A request for an interview from GOGGLE magazine
The November 2007 issue of “GOGGLE,” a magazine covering all aspects of motorcycles. It went on sale on September 24. BAD LAND was asked to provide a custom Harley for a photo shoot for the magazine, and these photos were taken when they brought in a bike that had just been completed.I believe the shoot took place on the rooftop of a warehouse in Shibaura. The model was Italian model Gianfranco Simone. At the time, he was a figure who embodied the “slightly rough-around-the-edges dad” image and made a strong impression in Japanese fashion magazines.
I think it was during a break in filming. “I’m 52,” Simone said—I still remember that strangely clearly.
52 years old...
When I heard his age, I was quite surprised. Just standing there, he’s a sight to behold. Just walking, he changes the atmosphere. He’s certainly not trying to look young. Rather, his deep wrinkles, his physique, and his mannerisms—all of it—come together to form his own unique “time.”
So, where exactly does this difference come from?
Is it their bone structure?
Is it the way they dress?
Is it their food culture?
Or is it an attitude of not trying to hide their age, but rather embracing the passage of time itself?
Back then, I simply thought, “Italians are cool.” But looking at this photo now, I see it a little differently. Being cool isn’t about youth. It’s about how naturally the years a person has lived are reflected in their posture, expression, and demeanor. I think that’s probably what it comes down to.
July 20, 2007.
The rooftop of a warehouse in Shibaura.
The brand-new BAD LAND Harley and 52-year-old Gianfranco Simone.
Even now, it looks absolutely cool.
