The King Of Cool

The King Of Cool

"You know what, that might be kinda fun."

Steve McQueen, Box Office Star signs up to a Daily Scale Stunt Contract in 1975

As the 30th anniversary of Steve MCQueen's death and a new biopic approach (Brad Pitt and Daniel Craig fighting it out for the lead), the extent to which the King Of Cool's life revolved around fast cars and bikes becomes a talking point for us all.

Born five months after the Great Depression to alcoholic parents who abandoned him in his youth McQueen was dyslexic, alone, and in and out of reform school until the age of 18. However, a love of motorsport kept him off the booze and out of prison. As his acting career took shape he was never one to be found waiting for the phone to ring. Quite simply Steve McQueen had his bikes, and this was a passion he carried throughout his acting career.

One story goes that having just filmed Towering Inferno for a reported $14m, McQueen called a buddy looking to go for a bike ride in the desert. This friend, a stunt rider, couldn't make the trip in that he had a job the next day on a film called Dixie Dynamite (I know what you're thinking...). For $174-50 daily rate, McQueen signed up to a day of sliding corners, sailing jumps and laying down crashes. In all the excitement one wheelie got the better of him and he came off the back infront of everyone. Truly one of the guys, his stunt crew loved him for it.

This love of bikes was never more apparent than in the final scenes of On Any Sunday in 1971. As a biker what I'd give to be able to play in the sand like that with my buddies today. Alas green laning (freeriding in the off road UK) is fast become extinct but in the US in the 70s this was on tap! If you haven't seen the film the end scene is well worth a view here.

However, if not the Mustang chase in Bullit it was the bike scenes in The Great Escape that immortalised Steve McQueen in the minds of petrol heads the world over. Ignoring that the barbwire jump was one stunt he didn't actually perform for the camera, the only disappointment to this classic piece of cinema is that our hero didn't get away. Only all that could be about to change. With the joys of the digital age it can only be a matter of time before a watchmaker or studio decide to make our Xmas dreams come true and we see Hiltz clear the jump and make his run for freedom. What am I talking about? Check this out here.

Whether on his bike, in his race car or simply brooding out in front of the camera, there can be little doubt that Steve McQueen's legacy as the King of Cool endures. This in no small part due to the man's love of bikes and cars and a strong sense of imagination and determination around how he wanted to make them a big part of his life. Mr Pitt, Mr Craig you boys still have a long way to go in my book. Your own song and a very cool compilation of take outs on line a good place to start.