Last Ink & "Distressed Ink" Chuck 2024-08-19

Last Ink & "Distressed Ink" Chuck 2024-08-19 - Wanted to shoot short videos from the perspective of the client's chair - of the last few tattoos I perform at Johnson Tattoo before its dissolution at the end of August. Here, I am rendering some lettering on Chuck's arm: "dwb" from his wrestling AKA "Dirty White Boy;" A legacy client, he's been hanging-out and getting tattooed since he was 18 - has been tattooed by my dad, my brother John, my cousin Tammy and myself; He would sometimes ride his bike to the shop all the way down Telegraph Rd. from Lincoln Park, and is the only person I've ever agreed to tattoo my personal "Mushroom Cloud" and "Jonestown Kool-Ade Jug" logos on;

We discuss his wild endeavors in extreme wrestling: 26 years ago, I convinced my lifelong pal T.M. Caldwell to accompany me to a renegade event put on by the Underground Wrestling Association (UWA) at a rented hall in River Rouge; He took charge of the video camera and shot some amazing footage that I consider to be the Amateur Wrestling equivalent of the famous "Heavy Metal Parking Lot" move! (See archival video link in comments section!)

I zoom-in on the tattoos I've rendered on his epidermis over the years, (including a few by other artists) many of which are scarred from bloody escapades in the ring; To describe these damaged works, we coined the expression "Distressed Ink;" We talk about old times when we were younger and less jaded, about how 30 -35 years ago when people performed stunts onstage that drew blood, it was done in the name of "transgressive performance art;" And of course, we mention the shop's 57 year history and my move to a new office in September. ... Much gratitude to you and my other loyal clients over the years!

Roscoe's destination in September:
Cherokee Creek Tattoo
32449 Ford Rd
Garden City, MI 48135
(734) 762-5104
  / cherokeecreektattoo