Mel Noir

Just use the computer's speakers. Fuck your boss.

As if I didn't love this already, there's more to it? Brilliant, I'm off to check that out later. :) Since so many in the UK decided to boycott this particular magazine JUST as this issue came out, I've been thinking about the logistics of putting mine online too, so people can actually read it- maybe I'll get round to it soon. I was kind of proud of what I wrote for that, so it's a shame no one wanted to read it because of the magazine it was in! Can't wait to read the full unedited version of this interview mate, I'm sure you nailed it :)

I gave in and watched it before finishing even half of today's work. It was worth it. May have to have a tattoo show binge like Jade later on tonight, haha. We need more shows like this, I think it would be great! The interviews here, and these shows, already make me happy, but they make me want to see more too. My best friend is a producer- one day I'm going to MAKE him work with some tattooers to see what they come up with, for my own selfish needs.

Same here mate- in fact, if I could just spend a few months in New York, that would be grand. A lot of my favourite studios seem to be either there or not too far.

Why would we insult you for liking Alkaline Trio? They're one of my favourite bands! I even have the cheesy obligatory heart tattoo (it's made into a traditional style heart with a banner, does that still make me cool? Haha). I think they're really great, though I haven't listened to the new album yet. A few people are kind of on the fence. I think I'll get on iTunes and download this thing now, really curious to see how it is after hearing Clavicle on YouTube. Also- Dan Andriano's album may be out pretty soon, you guys might be interested in that. :)

You guys are braver than I am about being brutally honest, haha. With some people, if you say a bad word about them, people give you a whole load of shit. The fact I'm trying to choose my words carefully probably says enough to you two who'll know what I'm talking about. When it comes to Skin Deep vs Tattoo Revolution, though, I just tune out. I can't be bothered with things like that, really. A lot of these people who are going on about ethics in general ONLY attack Stuart Mears, when in fact, there are loads of other people out there who are making loads of money from tattooing without caring and probably doing an even worse job. I often wonder why Stuart Mears is the only name that's brought up most of the time. Do people have something to gain from making him the villain? I don't know. I just want to keep out of it when people talk like that, haha. I never really liked Skin Deep anyway, for pretty much the same reasons as you guys. The new editor isn't much better with spelling and mistakes, either. Tattoo Master was a little better, but like you said, there aren't enough tattooers writing in it for it to be taken seriously. I do wonder why articles like those by Pat and myself were put in Tattoo Master instead of Skin Deep. I guess we weren't "wacky" enough or didn't write about colour realism enough for it to go out to everyone. ;) A mate of mine has a whole load of TAM magazines for me to read when I visit his studio- really excited to have a read of them (even if that's slightly geeky, haha). I think I may have some ideas that Tattoo Life and Total Tattoo might like, so I think I'll approach them with something very soon. The magazine I've been doing some work for has some really cool ideas too, for how a tattoo magazine should be, so hope isn't all lost, haha. Oh, but here's something cool- I have been asked to ghostwrite for a book by a tattoo artist! I can't say anything yet, but I thought you guys in particular may be interested to know that. Very excited.

These videos are actually immense.

Thanks Abees, you rock :) When you don't have a TV, YouTube playlists take up a lot of that time you have when you're bored before sleeping, haha.

Actually frantically trying to hurry up with today's work so I can watch this, haha.

Bollocks, duplicated post! Admins, feel free to delete this (as I have no idea how to, haha).

Hi Abrahams, welcome to the site! :) I totally second the idea of actually getting tattooed there if she wants to really watch someone work. Valerie had something up on her site about how to book in for the convention, she may still have space. She's on here too, as you probably already know, but I'd check out the site first for the proper info she put up about it. Sometimes artists are cool with letting you watch them work, but only if you know them first. I got to see Gary Weidenhof do a really great skull at Peterlee this year because he let me sit there with my jaw on the floor, haha. I'd been spending most of the day with the Inkredible Kreations guys and gals though- if you know people who'll be working there, then they're more likely to let you see what they're doing.

