I’m just giddy over the international arrival of a new show that delves into body rituals and traditions:  Tattoo Hunter with our favorite tattoo anthropologist Lars Krutak.

Tattoo Hunter hits Europe tomorrow on Discovery World channel at 10pm.

In the US, the series premieres on Discovery Channel, March 7 at 1pm (according to their website).

Lars gave me a hint about the premier show: “The first episode is really a scarification show we shot in Papua New Guinea. It’s perhaps the bloodiest of all and I find it amusing that DC has rated it “G.”

Here’s more on the series:

In this landmark series, Krutak seeks to understand the meaning behind sacred traditions that date back thousands of years by immersing himself into the daily life of indigenous peoples worldwide. Through his many adventures, viewers will be exposed to unique tribal customs including tattooing and scarification practices in Africa, Asia, Oceania, North and South America before these fascinating cultures disappear. And through his personal experiences with tattoo and scarification masters who cut and tattoo his skin, viewers will learn how these painful rite of passage ceremonies continue to shape the very essence of tribal identity, religion, and cosmology.

Check out the articles on Lars’ site for previews of the storylines and locations. Fascinating accounts of bod mod culture among indigenous people. An education in themselves.

A couple of weeks ago I gave my rundown of this month’s tattoo conventions, including the Motor City and Philadelphia shows taking place this Friday through Sunday.

Turns out that I will be making it to Philly, but only on Sunday, and I’m thrilled to bring along the Haitian sensation Sean Toussaint who will be photographing the event especially for Needled that day.

I’ll also be bringin my remaining Needled swag, like lighters, so look (down) for me (I look like this) hangin at the Tattoo Culture and North Star booths; oh, and the bar of course.

I’m known to be friendly as long as you don’t grab me and say, “I thought you would be taller,” so play nice and I’ll give ya free shit as long as they last. Looking forward to it!

The latest issue of Inked Mag is out and, yeah, I’d rather see Margaret Cho on the cover talkin about her first class tattoos than that Malin Ackerman chick and her don’t-blink-or-you’ll-miss-it ink, but there are some meaty items in this men’s lifestyle mag (they’re not billed as an industry mag despite the name). 

My fave: MASTODON! Nuff said.

For more badass, my Greek homegirl and X Games gamine Tara Dakides not only talks about potentially facing her last season of pro-snowboarding but also the symbolism behind her tough torso tattoo. [Such a hot photo of her; that would've made a sweet cover!]

There’s also the hotness of Heather Gabel, painter and illustrator, best known for creating the Alkaline Trio’s iconic skull and heart logo.

On the tattoo artist front, I contributed two pieces, which you can read in their entirety online:

In Sewn Together, I talk about tattoo artist collaborations with couture houses and street wear brands. Keep in mind that it was written before Ed Hardy filed suit against Audigier. For artists and illustrators, I’m hoping that the feature might give some background info that could be helpful in negotiating deals and avoid law suits of your own.

Then check my feature on Smith Street Tattoo Parlour, home to old school stylists Bert Krak, Steve Boltz, and Eli Quinters (shown in their Brooklyn studio above). The internationally renowned tattooers, sought after for their custom tattoo work, defend the “street shop” and talk about why they love walk-ins and flash:

“We love the street shop,” says Boltz. “That’s what we all came up doing. I was doing that for 10 years before someone said they wanted something ’special’ from me.” It’s a change from the custom-only studio trend throughout New York that has led to some snobbery over personalized work. In response, Quinters says, “Some customers will come in and say they don’t know what they want, and we’ll tell them to pick something off the wall. Then they’ll say, ‘I don’t want something off the wall!’ But how do you not want that? Are you too good for old Bill Jones flash?”

Pick up the March issue of Inked on stands now and online.

Our homegirl Margaret Cho is lookin FIERCE in the latest issue of Urban Ink.

The beautiful badass is rockin a gold bikini showing off tattoo work by Don Ed Hardy, Mike Davis, Chris O’Donnell, Andrew Moore, Kat Von D, Mom’s Barnaby, and Nathan Kostechko.

Over the past few years, Maragert has transformed her bellydancing bod into a walking work of art by top tattoo talent. She’s also been the subject of fine art recently as well.

The wonderful Shawn Barber – who has a fab feature in Fecal Face — is working on this portrait of Margaret below (love the lollipop!):

A hardcore Cho fan even has a portrait and autograph tattoo of the comedian. Ok, you know I love me that Margaret but maybe I’ll just jewelry that tattoo instead.

I will be headin to dirty Jersey to see her perform at the Bergen Performing Arts Center on March 6th. Check her other tour dates here.

Watch our video interview with Margaret here for more tattoo goodness.

I got this link about a jewelry company that will take your tattoos and bling ‘em out, aptly called Jewelry My Tattoo.

Don’t have a sample in my hand so I can’t offer a thumbs up or down but the idea is interesting.

I see it as a better alternative to name tattoos of lovers for example — just get the name as jewelry. Or wear the tattoo of your loved one around your body (and take it off when the love is gone).

