Mack Hardcore, our green – pierced – mohawk sporting mascot was born on May 10th, 2007 at the hands of Troy Edlin, a graphic design artist in Louisville, Kentucky.   Edlin, a longtime friend of Station Manager Jake Wheat was contacted to begin the process of character design for “Mack” whom you see to the left playing his bass guitar.

When Edlin lovingly took the assignment, and began working on concept pieces the sketchpad came to life.  “Mack” is not your average cartoon mascot, his design is full of symbolization, honor, and even memorial.  “Mack” received his name from “Steven Michael Mackin,” who passed away from Ewing’s Sarcoma in October of 2006.  Steven Mackin was a friend to hundreds of individuals, including our Station Manager Jake A. Wheat.  In the process of picking out a name for him, Wheat decided that a lasting way to keep “Mackin” indie music to the masses, the name would live on in short – in memory of Steven.  Not only that, but Wheat also started (along with Steven’s family) a non-profit organization called “Stomp Out Cancer,” in which they produced a CD with “Mack” on the cover – for more information, please visit: www.stompoutcancer.com.

“Mack” has duel symbolism on his body, with “S” tattoos on both shoulders, his right pectoral, and on both of his legs.  “S” stands for both Steven & StreetBlast! Mack’s character, however, is far from any resemblence to a person in real life.  Wheat wanted “Mack” to have his own individual qualities which were brought to life by Edlin, on a phone conversation driving down Bardstown road in the Louisville Highlands.  Edlin created the character image, according to Wheat’s guidelines of “muscular, pierced, tattooed, and punk rock.”  Troy communicated ideas back and forth and finally Wheat turned the entire project over to Edlin stating “you design it, just go wild, do what you want – I trust you.”

Having worked on projects with Troy Edlin before, like “The Waverly Hills Sanatorium Audio Experience CD,” and other graphic related work in the past, Wheat has developed a strong trust with Edlin’s artistic visions.  Not to mention that Troy Edlin and Jake Wheat spent their high school days in the same art classes at Pleasure Ridge Park High School.  “Troy was an awesome artist back then, and I mean brilliant.  I always knew that he would be an artist of some sort when we got older, and he has just really boomed.  He is one of the best I know of, period.” Wheat said.

Interesting Facts About Mack:

1. Mack has FIVE tribal tattoos on his body.  One of each shoulder, one of each leg, and one on his right pec.  According to the character, “Mack” states that he is “representing StreetBlast hardcore.”

2. Mack has both nipples pierced, with gold hoops.  “Mack” states that it hurt like hell, but at least now he has something to pull on when we gets kinky.  (We had no idea cartoon mascots got kinky.)

3. “Mack” has his right eyebrow pierced, and he sports a very cool tribal type eyebrow stud that comes to a point on both ends.  According to “Mack,” this did not hurt much.

4. “Mack” has both sides of his head tattooed, and “Jake” tattooed on the back of his neck in Chinese lettering.

5. On “Mack’s” left arm, he sports a green tribal arm band tattoo.  This green armband is symbolic of “The Cavaliers Drum & Bugle Corps,” whom Steven Mackin was a part of.  It was “Mack’s” first tattoo in college, where he majored in Graphic Design.  (I know, har har.)

6. Why a green mohawk and goatee?  Green is Mack’s favorite color, and when he is not finding shorts to match his hair and groovy goatee, he is spending time listening to his music.

7. Yes, Mack does have his junk pierced.  We were not aware of this “junk” piercing until Mack released a nude photo of himself.   The censored version of this desktop wallpaper can be found here.  If you want an uncensored version of the desktop wallpaper with Mack completely nude, you must e-mail the station manager.

8. Mack has a leather wrist “arm band” on his right arm that he wears in memory of Steven Michael Mackin.  On the cover of the “Stomp Out Cancer” CD, (and the logo) check out the laces. Hint!

9. Mack has a fleur-de-lis on his left forearm.  The Fleu-de-lis, possibly an artistic interpretation of a yellow Iris pseudacorus, is the royal emblem of France.  It was placed on the Louisville flag in honor of King Louis XVI, after whom the City is named.  Since StreetBlast.com is based out of Louisville, Kentucky – and so is Mack – well, it’s just the hardcore thing to do.  A lot of musicians and tattooed individuals from Louisville sport the same type of tattoo in honor of their City.

10. Mack Hardcore’s character voice is provided by Canadian voice-actor Simon Hill, who produces all of Mack’s episodes himself.  Simon Hill’s work goes all the way from commercials to various cartoon voice over work heard all over the World!  You can get free Mack ringtones here, which are absolutely free of charge.

Check out the SIDEBAR of our website for cool Mack desktops, screensavers, coloring sheets, and much more!

Cheers!

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