makes it pretty much impossible to go anywhere without a shirt on, but that's never made me regret it for one second.


's goin' on Steve-O?! I want you to know that for years you've had me laughing, and I hope to see more of you coming. Pretty much whenever I want a laugh, I can watch anything you're in, and very quickly get a smile. Thanks, dude! Speaking of you, what's your favorite brand of laundry detergent? Also, when are you/do you already have a schedule for your YouTube channel? I've love to have something new from you once a week.

I'm kind of embarrassed to admit this, because I pride myself on leading a very simple lifestyle, but I don't have a favorite laundry detergent because I don't do laundry. Should I wind up broke and homeless, the last luxury that I'll part with will be dropping my laundry off at the "fluff and fold".

I have every intention of posting videos to my YouTube channel more regularly, but the next one is such an absolutely hellacious banger, it may not get uploaded until the end of next week. And thanks for plugging my YouTube channel for me!


Why is pot still illegal in most of the United States?

Because I'm pretty sure nobody who clicked on a Steve-O AMA needs a synopsis of who I am.


Steve-O, is your middle name or last name Gilchrist? What's going on there? Because my last name is Gilchrist and I've always been the only Gilchrist I've known and it would be super rad if you were also a Gilchrist.

Yes. It was my paternal grandfather's middle name, as well.


How many marshmallows can you fit in your mouth?

I might need to figure that out. Thanks!


I have to say that you and Chris Pontius were my favorite in the Jackass movies, my question is what is your favorite memory of you and him while filming either Jackass or Wildboyz?

My favorite memory of Wildboyz was the entire three years we filmed it. Really, most epic period of my life, bar none.


so could you tell us the story of how you became a part of the jackass gang please

I am a New York Times Bestselling Author, you need to read my book

"Professional Idiot: A Memoir"


How does it feel that your penis was shown in TV?

Ha! Which time?


What is your favorite part of having your own YouTube channel?

This is my favorite question so far! I love not having to wait for shit to come out if I don't want to, being able to broadcast awesome footage to all of you guys from my laptop is the shit! youtube.com/steveo


How do you want to be remembered when you die?

I'm pretty stoked on how everything has been going down, I just need to keep working hard to not blow it.


What is something you've done that you regret the most?

I just started doing an epic new comedy bit about this question, in which I answer it in shocking and upsetting detail, on my stand-up tour. You're going to have to check my tour dates on www.steveo.com and make it to one of my shows for your answer. Yeah dude!


Hey Steve-O, huge fan, I was wondering if there would be a possibility of a movie coming up involving you, kind of like how Johnny Knoxville did Bad grandpa. Is there a chance you would be doing something similar like that?

New favorite question right here! I had my first big meeting about exactly such a project just two days ago, but don't expect to hear about it for some time. I think it's safe to say that I'll be popping up in lots of other places, too.


You've done a lot of impressive and frankly, insane stuff in your life. What is currently on your bucket list?

Thanks for the laughs and cringes.

Edit: as someone who appreciates facial hair, you can actually pull the mustache quite well!

I don't have bucket list, I have a to-do list. Woohoo!


Still skate?

Someone isn't following me on their social media pages. Tisk tisk!

instagram.com/officiallysteveo twitter.com/steveo facebook.com/steveo

Jump on there and check out my latest skating, and all kinds of other awesome shit! Yeayhah!!!


What's your favorite tattoo?

This may really break hearts, but it's going to come out eventually anyway, so I may as well break the news here and now:

Over ten years ago, I got the words "shit" and "fuck" tattooed on my knuckles, thinking that would make me an absolute legend (honestly, I thought Ozzy Osbourne himself would bow in my honor for getting such legendary ink).

I have to say that I am fiercely proud of having carved out a place in my life that having those words tattooed on my knuckles never held me back in the slightest (for most people, that would present some real difficulties). Without question, #shitfuck has been my favorite tattoo for exactly that reason.

However, for the following reasons:

  1. I was able to become a successful stand-up comedian, and now I'm working diligently to become a successful actor, as well.

