Total Posts: 30
Tom Fogarty is heavily tattooed and is rapidly running out of space. He often shares his tattoo experiences and is fond of Russian criminal tattoos.
If you thought Duncan X was just the tattoo artist who made your skin a canvas for existential dread, think again. In this new documentary from Earth House titled I AM THE BOMB, Duncan dives headfirst into his artistic evolution, and it’s as raw, unapologetic, and captivating as his tattoos. No delicate florals here—just art […]
Read articleTattoos. Once the domain of sailors, prisoners, and that one bloke who insists on telling you about his gap year in Thailand, tattoos have become the ultimate expression of individuality. Naturally, when contemplating permanent body art, the discerning individual might consider many motifs: a loved one’s name, an inspirational quote in a language they don’t […]
Read articleIn the pantheon of rock and roll’s most colourful characters, GG Allin stands as a beacon of raw, unfiltered chaos. For those unfamiliar with his oeuvre, imagine if Keith Richards, Johnny Rotten, and a rabid honey badger somehow had a child who grew up on a strict diet of dynamite, nihilism, and public indecency. He […]
Read articleIn a groundbreaking turn of events that has the entire tattoo community astounded, bat tattoos are emerging as the hottest trend of the century. Yes, you heard it right, forget about intricate designs, meaningful symbols, or even originality! It’s time to embrace the bat. Because clearly, nothing screams individuality like getting the same tattoo as […]
Read articleAh, the timeless art of skull tattoos—because apparently, expressing individuality means joining the ranks of countless others with the same bright idea. In a world full of flowers, butterflies, and meaningful symbols, why not opt for the classic skull to truly stand out from the crowd? The Symbolism: Because We’re All So Deep Skulls, the […]
Read articleFrom time to time, random people will ask me what some of my tattoos mean. They often ask how many I have as well and then seem incredulous when I tell them that I do not know. They assume I’m being aloof, but the truth is, I stopped counting years ago. During these occasional interrogations […]
Read articleI was a very different person in 2011 than I am today (although I do have the same DNA). At the age of 30, I was a ridiculous excuse for an adult who constantly made poor life choices, was obsessed with GG Allin, and spent too much time going to gigs and the pub. Whereas […]
Read articleWhen I started this website back in 2008, I used to get a steady stream of daily readers, which added some sort of purpose and meaning to my lowly existence. Since then, however, I’ve had an equally steadfast decline in my audience numbers, which have dropped even more rapidly of late. Like a ridiculously hot […]
Read articleDuncan X is the undisputed king of blackwork tattooing, a man who has spent decades inking skin with stark, brutalist masterpieces while looking like he wandered straight out of a post-apocalyptic biker gang or a Gulag lifer (in the best possible way). Formerly of Into You, the legendary London studio, his work is instantly recognisable—bold, […]
Read articleEver found yourself in the creative doldrums, where inspiration flows as freely as a traffic jam on the M25? Fear not, dear reader, for even the most illustrious among us have their off days. In such spirit, I present to you a meticulously curated (read: hastily assembled) list of tattoo artists who have, at various […]
Read articleThe full title to this blog post should have been “Things Not To Say To Someone with Tattoos, i.e., Me—Especially if You Don’t Know Them”—but that seemed a bit unnecessarily long-winded. Not that that usually stops me. Also, you can see me in the picture above (I’m the one in the middle, wearing a shirt). […]
Read articleApart from dating and the very occasional one-night stand, I’ve not had a proper girlfriend for about 8 years (a period of time that has slipped by alarmingly quickly). The girl in question was a co-worker at the time—a situation I would never repeat again—and had only been in the country for a couple of […]
Read articleBack in 2010—in a time before I had many tattoos or could grow a proper moustache—I was bored one night and decided to add ink to my torso digitally using Photoshop. The results were as diabolical as you can imagine—a proper dog’s dinner—and can be viewed here. Then I tried the same jape again in […]
Read articleBrace yourselves for the breathtakingly important statistical breakdown of my tattoos—a topic so profoundly compelling it might just make you question all your life choices. After all, what else could better fill the void of your day than knowing the precise number of animal-themed tattoos I have? You’re welcome in advance. So, without further ado, […]
