‘Ride With Norman Reedus’: ‘Walking Dead’ Star on His Summer Road Trip

Rob Moynihan June 6, 2016, 4:30 pm

Comments

Norman Reedus riding with Balthazar Getty, Nina Kaplan, Ashmore Ellis, and Anya Violet, California, February 8-10, 2016 - The Ride with Norman Reedus - Season 1, Episode 2 — Mark Schafer/AMC

Norman Reedus riding with Balthazar Getty, Nina Kaplan, Ashmore Ellis, and Anya Violet, California, February 8-10, 2016 - The Ride with Norman Reedus _ Season 1, Episode 2 - Photo Credit: Mark Schafer/AMC

Walking Dead fan-favorite Norman Reedus is leaving zombies in the dust this summer and hopping aboard his motorcycle to traverse the United States—from California to Florida—learning about biker culture. Reedus makes time for pit stops at tattoo parlors, collector’s warehouses and roadside eateries. Start your engines!

What is your history with motorcycles?
I started riding in junior high school. A friend of mine had a bike and none of us could afford to buy one, so we all took turns on his running from police, hiding between houses, getting stitches and all that fun stuff. I just kept it up and as soon as I could afford a motorcycle [of my own], I bought one.

What are some of your favorite stops on this trip?
Riding dirt bikes in Death Valley on a dry lakebed was incredible. I don’t think I’ve ever felt so wide open in my life. New Orleans was also really fun. I did crawfishing, rode through the swamps, met alligators, taught voodoo and did a little bit of rock ’n’ roll. All the episodes are unique and have a different energy.

Famous friends like Peter Fonda, Robert Rodriguez and Balthazar Getty join you in different cities. What makes for a good travel companion?
When you go on a road trip with someone, you talk to each other like you’d talk to a therapist, bartender or hairdresser. So you end up really knowing somebody on the ride. It becomes personal, introspective and sensitive at times.

Did you persuade any of your Walking Dead costars to come along?
We shot in the off-season, and everybody was just so busy winning awards on Broadway, shooting movies overseas, saving elephants, doing so many things. But I hope in the future to get some of them on the show. There are some people in the cast who ride motorcycles now—we all took a big ride together the other day—so that’s great for me.

What can you say about The Walking Dead Season 7?
The premiere means so much to us that we have a pact to let it speak for itself. It means too much to just talk about it. But it’s really, really good.

Ride With Norman Reedus, Series Premiere, Sunday, June 12, 10/9c, AMC.