Credit: Evan Klanfer (photographer), Josh Homme (writer)
Once again, it comes back to reputation, you know? I think the reputations for musicians and tattoo artists alike have a lot in common. That reputation is sort of your introduction. And you have to rely on reputation as well when you don’t know somebody. Respect is the gift you give yourself, so the respect of your peers can only come when you respect yourself as well. That must have a huge importance in all of this, you know?
I would not be where I’m at—in any facet, mind-set, geographic or otherwise—if it wasn’t for that. And at this point, I’ve been tattooing long enough to where it’s—
How long?
Over 20 years now.
And you’re only 15 years old.
Yeah, it’s crazy.
That brings me to another thing. Even though there’s a mainstream element to tattooing now, is it important to you to be a renegade within that?
It’s important for me to vocalize my opinion even if it’s not a popular one—to say what I feel is right and wrong in the tattoo world. I’m morally bound by those choices. So by default, yes is the answer to the question.
I would not be where I’m at—in any facet, mind-set, geographic or otherwise—if it wasn’t for that. And at this point, I’ve been tattooing long enough to where it’s—
How long?
Over 20 years now.
And you’re only 15 years old.
Yeah, it’s crazy.
That brings me to another thing. Even though there’s a mainstream element to tattooing now, is it important to you to be a renegade within that?
It’s important for me to vocalize my opinion even if it’s not a popular one—to say what I feel is right and wrong in the tattoo world. I’m morally bound by those choices. So by default, yes is the answer to the question.
There are people who are outsiders in this outside community. Not outsiders per se, but not the Disney version either. Do you feel a part of that minority?
Oh, absolutely. I’ve embraced my position completely. And I feel that I have to vocally protect my position. Like, once I got into a verbal argument with a guy at the first New York Roseland Convention. He was pushing for the legislation about the legalizing of tattooing in Massachusetts. And I tried to tell him, “Man, all you’re doing is bringing the system in. Giving opportunity to a bunch of people who … just want to regulate it for their own economic reasons. You’re inviting a bunch of aphids to the rosebush.” And his argument was, “Well, it’s my right. I was raised in Martha’s Vineyard”—go figure, Martha’s Vineyard—“and it’s my right to legitimately be able to open a shop.” And I was thinking to myself, Just because it’s your right to do something doesn’t mean it’s the right thing to do.
Well, yeah. I think in that respect, that’s why I wonder if being an outsider’s outsider is part of the goal.
Our generation is basically going to be held responsible for the historical value and preservation of a lot of important facets of the craft. I mean the important facets, not just the ego of the artist and the naive flattery they get from whatever customer base they isolate themselves with.
Oh, absolutely. I’ve embraced my position completely. And I feel that I have to vocally protect my position. Like, once I got into a verbal argument with a guy at the first New York Roseland Convention. He was pushing for the legislation about the legalizing of tattooing in Massachusetts. And I tried to tell him, “Man, all you’re doing is bringing the system in. Giving opportunity to a bunch of people who … just want to regulate it for their own economic reasons. You’re inviting a bunch of aphids to the rosebush.” And his argument was, “Well, it’s my right. I was raised in Martha’s Vineyard”—go figure, Martha’s Vineyard—“and it’s my right to legitimately be able to open a shop.” And I was thinking to myself, Just because it’s your right to do something doesn’t mean it’s the right thing to do.
Well, yeah. I think in that respect, that’s why I wonder if being an outsider’s outsider is part of the goal.
Our generation is basically going to be held responsible for the historical value and preservation of a lot of important facets of the craft. I mean the important facets, not just the ego of the artist and the naive flattery they get from whatever customer base they isolate themselves with.
But it also feels good to be respected in your time.
I agree.
It’s something to have peers’ [respect] … whether that’s with infamy or a certain amount of notoriety matters not to me.
Well, notably, infamy is a form of notoriety.
It is. It’s just that I reckon you have a certain amount of notoriety. You know, “There’s Clay. Let’s go say hi to him.” And infamy would be more like, “There’s Clay. Let’s stay here.” [Laughs.]
That’s been the bane of my existence.
I agree.
It’s something to have peers’ [respect] … whether that’s with infamy or a certain amount of notoriety matters not to me.
Well, notably, infamy is a form of notoriety.
It is. It’s just that I reckon you have a certain amount of notoriety. You know, “There’s Clay. Let’s go say hi to him.” And infamy would be more like, “There’s Clay. Let’s stay here.” [Laughs.]
That’s been the bane of my existence.
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