The jewelry is available in silver, gold and platinum and can take between 3 to 6 weeks depending on the level of detail of the tattoo. Prices begin at about $150 for a small silver piece and are based on the size and complexity of your design and the metal you choose. [See a video of the process here.]

Also check their standard tattoo inspired designs on their online store.

Last week, Pat commented that my news review lacked its classic, well worn weekly bitterness. [Was I truly happy or just giddy over my Beckhamization?] But this week, my friends, I shall not disappoint.

This weekend, I came home on Saturday night (my birthday, no less) to find my new apartment building on fire because the woman who lived across the hall had her crackpipe candle fall onto her bed, which immediately went up in flames. She ran out without closing her fire door … and then this happened.

The reason I mention this is as a reminder to be careful with candles, and it also doesn’t hurt to reacquaint ourselves with fire safety info like remembering to close those fire doors behind us, keep an extinguisher around, stop, drop and roll…

The other reason I mention this is to let ya know that I’m taking a break from cleaning out the smoke damage and gonna bang out my stress on the keyboard for this post. You’ve been warned. Let’s get to it.

First up, tattoos at the Oscars.

The AP gave us just a nugget despite its blaring headline Tattoos Abound at the Oscars. Turns out Evan Rachel Wood, shown above, is tired of being Dita Von Teese, and is now morphing into Angelina, with an amalgam of tattoos including the phrase “All that we see or seem is but a dream within a dream,” which she showed off on the red carpet last night. I don’t know what’s more disturbing, having all that dough and still getting shitty tattoos or having sex with Mickey Rourke.

[On a side note, for an eye full of good and bad tattoos, Wood and Rourke's The Wrestler packs a punch like an off-the-rope diving elbow drop. Especially on my girl Marisa Tomei, who rocks her faux ink in these hot but def not work safe snips.]

In Wood’s defense, however, she did get her own idea inked and not some tasteless tattoo meme like the “Shhh” tattoo ala Lily and Li-Lo; before we go off on the Hollywood braintrust, let’s cross our non-stupidly-tattooed fingers that it’s just marker.

Silly celebs are a minor annoyance, but what I found outrageously upsetting is this Maryland bill amendment, where House Republicans in the state tried to tack on an anti-choice amendment onto a bill requiring parental consent for a tattoo. The amendment would require in-person parental consent for minors to get an abortion. Regardless of your politics, trying to sneak in an extremely controversial amendment onto a good tattoo bill is just nasty politics at its prime.

Ok, now onto the idiocy in Oklahoma…

[Read more →]

With my birthday tomorrow, the best gift this girl can get is a day off (to prep to party tonight) and the most wonderful Patrick Sullivan has done just that with his review of two shows heavy on the tattoos: Gangland and Lockdown. 

By Pat Sullivan

There’s no clever introduction here. This Sunday starting at 7pm (EST) the History Channel is running a marathon of Gangland, its series that takes an hour-long look inside some of the United States’ most notorious gangs –– and their tattoos.

Now in its third season (new DVD set to be released in April), Gangland gives a basic tutorial on well-known gangs like the Bloods and Crips, but also covers other criminal organizations that have flown below the radar disguised as motorcycle clubs, or episodes honing in on a few different gangs, like “Deadly Triangle” which takes a look at Asian gangs in America. And like tattoos, the series can get seriously addictive.

Each episode defines the gang’s roots, history and hierarchy, but the best part is getting a look at the tattoos — as ink is just another version of gang colors. Take the episode on the Aryan Brotherhood, a group that began in prison and have since spread out into the streets. They’ve adopted the shamrock as a gang symbol and explain that if you’ve got a shamrock tattoo and have the unhappy fortune of getting locked up, you better keep it covered unless you plan on joining or getting killed. 

…

And, just in case you haven’t caught it, another ink-heavy show is National Geographic Channel’s Lockdown. No marathons this weekend, but you can check out clips on their website. The reality of the American prison system is unbelievably crowded, vicious and, you got it, tattooed. More often than not, you’ll get both the prisoners and the guards discussing tattoos, or at least, showing them off. And the quality of tattoos currently coming out of prisons might be even more surprising than the prisons themselves. Or a close second. 

Both shows may owe a little credit to their cable cousins, Miami Ink and LA Ink, for getting the mainstream tattoo ball rolling. And though there are millions of viewers that often express ambivalence or just flat out anger at the shows (yet still watch them), it’s possible that their popularity has granted Gangland and Lockdown a bit more wiggle room to show off tattooed thugs in a brutally educational and really interesting context. 

Gangland DVD sets are available on the History Channel’s website as well as Amazon.com.

The next Lockdown doesn’t run for a few weeks, but you can check out tattoos and teasers here.

A new tattoo tome chronicling old school Americana motifs was just released this week, and I need to have it in my collection, especially for the profiles on tattoo legends including Sailor Jerry Collins, Don Ed Hardy, Mike “Rollo Banks” Malone, Bert Grimm, Horiyoshi III, and Shanghai’s Pinky Yun.  

