Thursday  Dec 15, 2005

INKEDblog Interviews Tattoo John

Tattoo John’s been inking for a good long time. And amen to that. He’s seen a lot of changes in the industry, and he’s got some great stories to boot. He’s a true original, and he was kind enough to take some time recently and talk to me about where he got his start, his favorite tat styles, and yup…even his haunted shop. Let’s get old school…

– Justin Pelegano

INKEDblog: You've been tattooing for 34 years --where'd it all begin for you?

Tattoo John: I STARTED TATTOOING WHEN I WAS 16. I WAS WORKING AT CHOPPER SHOP HERE IN SAN JOSE AS A GOFER. I DROPED OUT OF SCHOOL AND WAS TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT I WAS GOING TO DO WITH MY LIFE. I HAD GOTTEN A COUPLE OF TATTOOS AND WAS FASCINATED BY IT. I BUILT MY FIRST TATTOO MACHINE WHILE WORKING AT THE CHOP SHOP. I BUILT A RACK TO HOLD MY GUNS THAT I STILL USE TO THIS DAY. I PRACTICED ON BIKERS, DRUNKS, PUNKS,WHORES, DRUG ADDICTS, WINOS… SAME CREW I WORK ON NOW. JUST KIDDING. THE NEIGHBORHOOD YOUTH PROGRAM PAID ME TO TAKE A SMALL ENGINE COURSE SO I COULD WORK ON MOTORCYCLES. I USED THE MONEY TO OPEN MY FIRST TATTOO SHOP IN REDWOOD CITY. IT’S BETWEEN SAN JOSE AND SAN FRANCISCO. SINCE THEN I’VE HAD SHOPS IN SAN CARLOS ,SAN MATEO,SANTA CLARA BUT MOST OF IT HERE IN SAN JOSE. SAN JOSE’S OLDEST TATTOO BUSINESS…OVER 25 YRS.

INKEDblog: After all this time, what keeps it fresh for you...in other words, what keeps you going? Does surrounding yourself with younger artists help fuel the fire?

Tattoo John: TATTOOING IS WHAT I DO. ITS ME. TATTOOING MADE ME SOMEBODY I’M TATTOO JOHN. THE COMPETITION KEEPS YOU ON YOUR TOES. IT’S AMAZING WHAT PEOPLE PUT ON THEMSELVES NOW DAYS. SOMEDAYS ARE GOLD DAYS WHERE EVERYTHING GOES RIGHT. OTHER DAY ARE LEAD WHERE NOTHING GOES RIGHT.

INKEDblog: What changes have you seen in the tattoo scene over the years? Do you ever find yourself longing for the good ole days, before the whole ink thing blew up and turned into a phenomenon of sorts?

Tattoo John: THINGS HAVE CHANGED WITH THE CUSTOMERS NOW [THAT] THEY’VE GOT MORE MONEY. NOW DAYS WE DONT WORK ON DRUNKS OR STONED PEOPLE. IN THE OLD DAYS THEY ALL WERE HIGH…ME TOO…THAT WAS PART OF THE LIFE STYLE. I’VE BEEN STRAIGHT FOR 14 YRS. BUT SOMETIMES LATE AT NIGHT WHEN THE CITY STREETS ARE EMPTY, I MISS THOSE ALL NIGHT TATTOO SESSIONS – SEEIN’ THE SUN COME UP WHILE YOU’RE STILL TATTING AWAY.

INKEDblog: Tell me a little about the shop. I read on your site that you only take walk-ins. No appointments? Why go that route?

Tattoo John: MY SHOP IS STILL A STREET SHOP, A REAL TATTOO SHOP. THE REASON I DON’T DO APPOINTMENTS IS SOME OF MY CUSTOMERS ARE FLAKY. THEY HAVE ENOUGH TROUBLE MAKING THEIR MIND UP LET ALONE KEEPING AN APPOINTMENT A COUPLE OF DAYS AWAY. PLUS, I LIKE TO JUST SAY F--- IT AND TAKE OFF [ON] MY BIKE AND GO RIDING FOR THE DAY. NO APPOINTMENTS, NO PROBLEMS.

INKEDblog: I ask a lot of tat artists this question, and they tend to not wanna offend potential customers so they say, "oh, I like doing all kinds of tattoos." I don't really buy it. And I have this gut feeling you'll tell it like it is: what style of tattooing speaks to you most? And is it important for you to dig the particular piece you're putting on someone?

Tattoo John: I LIKE DOING PAUL BOOTH STYLE WORK -- MOSTLY BLACK AND GRAY. I LOVE FLAMES. ILL BE IN THE BACK ROOM AND SOMEONE WILL ASK WHAT SHOULD I ADD TO THIS AND WITHOUT EVEN LOOKING I’LL YELL OUT, “FLAMES!” AND MOST OF THE TIME THEY GO FOR IT. MAYBE I SHOULD YELL OUT TURDS AND SEE IF THEY’D GO FOR IT. I LIKE DOING SMALL OVERPRICED TATTOOS; I DO THIS FOR A LIVING REMEMBER. I LIKE DOING LARGER TATTS THAT TAKE HOURS, MAKE MY MONEY AND LET EVERYBODY ELSE DEAL WITH THE OTHER CUSTOMERS.

INKEDblog: And finally, I have to ask...where'd you guys get the hearse [that is parked in front of the shop]?

Tattoo John: THE HEARSE BELONGS TO DANNY, ONE OF THOSE YOUNG GUNS. HE BOUGHT IT FROM A LOCAL MORTUARY, [AND IT] CAME WITH SPIRITS. DID U KNOW THE SHOP IS HAUNTED BY THE SPIRIT OF AN INDIAN FRIEND WHO SPENT 15 YRS HANGING OUT AT THE SHOP? HE PASSED AWAY 2 YEARS AGO, BUT HE HASN’T LEFT YET. BUT THAT’S ANOTHER STORY.

Check out Tattoo John’s tat work and shop at www.SANJOSETATTOO.NET

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Comments

Posted by: Vikas Shekhawat at December 15, 2005 8:16 AM

Posted by: Carlos Cole at January 1, 2006 7:10 AM

Posted by: Brian Chapman at February 10, 2006 10:58 AM

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