Episode 11: Remembering Royboy with Tim Svetly


On this episode I got a chance to chat with the author and curator of the new book The King and Queen of the Badlands Royboy and Debra the Tattooed Lady… Tim Svetly. Hes gonna take us on his personal journey in collecting the crazy stories of the notorious tattooer Royboy Cooper. From hearing legends of a tattooer who defied all social norms to becoming an important part of collecting tattoo history. 

Enter Royboy

From wrestling bears as a kid, to learning with Cliff Raven, to buying tigers guns boats and cars, to having a hardcore gym in the basement of his tattoo shop. His  life was his own 3 ring circus and he was the ring leader. A life of adventure and the willingness to do any and all things doesnt seem to do Royboy justice. I highly recommend checking out Tims new book on Royboy and his wife Debra to get a taste of what 70s and 80s biker tattooing was like in Gary Indiana. 

 

You can follow Tim on Instagram @royboybook or you can purchase a copy of the book directly at www.royboybook.com

 

You can also follow the show in Instagram @thetattooerspodcast or on www.facebook.com/thetattooerspodcast  and dont forget to follow the show on Itunes or google play and subscribe. It only takes a second and helps the show out so much. 

 

Thanks for listening

 

Dave Meek

www.davidmeektattoos.com

music by www.bensound.com

Episode 9: Chicago Tattooer Nick Colella

 

The Best Traditional Chest Eagle Tattoo by Nick Colella in Chicago at Great Lakes Tattoo State street

Nick Colella making the best tattoos in Chicago
Work by Nick Colella Chicagos best tattooer at Great Lakes Tattoo

 

In this week’s episode, I take a trip back to the 90’s and the days of “house punk rock tattooing”
with Nick Colella, owner of Great Lake Tattoo in Chicago and the brains behind the Walk Up
Classic. He talks about all the antics of the old-timers, how tattooing used to be, and how things
have changed over the years. You can hear the passion in Nick’s voice, and you can tell how true
it is when Nick says that tattooing was his first love. You’ll learn about how internet and social
media have changed the way customers get tattoos, and how it can be a gift and a curse. Nick’s
humility is something to behold, and hearing him say that he’s just a “regular tattoo guy” is
hilariously weird for someone who knows what a tattoo hero he truly is.

Be sure to follow Nick on Instagram @nickcollela and his shop @greatlakestattoo and dont for get to follow the show @thetattooerspodcast as well as on facebook.com/thetattooerspodcast

You can also download and subscribe to the show on Itunes and Google Play. It should only take a second but helps the show so much.

 

Thanks for all the support for the show and tattooing. Let me know what your favorite part of my interview with Nick was in the comments. 

 

Thanks and happy new year!

 

David 

 

music by www.bensound.com

words by Amber Sipe and David Meek

The Tattooers Podcast Ep 4 pt 1: Phillies finest tatttoers protect the trade w/ Eric Perfect

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD ON ITUNES

Eric is a tattooer of 27 years and has seen his fair share of bullshit when it comes to tattooing. And the recent uprising of  Tattoo Schools is no exception. There have always been people trying to make a buck off of tattooing especially since the rise of its popularity in todays culture. Tattoos are fashionable but that comes with some drawbacks as well as some benefits. 

In the beginning of this episode we will hear from the tattoo school man himself. Expaining that he was failing at the job he is trying to teach people….That blows my mind…

Eric Perfect with Philadelphia tattooers protesting tattoo schools

The tattoo school drawback is that now, in a few short months and thousands of dollars later, a young naive person can become a “tattoo artist”. [I use quotations and the term tattoo artist very loosely here] All at the expense of the genreal public. Its the customers and clients that we have worked so hard to give the best of oursleves and give the best possible tattoos we can. Mind you there are always crappy tattoo artists doing tattoos they shouldn’t be doing and Im probably one of them.  But to set this as the standard is not only decienving the would be  tattoo artists but the general public into thinking that these tattoos are ok. I have my own opinions of whats right and wrong about this but ill let Eric Perfect, Chad Knight and Myke Chambers explain the situation in Philly. So stay tuned for the upcoming episodes with those fellas. Til then please enjoy Eric Perfect.

