Hard to believe that it was 10 years ago today that we lost Ed "Big Daddy" Roth. I remember finding out right here on the HAMB. Where does the time go? He is missed.............E
Just thought I'd dig up an ancient post to remember one of my favorite car people and a personal hero, Ed "Big Daddy" Roth. I posted this 10 years ago, and now here we are another 10 years later, remembering "Big Daddy" 20 years after he left us. Hard to believe it's been that long ago now. I remembering the day hearing the sad news like it was yesterday. Gone but not forgotten. Man, I've been hanging around here a long time..........E
Bumping this ancient thread in honor of Mr. Roth. I've always dug his crazy rods and customs, artwork and his zany personal style. He was definitely a pioneer that came up with timeless creations that are still loved today. Hard to believe that he left us 21 years ago. This means there is actually a generation that has grown up without the father of the Rat Fink. Too bad, most kids today don't know what they're missing. Gone but not forgotten. Rest in Peace "Big Daddy"! E
Dammit.... I had talked to him on the phone just a couple of days before he p***ed. Here we are with angel hair on our heads back in 96 after I restored Rotar
From everything I’ve read he was definitely one of the good ones . Single minded pursuit of his dreams and cheap thrills . hey @Moriarity do you have a build thread or story or anything in that zany ride ? Would love to know more .
found this https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/mark-moriarity-the-early-days-rotar-and-ed-roth.552656/
https://federicodecalifornia.wordpress.com/tag/big-daddy-roth/ ...I always liked this pic as I'm just like one of those kids still inspired by his vibrant Artistic contributions including and way beyond the t-shirts to the Wild and diverse Culture we revere here... RIP Big Daddy
I've told this story before...but it still makes me smile. I first saw Ed "Big Daddy" Roth in 1962 at LA's Great Western Exhibit Center, 3rd Winternationals Car Show where he was doing T shirts. He had pre-made shirts (Robert Williams?) and was just air brushing on some florescent colors. I slid up next to him and asked "is that an air brush ?" he looked at me (I was 11) and replied "smart kid" 30 years later, in 1993, Bonnie and I had the pleasure of spending a few hours sitting and chatting with "Big Daddy" at Bob Moscoffian's New England Nationals. After we talked a while, I brought up the 1962 story and his "smart kid" comment. He leaned over to Bonnie and said "I don't think he's got any smarter".
I like the band Ten Years After too, HRP. A number of years back I worked with a guy that was in high school back in the late 60s and early 70s, so he loved the music from that era. One time "I'd Love To Change The World" came on the radio and I commented on liking the band's name and I wondered how they came up with it. My friend told me two different stories as to how they came up with the name. One theory was the name ten years after was in honor of Elvis, ten years after his success in the mid 50s. The other theory was the band formed ten years after the music died, in honor of Buddy Holly, Richie Valens and the Big Bopper. I don't know if these theories are true, but I thought the stories were cool. I miss hanging out with Rocco at work and hearing all of his great stories. E
The good thing is that he was before the era of social media. I sadly suspect if he were around today, he would get the Bad Chad treatment.
Definitely one of a kind. Met him at an autorama, signed my daughter's RF shirt, to her personally. I still have it. Funny story about him: i read this somewhere--he had no olfactory glands, could not smell. He was big on ****y food, beans, etc. and, you guessed it, farted like a pack mule any and everywhere-car shows or closed room meetings. Almost killed everyone around, he wondered why.
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