Bra Boys

By: Jordan Tappis | May 23, 2008 | Profile

Lauren Stocker
The Bra Boys have been at the center of modern Australian folklore since the late 1990s. Originally founded in Sydney’s lower class beach town of Maroubra as a brotherhood of surfers designed to protect one another from the gang warfare that plagued the small beach town, the Bra Boys became notoriously organized, violent and secretive. In 2005, controversy erupted after one of its founding members, Jai Abberton, was arrested and charged with murder. The story garnered international attention when professional surfer, and Abberton’s younger brother, Kobe, was suddenly and unexpectedly arrested and charged with accessory to murder and obstruction of justice. This ordeal prompted the production of a feature documentary, which was consequently directed by the eldest Abberton brother, Sonny. The film, Bra Boys, narrated by Academy Award-winning actor Russell Crowe, has become the highest grossing documentary in Australian film history. Brian Grazer’s Imagine Entertainment has acquired the rights to the story, and the feature film of it is set to be Crowe’s directorial debut.

Malibu Magazine had the opportunity to sit down with Kobe Abberton while he was in Los Angeles promoting the stateside release of the Bra Boys Documentary. 

Did you guys ever expect this film to be as well received as it’s been?
I was never sure, but I love the movie. And I’m not one-sided. If something fuckin’ sucks, it sucks and I say it. And I would only promote something I love. After watching the final cut, I said to myself, “I love this movie,” and then I thought, so will everyone else.

To me, the Bra Boys documentary is essentially a film about a tribe of friends coming together to protect one another. How would you describe the Bra Boys?
A lot of the Bra Boys growing up did not have much of a family life, or even a family at all. So, really now it’s our own family of brothers for the ones we lost or never had. Without them, I would be dead or in jail, so they are my saviors.

As a kid growing up, what were your childhood aspirations?
As a kid, I had none. Leaving school at 12, I didn’t think about much until the boys told me I had a talent. Then, growing up a bit and surfing all day every day, I started to see I could be a surfer.

Lauren Stocker

When your brother Sonny first decided to make a film about the Bra Boys what was the reaction from all the boys? Was secrecy ever a big part of the Bra Boys code of conduct?
Secrecy is always a part of it, but the way the media portrayed us — as killers, rapists, thieves, drug lords — I mean, we had nothing to really lose telling our story. At least it is better than what people were saying.

Violence seems to be a pretty dominant theme throughout this film. Why do you think violence has played such a big part of the Bra Boys legend?
Maroubra is a very low-income area and people fight a lot because all they have is their own self-respect. When that is disrespected, and people — gangs — come to the beaches in Sydney to fight. We were not the sorts to get beaten up, so I guess we fought back. It shows in the movie when gang culture hit. They thought Maroubra was a good place to test their crews.

The film is pretty much centered on the lives you and your two brothers Sonny and Jai. What was it like growing up in the Abberton household?
(Laughs.) It was hell. I was the youngest of three, my mom was a heroin addict, and my dad was a heroin addict and bank robber. We were the bosses. I had a ball, actually, but I was too young to see how bad we actually lived. We had no food, but we lived — so add it up.

How did you feel when your big brother Sonny turned pro and left you at home to be raised by your brother Jai?
Jai and I are a lot alike. We both have the same thoughts, so when Sonny left, we kind of ran wild.

When your brother Jai got picked up on the murder charge what were your thoughts? How did you react?
It really hurt. It was the worst day of my life. He is such a good person, so it was devastating.

The relatively quiet criminal case grabbed a lot of international media attention because of your status in the surf world. How did that affect the experience for you and the rest of the Bra Boys?
There were a lot of negative things being said about the Bra Boys before, so that was nothing new. We were used to it.

Why were you not present at the trial when Jai’s verdict was read?
My attorneys wouldn’t allow it. They felt that it was in everyone’s best interest that I not attend so as to not bring any more attention to the case.

Is there any lingering resentment between you and your brother?
No! He can beat me, so I keep quite. (Laughs.)

How big of a role does surfing play in your day-to-day life?
It’s all I have. It gave me life

Lauren Stocker

Big-wave surfing seems to be where you are focusing most of your attention. Have you always been fascinated with riding big surf?
Yeah, it tests a man.

What’s the heaviest spot you’ve ever surfed?
Cyclops … I’m still a bit shaky, but I’m thinking of going back.

Since the documentary’s release, you’ve done a deal with Brian Grazer to produce a feature version of the film. How did that come to be?
Russell Crowe’s a mate, and he asked us.

How big of a role will you guys have on the creative aspect of the film/script?
We have all been working with Stuart Beattie [Aussie screenwriter who penned “Pirates of the Caribbean”] who has been writing the script, and had many discussions with Russell Crowe about the direction he will take. We have also been contracted to consult during the filming to get it as authentic as possible. However, in the end, it’s up to Russell, since it’s his directorial debut.

Do you know which actors are going to play the Abberton Brothers?
I’ve heard rumors that Mark Wahlberg is slated to play me.

What’s next for the Bra Boys?
Life, living, death and destruction. Oh yeah, and some woman.

Bookmarks: Page 1 of 1 pages