Best video ever. I want to actually marry whoever made that.

This thread makes me sides hurt. Literally.

It's no worries man, that website is pretty informative. There's other stuff going on too, but I think whoever updates that website probably doesn't want to put up things they have no solid proof of. Yeah I'm hoping she's just on her holiday or something like that. I think there'd be a bigger deal made of it if she left. They could have put something there though to explain for us nosy bitches! Haha, it's always weird when you know the girl on the cover, I think. :P

It's on YouTube too? My obsessive playlists will like this. The show is brilliant, this is what real tattooing is about, none of that Jodie Marsh bullshit.

These are always fun, but I never know what to say- here goes... I'm Mel, 21, from an ex-mining village just next to Newcastle Upon Tyne. I'm a writer, focusing on tattoos and art. Since I'm young I don't really have any amazing stories to tell. Spent a long time in school/college/university. Spent two years working at DFS too, that was hell. Got into tattooing when I was 18- my first tattoo wasn't done in Newcastle, but the rest were, at Inkslingers. Got into writing, "blogging" all of that stuff. Worked on my friends desk a little in his studio, now I work on his blog instead, haha. I'm really into writing, painting, photography and reading about strange things. Kev, you should start that book thread up, actually, though I think I'll worry people with what I read about, haha. Um, that's all I can think about, though you can see my blog here if you really HAVE to: Mel Noir's Blog | Another Blog to Ignore at your Pleasure. . Can I go now?

I have no idea. I asked some people on Facebook after showing them the page. They just laughed their ass off, so I'm guessing they don't know, haha. Loius Molloy teaching that spunk trench to tattoo really hasn't helped this idea of tattoo schools, since I heard she went on to attend one of those stupid things after whinging about having to scrub Louis' floors.

Haha no way- I wrote for the last issue, too! I'm going to hunt out my copy and read what you wrote. Actually, I'm sure I already knew this and just forgot about it. Anyway, Alex really is a great guy, I'd back that statement up in a heart beat. To be honest, we may not know the protocol as this has never really come up before on LST, but I've seen other forums that make our replies look totally fine, so I think we're okay! By the way, has anyone read the new Total Tattoo yet? WHERE IS SALLY?! :(

The misuse of apostrophes irritates me too! Just heard someone I didn't even know I had added on Facebook say my new tattoo is "so slick", before asking, "how much for a cool tat lyk dis?". Needless to say the comment and person's profile aren't on my Facebook page anymore. Argh.

Me neither, mate! Also, love your new signature, haha.

Wow. That's just amazing, mate. I love the aqua and yellow, too. Her eyes are beautiful as well!

Oh, so we're okay to talk about him on here then? I'll stop holding back in my replies, haha. I can never really be sure, half of my mates already have "solicitor's letters" from him! Pat's dead right, the guy's constantly trying to push this magazine and the convention to make tattooing look like a fucking McDonald's chain. A mate of mine was supposed to work Tattoo Jam last year, then called me to say he got there to find out he'd been banned- they still took his money, though! He's also taken from charities, I hear, which is the lowest thing anyone can do. Are you thinking about this recap, mate? http://www.stuartmears.com Also, don't subscribe to Skin Deep- one of the publications he owned went bust, and it took people ages to get their money back. Don't let it happen to you! Ah, I feel better knowing I don't have to hold back about the guy here. :)

A friend of mine just saw this, and said she's sure she's argued with him on another tattoo forum before, so yeah, definitely best to leave it and hope he fucks off. Besides, Ursula and I are too busy licking our wounds from high school. I don't really have a tattoo story from Monday, so I don't really know what to share, haha. It just hurt. Lots.

Can't reply. Laughing too much.

Sorry, but as soon as you started talking about money, I stopped reading. Surely someone else will be bored enough to read that and reply, though.