Larry Linkogle

Before he turned into “The Demon,” Larry Linkogle was a child prodigy racer who turned pro at age fifteen, the youngest in the circuit. He was a daredevil and a rebel who lived his life on the dangerous edge. Growing increasingly disillusioned by corporate restrictions of the racing industry, he quit the sport in a wildly spectacular display during a national event. After he left, Larry helped create what is now one of the most popular extreme sports in the world - Freestyle Motorcross (FMX), and he founded The Metal Mulisha, the prominent gear and lifestyle brand for motorcross and mixed martial arts. Taking extreme risks and death defying stunts to the limit led to injuries (he lost his spleen in a crash), and painkillers. Eventually, he was down and out – and an addict. Erratic and abhorrent behavior became part of his every day existence. The downward spiral saw Larry drug and gun running; participating in underground fist fighting; and thugging with his gang buddies. His fast track to happiness and success was lost to a decade of rage and hatred, jeopardizing everything, including his life. Tired of his failing health, lack of control, self-loathing and disappointing his family, he realized it was time to get his life back on track. No longer could he sit back and watch others achieving what should have been his triumphs. Gripping, unsettling, and moving (and written with unflinching honesty and candor) Mind of the Demon shows how it’s possible to lose sight of everything - but through will and determination - get it all back. If a cat has nine lives, Larry Linkogle has even more. As Vin Diesel's stunt double in the film XXX, Larry suffered serious head injuries after colliding with a helicopter. His frontal lobe was torn away from the impact with the blade and his ACL snapped and his shoulder separated from the resulting fall. Who the hell survives that? We’ll give you one guess. Larry’s grit and determination was stronger than ever, as he came back in 2005 from that horrific injury to set the world’s long distance record for the 250CC Motorbike class by jumping 255.4 feet. From Running Press "Mind of the Demon: A Memoir of Motorcross, Madness, and the Metal Mulisha" by Larry Linkogle - a story of self-destruction and redemption - a cautionary yet inspiring journey.