GEORGE SNAKE CHARMER “In life most successes are built upon failures, and the true test of one’s character is having endured failures and obstacles but instead of taking the easy path and quitting, instead striving to overcome them and build your dreams to reality. “My concept is to show that no matter what path you lead before prison, it is possible to live your dreams once you leave. Too many inmates fall back into the same path they led before prison, most not realizing the talents they really have. Leaving prison with a criminal record and covered in tattoos made it impossible to find a job and start a new life, therefore I was determined to show the world that I would carry my dreams into reality and leave my negative path behind me.” George Farah AKA Snakecharmer. When iconic LA fashion label Ed Hardy decided to commission a chopper that would capture the spirit of freedom, rebellion and high fashion that underlied their brand, you’d probably expect them to approach one of the long-established American names such as Orange Country Choppers or West Coast Choppers. But instead they looked to Australia, and called upon the talents of a one-of-a-kind builder who has got people talking since he set up shop five years ago – George ‘Snakecharmer’. The boy from Bathurst NSW Australia has all the right credentials to make it in the highly-creative, take-no-prisoners world of custom choppers; the tatts, a tough upbringing filled with racial violence, time spent as a member of an infamous motorcycle club, and a lengthy stint in maximum-security. But beneath the battle scars is an artist of serious talent who is using his work to tell his story and reach out to others. Now it’s not just chopper enthusiasts who are beating a path to his door, but corporate titans such as X-Box and IBM, as well as a smattering of street-cred celebrities such as the Pussy Cat Dolls, Black Street, Jagged Edge and Bone Thugs and Harmony “My love affair with bike-building began with a little Z50 when I was eight – the bikes may be bigger now, but I’m the same person with the same dreams I had back then.” In order to overcome the loneliness and isolation of prison George had little choice but to focus and fuel his imagination of building his dream bike as soon as he walked through the gates of freedom. With the savings his mother had secretly put aside for her son’s dream The Blade became a reality and was introduced at Auto Salon in 2006. The bike, which he describes as “a monster – a living thing all of its own,” represented all that he had been through in the preceding years – green for the colour of the clothes he wore during his four-year stint behind bars, the sharp-angled metalwork for the near-fatal knife attack he suffered there, and the hum of the motor – “the tune of freedom” - for his determination to turn his life around when he was released. “The Blade is a period of my life – the time I spent in gaol,” he says. “I had a dream to build this bike when I was in there, it’s what kept me going, and now it’s a reality. All the bikes I build are part of me and my story.” The Blade wowed chopper builders and appreciators of fine craftsmanship, so it was little surprise when it went on to win a fistful of awards, including Best Custom Chopper, Best Custom American Paint and Best American Airbrush. It also landed countless magazine covers and earned George his moniker ‘Snakecharmer,’ after one magazine shot him alongside his green demon, draped in pythons. The name stuck, and Snakecharmer’s reputation grew. His next two bikes continued to tell the story of his life as it unfolded. Riding on the wave of success of the Blade, Snakecharmer unveiled Wet n’ Wild, a chopper that reflected his joy at being free and finally doing what he loved; “That bike was all about fun and girls,” says Snakecharmer. “The tears on it are tears of joy, but also the tears of the mothers of those in jail – done using a secret technique that only a few in the world know about.” Despite his success – or perhaps because of it – Snakecharmer’s thoughts at the time kept returning to the life he’d left behind, and the fate of his fellow inmates. “When you come out doors just keep slamming in your face – it’s one rejection after the other. It’s easy to give up hope.” He hopes that by sharing his story and his skills with the next generation, he’ll encourage them to use their inbuilt talents to better their lives. “I never knew I had a talent to build bikes – it was just a dream, one that kept me going,” he says. “I want people to see that you can achieve whatever you want if you’re willing to put your heart into it.” Putting his money where his mouth is, Snakecharmer took his show-stopping choppers, along with a hand-picked group of the most talented artists, airbrushers and welders he could find, with him to tour schools in some of the toughest and most disadvantaged parts of the country to show exactly what a kid with few prospects can achieve if he sets his mind to it. In 2008 he unleashed his third bike, Indigenous Dreamtime, to an unsuspecting public at One World. With its intricate Aboriginal paintwork and exquisite detailing, the bike told the Snakecharmer’s personal story of growing up as a child of immigrant parents in a racially-divided country town, and on a broader level, celebrated the unique mix of cultures here in Australia. It also symbolised the stifling pressure he experienced living in the confined space of a mixed-race prison; “I got on with most people and it didn’t matter what colour or race they were,” he says. “But not everyone sees it like that. There’s a lot of racism inside and there are a lot of sub-cultures that don’t mix too well.” The bike was an overnight sensation, and quickly attracted the attention of bike lovers, the media and large corporations. In 2010 a year in the making the The Official Ed Hardy custom themed chopper was designed and built under contract for the International clothing label Ed Hardy, and was uniquely designed to represent the clothing label for the promotions of Ed Hardy Australia. The front guard dresses the 26inch rim with steel fabricated, designed and airbrush finished with press studs to resemble an Ed Hardy leather bracelet. The petrol tank has been fabricated from steel into one of Ed Hardy’s Chuck Taylor shoes, with bright colours and amazing finishing touches, the eyelets, tag airbrushed under the tongue and even the tread airbrushed on the sole. The air filter cover is dressed like an Ed Hardy watch with Swarovski crystals. The primary cover is fabricated with detail into an Ed Hardy flip flop thong. Imagine a lady leaning over the chopper and that’s where the inspiration for the back guard came from, 360 rear with incredible airbrush to resemble Ed Hardy jeans with an Ed Hardy T-shirt tucked in and to finish it off with and original real Ed Hardy belt. With black and chrome to hold this masterpiece together to detail in this chopper even to the black rims with Ed Hardy airbrushed on them will take you hours to admire. With a corporate and celebrity calling George’s stock is definitely on the rise, and he shows little sign of slowing down. “I’ll challenge anyone, anywhere, to do what I do,” he proclaims. “Some might call it cocky,” he says with a laugh. “But hey –“ Whereas other chopper designers might modify an existing frame, Snakecharmer has always built everything from scratch – “it’s the only way I can achieve exactly what I see in my mind’s eye.” “This is about more than just pimping out a bike, or wacking on a sticker – it’s about telling a story, whether it’s my own or someone else’s its not just a job its my passion” Each custom chopper takes around 12 weeks from initial sketch to completion, and his mind is constantly buzzing with new ideas and fresh inspiration every Snake Charmer Chopper has a heart and soul. Snakecharmer plans on being the biggest chopper brand in the world in five year’s time, and if the last five years are anything to go by, the boy from Bathurst NSW Australia is sure to do it. Be Prepared to be Bitten By The Snake Charmer Success means nothing without the journey and people that help you get there and to share it with, from sitting in a prison cell with nothing but big dreams to featuring in 23 magazines, 6 front covers and an International label, I would like everyone in the world to see that anything you dream is possible, be strong and give it all you have. This is to all my fans - thankyou for your love and support from Prison Dreams To Reality -The SnakeCharmer
Posted on: Wed, 25 Sep 2013 06:23:38 +0000
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