Jay Adams was born in Venice, California. He was the only child of Robert Adams and Philaine Herring, and … See more

The Z-Boys became a skate team when they heard about the Bahne-Cadillac Del Mar Nationals in 1975. Adams was the first member to enter the competition, held in Del Mar, California, taking second place in the Junior … See more

Adams is featured prominently in the 2001 Peralta-directed documentary Dogtown and Z-Boys. Los Angeles Times critic Kenneth Turan noted his contribution to the film: "Dogtown is at its dramatic best with mini-profiles of it… See more

Adams spent time in prisons as he struggled with drug addiction. After a Suicidal Tendencies concert in 1982, Adams screamed slurs at a gay couple outside a popular Hollywood hangout. When one … See more

Adams died of a heart attack on August 15, 2014. A memorial funeral service was held in his honor at Venice Beach, California, on August 30, 2014. Surfers and skateboarders from across the country showed the… See more

• DOGTOWN – The Legend of the Z-Boys, C.R. Stecyk III & Glen E. Friedman, Burning Flags Press, 2000, ISBN 0-9641916-4-4
• JAY-BOY – Classic photographs by Jay Adams' stepfather, Kent Sherwood, Concrete … See more