TATTOO TALES

Tony has been tattooing for over 50 years, longer than many of us have been alive. Just for that he deserves huge respect.   A tattoo godfather in Australia, he’s well known in the community worldwide, crossing paths over his long career with institutions of this craft such as Lyle Tuttle, Cliff Raven, George Bone, Lal Hardy, Doc Price, Terry Wrigley and the list goes on and on.  Listening to him...

I have a lot in common with Jason, most of all a restless spirit that brought us both to travel the world for years in search of that ”something” we couldn’t name.  Years down the line Jason is a more mature man and artist with a newly found sense of purpose. With this interview I wanted to get you to see what I see in him, that special sensitivity that sets him apart, a sensitivity that finds exp...

In New York the name Bakaty and Tattooing are two sides of the same coin and the city knows it well.  A second generation tattooer, Mehai watched his father Mike, respected and loved legend in the Lower East Side, practicing the craft since he was four years old. At the age of 11 he was making needles for the family business that operated underground throughout the long ban that made tattooing ill...

When you lose yourself into different cultures of distant countries you re-emerge with a newly found appreciation for the people you met and for all the beautiful nuances that characterize them. A deeper sense of wonder and acceptance. This is the difference between a traveler and a tourist. As a consequence your daily reality takes on a different light, without the need for moving away from it. W...

Two creative souls that found each other, this is the beautiful story of Virginia and Stephanie.  They both gained their reputation through years of hard work and dedication at the highest levels of this profession, shoulder to shoulder with the best.  What sets them apart tho is their unique sensitivity, perhaps matured overcoming all the obstacles that life put on their way, and their caring. Ca...

Some people keep traditions alive, some people push boundaries, others implement their own vision in within a well understood and processed style. Robert is one of the latter. He absorbed the foundations of American Traditional over a long career, crossing paths with some icons such as Dan Higgs and Scott Harrison, translating that beautiful codified language of symbols into a mirror facing inward...

I remember how I used to look at Shawn’s paintings 10yrs ago, amazed by his masterful use of color, composition and personal interpretation of the subject. A fresh voice in the tattoo world. It’s beautiful to have witnessed his personal artistic trajectory which reflects his own journey of growth and self discovery. Today Shawn is a mature artist with a sensitive look on life, reflected through hi...

Why is important to learn about the past? Studying where we come from allows us to understand where we’re at today, to develop appreciation for what we have and to treat it with respect, going beyond short-sighted personal interests in the eyes of a bigger picture.     Today we have Terry Manton, a retired tattooer from Glasgow that took on the mission of organically searching on Scottish tattooin...

Tattooer, punk rocker, bank robber, surfer, musician... it’s hard to put Shane in a box. His life could be a movie, a good one, made of passion, defeat, revelations and love. Love for what life is, for the good and for the bad. In his words there is the honest portrait of a man who learned the most precious lessons the hard way and that is never afraid of being real. It’s been a privilege to liste...

This episode is a bit different from what you’re used to. Dense and informative, it shines a light on a new publication, “The science of tattooing”, and those questions not many of us are really able to answer to.  The author Hannah Wolf is an American tattooer with almost two decades of experience who took on the task of answering those questions. Her new book wants to be a tool for professional...

On a beautiful New Zealand summer night in Tapua, with the background of the crickets chirping, I had the pleasure of having a nice chat with Yushi. He’s on a world tour with his beautiful family and for a coincidence(is there such a thing?) we happened to meet at Gordon Toi’s house, sharing insights on his over 20yrs career and Japanese working ethics. ⁣ At the end of the interview I share my 2 c...

I’ve been really looking forward to this episode. This year I came back to New Zealand and I couldn’t miss the opportunity to interview a tattooer truly representating the local indigenous culture: the Maori. Gordon Toi is the man. Over his quarter of a century long career he fought to give Moko back the dignity it deserves, after seeing an involution due to British colonization. Through the cours...

At the other very end of the world, Auckland New Zealand, I’ve met with Dean for an honest, refreshing chat. Dean is one of the finest tattooers this country ever produced and he influenced a whole generation with his incredible Japanese large scale work. His competence and talent are surpassed only by his humbleness, which amplifies his achievements and it’s a trait which sets him apart. I hope y...

An honest talk with a dedicated man who found his purpose over a long career and puts his heart in front of every decision he makes. This is Andreas in a nutshell. Committed, inspired, concerned about giving back to the very trade he dedicated his life to and most of all honest, to himself above everything.  I really enjoyed this afternoon spent with him in his house in Aachen, Germany, surrounded...

This time I ended up in Manchester to meet up with local legend Rambo, owner of what has become one of the city’s landmarks, the historical RAMBO’S TATTOO PARLOUR. Recorded in the pub he owns next door, this talk was another beautiful journey in the history of British tattooing by one of its most iconic and knowledged characters. Rambo describes his upbringing in days where tattooing was very much...

For this episode I ended up in Montpellier, France, where I’ve met the colorful American duo Scott Ellis and Omar Edmison. In between croissants and cheap whiskies they shared with me the 50+years of tattooing in between the two of them, where they crossed paths with some legendary characters.    Find Omar  and  Scott  on Instagram   Follow the podcast’s updates on  Instagram Learn more about Stef...

Henk Schiffmacher is the true living legend of Dutch tattooing. Over his 40+ years career he represented the true spirit of this craft, once belonged to pirates, outcasts and rebels, with adventure, humor and dare. In this episode recorded in his house in Amsterdam, Henk brings back tattooing to what it is in its purest form: passion, connection and communication.   More about Henk on  hankypankyt...

Natural born storyteller, living encyclopedia of tattooing history, unique character with a big heart. There couldn’t have been a more appropriate figure to start my podcast with. Lal embodies the true spirit of this new brand series of inspiring and entertaining talks. My afternoon spent with him at his house in London has been one of those moments you treasure and remember.     You can find Lal...