 

For more info on what is going on please visit www.notattooschool.com or follow Eric on Instagram and Facebook

 

Dave

follow the show on Instagram and facebook.com/thetattooerspodcast

 

 

music by bensound.com

Tucson Tattoos and Phoenix Marathons

Its been a crazy couple of weeks finishing up february and beginning March. Crazy in its type of activities rather than crazy in volume of activities, which is usually the case.

 

But maybe I should back up.

The last 8 months or so I’ve found myself being more deliberate with my time. My one most valuable asset. I’ve spent way more time being with my family rather than away and the feeling of gratitude is surging!

Ill have to post about my new adventures in meditation, running, reading(usually disney bio related or self educations.), floating, music, art and even hang gliding!

 

So back to my deliberate use of time.

I have spent years trading time for money. And I’ve learned that that is not a bad thing. It was the precise thing I needed to be doing. Especially since have a family that I am most certainly a part of. And part of those responsibilities include financial contributions. So work work work. Well maybe more tattoo tattoo tattoo. 

And if you think for a second I don’t love what I do, you’re crazy. I’m a punk rock kid at heart. I had a mohawk at my daughters first birthday. I’ve had jobs before tattooing. I made damn good money.  But being able to do things the way I want has always been part of the plan. Want a mohawk? Wear one. Want to be tattooed? Be tattooed. 

So as fate would have it, Tattooing showed it lovely face in my life. 

Now, the mantra of MY WAY has been poking around again. I’ve put my pole in the pond from sunup to sundown and sometimes longer to make tattoos on some of the raddest people I could ever expect to meet. And as I  grow skill, they grow in styles and size!

 

My appointment book has been steadily filling with more and more tattoos that really are some incredibly fun pieces. And I have been been practicing how to deliberately use my time.

I also gave myself the most enduring test of physical stress and mental stress by signing up to do a Half Maration (13.1 miles) in Mesa Arizona. I gave myself an official training season of 6 days. Now I clearly would never recommend that to anyone, and I know I’ll never ask that of me again. But the commitiment to participate for 5 years and I can’t fail myself. So this year, six days it was, and next year at least 3 months.

 It’s late. I dont care why I’m writing. All I know is Im enjoying it. I think I need to do a few more posts to get used to the directio of this. I wonder if I really show how the sausage is made, in my shop anyways,   there could be some small benefit to the tattoo world or the world in general. 

I kind of feel like these article s need to be longer. Or maybe I should ramble more, or no. Thats a bad idea. They will be as long as they need to be and nothing more. 

I am looking forward to this being my personal account of life as an evergrowing artist of life, tattooing, and creation be it art, memories, humans, and anything that Isn’t already here. 

 

I look forward to hearing from anyone that has some good books films unrelated reccomendations, comments, feedback, encouragement, or usable criticsims!

Happy Birthday Sailor Jerry

 

Today is Sailor Jerry’s birthday.  A legend among tattooers and a rum-maker amongst the rest of the world. I am lucky enough to have my own piece of Jerry’s history with a handcut acetate stencil I received from Shanghai Kate. The history of this little piece of plastic is more vast than I could ever know. How may sailors did it rest upon for a brief moment before the adrenaline and alcohol kick in. I’ve tattooed this stencil the way it was meant to be tattooed and Ive had it tattooed on me in the same fashion. Vaseline and carbon powder. Enough said. No sissy stencil papers and stencil solutions. Things were much different back then. Heres a peek for the know-it-alls  that think Norman Keith Collins was a rum maker and Ed Hardy is a shirt designer!  Youre Welcome


get your hands on a hard copy

David Meek

Fast Lane Tattoo

3801 N Oracle rd

Tucson Az

(520)-388-8282

Been really busy with some large scale tattoos lately as well as my usual single sitting tattoos.  for more info for your next tattoo call me at Fast Lane Tattoo at 520-388-8282 or swing by 3801 n oracle rd tucson az. Hope everyone has a wonderful thanksgiving! Ill post more stuff in December