  2. I'd like to meet and settle down with the love of my life (whoever that ultimately proves to be) and I don't care to burden her with that.

  3. Whoever I was trying to impress with my #shitfuck tattoo-- after over ten years have passed, I can pretty safely say that nobody ever really gave a shit about it.

So I've begun the process of getting my favorite tattoo #shitfuck removed with laser treatments. Sorry if that breaks anybody's heart.


Fuck off, ya fuckin clown.

Good thing you posed that!


One of your cousins taught at the middle school I attended, and you visited one day. It was near the very end of the school so we all had yearbooks, you were in the courtyard and a bunch of us basically crowded around you and convinced you to sign our yearbooks. I don't have a question, I just wanted to tell you that you were really nice to all of us, super cool, and that I've always remembered that.

Super cool of you to write that, thank you!


What would you do for a Klondike bar?

I don't fuck with dairy. Klondike bar can suck my dick! Woohoo!


has their ever been something that johnny or jeff or anyone wanted you to do so bad, but you refused, no matter how much everyone begged?

Of course-- that just means they take the idea down the line, and if everyone refuses it, then Danger Ehren gets to do it!


How did it come about you joining Maker Studios? Did they contact you or you contact them.

My buddy, Sam Macaroni, got me stoked on them (I fuckin love Sam Macaroni so much). I went over there for the first time to shoot The Creep Crusader with him, and it seemed I belonged there.


What's a song you never get tired of listening to?

The entire original soundtrack to Footloose (1984) never gets old. If you think I'm kidding, let me be very specific:

"Somebody's Eyes" might be the best of them all. "I'm Free (Heaven Helps The Man)" is actually be better, sorry. "Let's Hear It For The Boy" was my entrance song for my standup tour throughout virtually all of 2011. "Holding Out For A Hero" Everybody loves that fuckin shit!

I could go on, but I've got more questions to answer...


No question, just sharing.

My son was born with a skin tag (excess skin) that stuck out in front of his left ear. My wife and I call it Steve-O. We've had it removed but still refer to it by your name. You will always be part of our family.

edit: fixed a sentence.

Touched. I think. xoxo


How are you not dead yet Steve-O?

I suppose I'm here for some good reason, that's the best guess I can come up with.


Do you think drugs affected your career path? If you were to have any other job, what would it be?

P.S. Does your ass still hurt from that snapping turtle?

My career path has everything to do with me being an attention whore and, drugs or no drugs, I was going to be an attention whore for a living one way or another. Had TV and film not worked out, I'd probably still be a circus clown. That was good steady work, and I genuinely enjoyed it.


Steve-o. Apparently my brother ran into you in the Houston Airport about a month ago. He said you were great to meet in person. I can find the picture he took and post it later. Anything you want me to say to him?

Tell him I said thanks to both of you for saying nice shit about me! Yeehaw!


How did you like being in Banff!?

Wish I got more footage there, but it was great!


What's your dog's name?

I have two dogs, "Bernie" (the white one) and "Walter" the one in this 13-second video I just made to further prove that it's actually me answering all of these questions: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HcOj7YL8C6w&feature=youtube_gdata_player


What is your favorite kind of ice cream?

Non-dairy (preferably coconut-based)


You are one guy I would love to meet before I die and have a beer with!?

I would love to die before I have a beer.


Steve-O!

I met you in Great Falls, MT a few years back at the grand opening of Ryan Simonetti's indoor park. You were so relaxed and approachable and cooperative with all of us skater punks. I still cherish my pic with you.

When are you coming back!?

Thanks for being rad.

All of these nice things you people are saying makes me glad that I try not to be a jerk to anybody. The simple fact is, though, that it's a lot harder work to be a dick all the time-- way easier to just be cool to people. With that said, though, there's always going to be a moment when you can't live up to your ideal, but these posts get me really stoked to always dig a little deeper. Thanks!


Still think PCP saved your life?

It did something, that's for sure.


What are you looking forward to the most right now?

This is going to sound weird, especially considering that I'm planning on somehow blowing myself up with fireworks tonight, but I'm most looking forward to continued health.


