hogg

Haha...UGK is one of my all-time favorite groups (they're from my hometown), so I'd be stoked to hear them while I was getting tattooed. I guess I have to go to Milwaukee for that, though. I'll save a spot for you, Julio.

Big fan of your work--especially your snakes.

Patrick! Stoked to see you here, Homie. Love that Zoidberg tat. Who did it?

This one's by Jeff Rassier, but everyone seems to know that without my having to tell them: It's a panther-headed eagle versus a hot stuff-headed snake. And another fun one by Heath Preheim:

I moved to SF from Austin in 1997. Leading up to my move, I was finishing a piece with Chris Trevino, and every time I saw him, he'd tell me that I had to get tattooed by Eddy when I got to SF. He'd also tell me stories about his guest slots at 222 and how it was the nicest shop he'd ever set foot in. By the time I actually got to SF, I was broke. I stayed that way for a few years, but when I finally got a decent bonus in 1999, I went straight to 222 on my lunch break. Rassier was the only guy there that day, and he told me that Eddy's wait was 6 months. (It's funny to look back on that chat with Rassier, as my wife and I both have a few tattoos from him now.) The 6 months finally went by and I got my half-sleeve from Eddy, which he knocked out in no time at all. Right before he started, I said, "So, are you as heavy as Chris?" He laughed and said, "No one's as heavy as Chris, dude." We talked a lot about martial arts, other tattoo artists and the usual stuff, but the funniest thing is that he lit up a cigarette and my girlfriend asked if she could have one. He said, "Yeah, but you gotta smoke it outside." She thought he was joking, but he was dead serious! "It's my shop--I'm the only one who can smoke in here." So she declined, haha.

My list isn't nearly as long as some of you, but then again, I'm not a tattooer! Mike Malone (aka Rollo Banks, RIP) Steve Borrego (no longer tattooing) Chris Trevino Eric Doyle Carson Vester (no longer tattooing--at least I don't think he is) Eddy Deutsche Sunny Buick Clifton Carter Horimasa Jill Bonny aka Horiyuki Horitaka Colin Kenji Nervio Chris Brand Horitomo Scott Sylvia Jeff Rassier Juan Puente Grime Ben Grillo Freddy Corbin Horiyoshi III Heath Preheim Theo Mindell Bill Salmon Junii Salmon Still got some room and am dying for a piece by Tim Lehi, among others.