Vintage Tattoos, by underground writer Carol Clerk, is 256 pages of art and anecdotes. Salty stories of tattoo times when shotguns, not art school degrees, hung on the walls behind the parlor counter.  When tattooists travelled with the circus, not metal bands. And when the art went underground because of tattoo bans. Ya know, as opposed to heavily tattooed lawyers bloggin about it. 

Buy Vintage Tattoos from Amazon (where Needled is an Associate) for $19.77.

Photo of tattooist Norm by Scott Sommerdorf of The Salt Lake Tribune.

So, I buy a new computer (thanks to my old one crashing) and finally get Internet access and what am I treated to?  

More news items than I ever, ever wanted to read about Peaches Geldof and her tattoos. 

The spawn of the Do They Know It’s Christmas? dude, Peaches “has over 20 tattoos,” which is always kinda funny when you have to count ‘em (so someone with full sleeves only has two tattoos?). Poor Peaches showed up on some beach baring her needled bod and then everyone’s a critic, including News of the World (and their not-work-safe booby shots) to Gawker and their signature snark – although Gawker was pretty funny in their evaluation, like in this clip below:

• Playing cards = good luck. Like being born to the right person.
• Ace of spades = being an OUTSIDER. Like living in Williamsburg, with “Spanish gangsters,” who eat bagels.
• Unicorn eating chain of daisies = ???. WTF, because everything else about Peaches is deep and meaningful, you know?
• “Disappear Here” = Her style magazine, and a Less Than Zero reference. So probably a coke tat.

And that’s way too much about Peaches for this blog. 

In real Brooklyn badassness, the Daily News gives props to homeboy Adam Suerte of Brooklyn Tattoo whose specialty is the iconic imagery of the borough itself, from the Brooklyn Bridge, Coney Island’s old Cyclone, and even the Brooklyn House of Detention. The 39-year old BK native said, “A good 60% of my tattoos are Brooklyn-related.” Check out Adam’s trippy tattoo work like this Brooklyn Bridge/Subway/Tattoo Machine montage or his 2-D renderings envisioning Brooklyn-themed back and chest pieces. [This post vies for most mentions of the word Brooklyn in a single paragraph ever. I win!]

The most interesting news item of the week has to be the NY Times take on the use of tattoos — perm and temp — in advertising. I was actually gonna start off this post with the article but I found it even less palatable than Peaches. Tattooing is an ancient art. A way to make your body more beautiful. But being a billboard just shows how little you value it. If ya gonna be a whore, be a whore, just don’t dress yaself up like a media maven. As Andrew Fischer, who auctioned his forehead (twice) for 40K says, ”it’s not like the most fun thing in the world to walk around with a big ad on your face.”

[It's still stupid even if it is for charity.]

It’s also probably not fun walking around with big daggers tattooed on your face, especially when facing the death penalty for murder. Potential jurors in the trial were questioned whether the tattoos influenced them as to the defendant’s guilt. Hmm … Can we guess the response?

If only they can magically be removed by photoshop for trial, just like Sports Illustrated has done to their swimsuit models’ tattoos. Happens all the time, no biggie, but CNBC wants to create drama. Airbrush out a (badly done) American flag tattoo! Heaven forfend!

Violation of a supermodel’s free speech right to a patriotic tramp stamp?

Does the First Amendment even apply to tattoos?

While it’s been mentioned in cases overturning tattoo bans, other grounds have dominated in giving artists the right to tattoo, but the issue is up again in California.  Attorney Elizabeth Martyn said that city officials need to study legal precedent before developing a policy, raising the following question:

“What’s the line between the message (tattoo) and the conduct (tattooing). People who want to have the businesses argue they are protected by the First Amendment. People who don’t, argue this is a use, this is a conduct, and we can prohibit the conduct. We need to take the time and make sure we get this right.”

As a tattoo law geek, you bet I’ll be watching. LOVE this shit!

In convention news …

Monsters & Critics have pix from last weekend’s Milan Tattoo Convention (but too heavy on the body paint and light on the tattoos).

The Salt Lake City show got some press, featuring this photo of Norm above and sage advice from the godmama of tattoo, Kate Hellenbrand:

“If you spend $200 for a bad tattoo, it will be a memory forever that you cheated yourself.”

As the saying goes, Good tattoos ain’t cheap and cheap tattoos ain’t good.  [See our Needled video of Kate here.]

And now time for some Quick and Dirty Links:

• Darth Vader beheads George Lucas tattoo.
• In Australia, a study concludes that 25% of those born between 1982 to 2001 have a tattoo. (2001?!)
• In the UK, friends with the same tattoos reunited after 10 years for documentary.
• Ray Bradbury’s classic Illustrated Man gets a new look by Blog Critics Mag.
• Editorial on why Washington state should regulate body piercing.
• Finally some fun … the NBA “tattoo cap” was a hoax. As if there were room for more.

The Internet, my friends. It’s a glorious thing. 

We curse it when its never-ending Inbox taunts us, but oh how we weep like babes when we are deprived of its fiber-optic goodness. Such has been my life the past few days, but I’m back.

And being back means being BECKHAM-ized!  

You too can make yourself into a soccer hottie ab tattoo via Photo Funia.

Play with that and the news will be up tomorrow.