Do you ever miss the circus? I mean like actually performing in front of an audience as apposed to a camera and few friends?

Love the youtube channel by the way

I was wondering if anyone would ever ask me about my previous career as a circus clown, and I'm never going to get bored of people complimenting me on my amazing YouTube channel, either, thanks!

I don't really miss the circus, but I can say that I miss the whole period of my life when I was on such a mission to force the whole world to learn all about how gnarly I was. Back then, there was no really good reason to believe that I'd have any true success at all, but somehow I was so confident and care-free, life was almost perfect. It's ironic that only after achieving some measure of success and financial security that I should be gripped with fear about not having enough of it. It reminds me of the quote I wrote in my book, which is so true it's painful: "A poor man only has to worry about his next meal, but a rich man has to worry about his last." Not that I'm really all that rich, but life was arguably way, way better back when I had nothing but a used Mercury Grand Marquis and a beat up clown costume.


what do you think of the zimmerman DMX shit show? Would you box zimmerman?

And give that guy the pleasure of kicking my ass? Fuck no!


There are tons of rumors here in Albuquerque that you are from here. Can you confirm/deny?

I lived in Albuquerque from July of 1996 until October 1998, and it was a crucial time of my life (everything finally began to come together at that point), but that doesn't mean I'm "from" there. Loads of love to Albuquerque, and RIP Sonny's Bar and Grill (the Santa Claus-looking tattoo with the sword through the head on my left shoulder was the logo on the sign of that place).


I have heard rumors that you got a certain fraternity at Washington State University shut down for certain illicit activities. Is this a true story?

Not sure, maybe!


Any memories of PIKE at UMiami? I saw a video of you snorting a beer at a party, I'll try to find it

The "butt-chug" actually started as a double-hose "nostril-beer bong" on the set of the first jackass movie-- I pounded an entire Miller High Life through my nose so easily, none of the guys even giggled, then Knoxville said, "Dude, that sucked, stick it in your ass."


How much wood could a woodchuck chuck if a woodchuck could chuck wood?

I'd love to answer this, but I don't have a fucking clue what a woodchuck is.


You're just awful.

I'll take that as a compliment, thanks!


Steve-O!! Just wanted to say thanks for entertaining me and making my life a little happier. I saw you on the DTTAT tour in Melbourne back in 2004 and it was fucking amazing! Remember when Nifty and you almost got in a fight on stage? He sprayed your piss into your face when you tried to get him to drink it. I can't believe that was 10 years ago...anyways I'm so glad you're sober and feeling good, you kick so much ass! Take care friend

I vaguely recall this, yes. And much respect to Nifty for not conforming to my tyrannical demands! He should've kicked my ass, too!


This will probably get buried but what was it like going to clown school?

Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Clown College, to be precise (class of 1997, thank you very much!), was much more like boot camp for the circus than any kind of college. I never shy away from an opportunity to point out that it was also statistically harder to get into Harvard. I think it's hilarious, as well, that when I was going to Clown College, my cousin was going to mortician school, and our mothers were intensely debating who's son was a bigger loser (while getting hammered and cracking up the entire time).


What appeal does Utah have to you? You have stopped here multiple times and even mention that during your routine.

I love Utah because Utah loves me! I've already headlined at Wiseguys three times and it's been so awesome for both the club and myself, I just booked a fourth for November of this year. Oh yeah, fuck yeah!


so what do you think about INDIA? was funny as hell to see ya'll there.

At the time, to be honest, I was struck by sadness in India. In the Western world we are really lucky (or not, depending on how you look at it) to be largely sheltered from real poverty and suffering. That's wasn't the case on my visits to India, and it disturbed me. Today, though, I think they are the lucky ones, because they learn to face the reality of the human condition in a way that us Westerners are hopelessly unprepared to do. That's some real shit right, there, probably worth thinking about for a moment.


This interview was transcribed from an "ask me anything" question and answer session with Steve O conducted on Reddit on 2014-02-12. The Reddit AMA can be found here.