Read articleAbout a year or so ago, one of the tattoo shops around the corner from where I work in Soho was doing a special Friday the 13th offer: get a “13” tattoo for just £13. Anyone who knows me well (which is probably only about three people and my mum’s cat) would know that this […]
Read articleA couple of years ago, I had a diamond tattooed on my thumb. It had no specific meaning to me, I just thought it would look cool. I had it done on a whim at the London Tattoo Convention, having spent about 15 minutes considering it beforehand. And I have to say, I’m very glad […]
Read article
I’ve been itching to get a new tattoo since I got the last one back in September at the London Tattoo Convention. Not really been able to afford it though. Then, the other week, I spotted that Melissa Szeto was offering a special offer—to do her Halloween flash tattoos for £50. Bargain! I didn’t know […]
Read articleThis tattoo isn’t new—I did it last year—but realised I hadn’t posted about it directly before. I did it myself using a needle and thread, and it took about 3 hours of patience to poke it in dot by dot. I was inspired by my two bibles: Home Made Tattoos Rule and the Russian Criminal […]
Read articleI got my arse tattooed recently. I decided to go for “Common sense is not all that common”—partly because it’s a sentiment that I really like and partly to impress the girls (which is the only truly valid reason to get any tattoo). The trouble was, that turned out to be a misquote, the real […]
Read articleNot blogged in ages, been really busy. If you follow this blog, you’ll know that a few weeks ago I went to Primavera Sound, and was quite excited about it. To mark the occasion, I decided to get a tattoo while I was there. The trouble was, I couldn’t find a tattoo shop. I came […]
Read articleI got this done three weeks ago by Mil Martinez at Diamond Jack’s Tattoo Parlour in Soho (London). It’s only just healed, which is about a week longer than usual, but it wasn’t that painful. I had to have my leg shaved and everything. I wanted something old-school, bold, and colourful—and the design was drawn […]
Read articleI got my first professionally done tattoo of the year today. My first since about 6 months, in fact. It was done by Mil at Diamond Jack’s Tattoo Studio in Soho. It was a really fun session; Mil is incredibly talented and good company. I’m definitely going back there to get more stuff done by […]
Read article
So anyone reading this probably knows I’m a fan of the odd tattoo here and there, and that recently I’ve been doing a few of my own. The results have been mixed at best, but if you need a quick recap: Tom Fogarty—Tattoos More Dog Bites GG Allin Tattoo I was quite pleased with my […]
Read articleI’ve always been fascinated by tattoos, even from a very young age. Here are some pictures sourced from the internet of my early tattoo influences (from films and music, etc.) This was before recent times, when my main influences have become Russian criminals, sailors, and homemade tattoo designs and applications. See what you think: The […]
Read articleThis tattoo didn’t heal too well in the end. Some body parts have a tendency to reject ink, and the heel is one of those spots. I’m one of those blokes who always wears socks too; I just can’t go around barefoot like some liberal hippie yoghurt eater. And that’s not good for the healing […]
Read articleI did this over Christmas. It looks a bit crap, but I’m really pleased with it. It’s a tribute to GG Allin, who had this tattoo on his chest. I spent longer doing this one than usual (nearly ten minutes!), and the outline is smooth(ish) and thick. It’s also an awkward and painful area to […]
Read articleI’ve been blogging for just over a year now, and I’m coming close to 100 posts. One of my first blog posts last year was a picture of my tattooed torso, and it was very popular. I also stuck the picture up on Flickr, and it was by far my most-viewed picture. The only trouble […]
Read articleI went to prison, and all I got was this lousy tattoo… Actually, this is what happens when you have a limited imagination, no Photoshop skills, and too much time on your hands. Please note: none of the designs are drawn by me; they are taken from flash that I have found online and really […]
Read article
This post relates to a couple of my other recent entries, so you might want to read those first if you haven’t already. The first is an account of me being bitten by a dog. The second is a list of my current tattoos. Simple! A week after being bitten, my ankle still hadn’t healed, […]
Read articleI’ve always been a big fan of tattoos. I enjoy the juxtaposition of art and seediness. I got my first tattoo when I was 18, my second at 22, but only recently have I started getting them regularly. I currently have 12, and they’re all quite random. They’re also pretty stupid, but I don’t regret […]
Read article