Dave

 

IMG_3229
backpiece study painting 6×9
some big stuff underway
Custom black and grey skull with headdress native girl back tattoo by david meek of fast lane tattoo in tucson arizona with kingpin tattoo supply
Skull wearing a headdress. Hey how are ya hey how are ya
custom traditional black and grey inner arm traditional  praying hands religious sleeve tattoo by david meek in tucson arizona at fast lane tattoo with kingpin tattoo supply
I love whip shading

July 2014 Traditional Tattoos

Ive got to do a few really fun traditional pieces over the summer and cant wait to do more. Ive always loved making bold tattoos and paintings! I am taking appointments for Septmember  and October. use the conatact page for your appointment or to order prints or original artwork!

Dave

Fast Lane Tattoo

3801 N Oracle rd

Tucson Az 85705

520-388-8282

traditional ship tattoo, arm tattoo, tough guy tattoos, tucson tattoo artist, tattooer, fast lane tattoo, david meek tattoos, tattoo art, brooklyn pete, tattooed men, keith b machine works, eternal ink, kingpin tattoo supply, bishop rotary
Traditional ship I got to do based on his dads tattoo from the 1940’s
Traditional couple tattoo, Thigh tattoo, girls with tattoos, cute tattoos, sexy tattoos, girly tattoos, tucson tattoo artist, fast lane tattoo, tattooer, keith b machineworks, bishop rotary, kingpin tattoo supply, eternal ink
Cute traditional couple I got to tattoo on an old neighbor of mine fro 6 years ago
traditional ship tattoo, real tattoos, brooklyn pete, old school tattooer
this was my customers fathers tattoo done by brooklyn pete in the 1940s
Traditional Rose Knee Tattoo, yellow Rose, David Meek Tattoos, Tucson Tattoo Artist, Tattooer, Fast Lane Tattoo, Girls with Tattoos, girly tattoos, cute tattoos, sexy tattoos Kieth b Machineworks, Bishop Rotary, Kingpin Tattoo Supply, Eternal Ink
Traditional Yellow Rose Knee Tattoo I did
Traditional butterfly tattoo, tucson tattoo artist, Fast Lane Tatt oo, Tucson Arizona, Inked girls, Keith B Machineworks, Bishop Rotary, Kingpin Tattoo Supply, Eternal Ink
traditional butterfly tattoo I did this summer

Halloween in Tucson

Finally the temps are right where they need to be, in fact at night its a bit chilly, but this is the time of year we yearn for. Fireplace emissions are starting to fill the night air with aromas that seem to take us back in time. Meanwhile the daytime can be filled with outdoor activities, laughter and of course the fireplaces daytime rival… the grill. Yes Tucson has some pretty awesome extremes this time of year, but thats why i love it.  Enjoy these fall themed tattoos from my archives and if you enjoy this time of year too, maybe its time we scheduled your next autumn inspired tattoo! Thanks for looking or stumbling or however you found yourself here!

Tough masculine Rose and autumn fall leaves chest color tattoo by David Meek at Fast Lane Tattoo in Tucson Arizona
Tough masculine Rose and autumn fall leaves chest color tattoo by David Meek at Fast Lane Tattoo in Tucson Arizona
scary_creepy_custom_realistic_traditional_halloween_jackolantern_illustrative_tattoo_david_meek_tattoos_true_til_death_tattoo_company_ashtabula_ohio
Custom Illustrative Halloween Jack O Lantern Tattoo by David Meek Tattoos true til Death tattoo Company Ashtabula Ohio