Gavin Miles McInnes (born July 17, 1970) is a Canadian-American writer, musician, and comedian. Referred to as "the Godfather of hipsterdom"^[1] and one of the "primary architects of hipsterdom",^[2] McInnes is often credited with fostering the contemporary hipster movement, mostly via Vice Magazine’s “DOs & DON’Ts” column.

Biography [edit]

Early life [edit]

McInnes was born in Hitchin, England and moved to Canada when he was 4. His parents are Glaswegian. His father is the vice president of operations at Gallium, a high-tech company specializing in defense. His mother is a retired business teacher.^[3]

Career [edit]

McInnes co-founded Vice.

McInnes split from the other founders of Vice in 2007 due to "creative differences,"^[4] a possible reference to their recent affiliation with Viacom via VBS.tv.^[5]

McInnes started the website StreetCarnage.com with Derrick Beckles. He also co-founded an advertising agency called Rooster NY where he serves as creative director.^[6]

He recently finished a book of memoirs for Simon & Schuster entitled How to Piss in Public^[7]

Personal life [edit]

McInnes attended Ottawa’s Carleton University and received a BA in English in 1992 and from Montreal’s Concordia University in 1994. In 1999, he moved to New York City. He is married and has three children.^[8][9][10]

Pranks [edit]

• In 1995, McInnes convinced a journalist from Quebec’s Le Devoir that he and fellow co-founder Shane Smith were gay lovers. The resulting story featured the two embracing.
• In 1999, McInnes convinced a journalist from Ottawa’s The Citizen that Vice was merging with MTV. The resulting article was three full pages. This prank later became somewhat true when MTV launched The Vice Guide to Everything in 2010.
• In 2009, McInnes convinced a journalist at The Village Voice that he had been knocked out after losing a challenge to an MMA fighter.^[11] The footage was actually an outtake from a failed TV pilot.^[12]
• In 2010, McInnes convinced a journalist at Gawker.com that he had eaten a bowl of urine-soaked corn flakes after not winning their “Hipster of the Decade” competition.^[13] The footage was actually an outtake from a collection of comedy sketches called "Gavin McInnes is a Fucking Asshole".
• In 2012, McInnes faked a serious car accident for the stand-up comedy movie The Brotherhood of the Traveling Rants.^[14]

Film [edit]

• 2006 The Vice Guide to Travel — as himself
• 2008 Sophie Can Walk — as himself
• 2009 Asshole — as Vincent Allen
• 2010 A Million in the Morning — as host
• 2010 Gavin McInnes is a Fucking Asshole

Books [edit]

• 2003 The Vice Guide to Sex and Drugs and Rock and Roll (Warner Books)
• 2004 Vice Dos and Don'ts: 10 Years of VICE Magazine's Street Fashion Critiques (Grand Central)
• 2009 Street Boners: 1,764 Hipster Fashion Jokes (Grand Central)
• 2012 How to Piss in Public: From Teenage Rebellion to the Hangover of Adulthood (Scribner)

References [edit]