Campaign_Book-Berlin-low_springsummer2015

the hunt for denim in berlin AleX I page 31
The number plate says “B:HC 6661” meaning:
Berlin Hardcore 666 – the devils number plate
I grew up
as a little
When were you first introduced to tattoos?
»I grew up in a punk environment and my younger brother
and I quickly fell into the surroundings. I was around 15
and he was 13 at the time and we wanted to get tattoos
like the older boys had. We were too young to get tattoos
and we had no money so we decided to do it ourselves. We
bought parts and started assembling our own machines.
We were just kids with no money so of course it took a
while to get the right gear. Later on our friends gifted us
parts that we could use in exchange of us doing some art
on them. That actually worked out pretty good. The first
tattoo I made was a ”mad ball”, an angry baseball I made
on my younger brother. It was the logo of a hard-core band
we listened to at the time«.
We couldn’t help noticing the car outside.
Is it yours?
»Yeah I drive an old Chevy from 1993. It’s a Caprice Impala
Sedan that I took to a shop to make some upgrades - you
know - had it varnished in a special black colour so it looks
like Batman’s car. I actually call it the Bat Mobile, ha ha.
I’ve always been a huge fan of American cars - especially
Chevy. American cars have more muscle under the hood,
they are just more badass than European cars. Chevrolet
is my favourite brand. Chevy pisses on Ford, you know «.
What do you tattoo?
»I couldn’t say something in particular. Off course I have
some stuff that I like more than others but most of the
time the customers already know what they want. They
either have a design, a picture or an idea of what they want
and then I draw a sample of how it could look. I’m kind
of always spot on. I mean, after all these years I can see
what each type wants and I try to push the sample in that
direction. I don’t use tracing, its always freehand so that
the tattoos are individual«.
You also starred in a TV-show?
A few years back I was in a TV-show called ”Berlin Stings”
(Berlin Sticht Zu). Kind of like a German L.A. Ink. Interpretation.
It was shot in another studio than here and I think
we made around ten episodes. It was broadcasted on a
daughter channel to DMAX but it was way too conservative
for me. We couldn’t say ”Fuck” and blood wasn’t allowed.
That made it kind of strange since needles and blood kind
of go together. But hey, it was fun«.
You recently made an eye tattoo on yourself.
What’s the idea behind it?
»It’s about three months ago that I made it on myself. For a long
time I have wanted to make something under my eye. I have to
go where there is still some blank canvas you know, ha ha. I
didn’t want like a tear or an anchor like everybody else so I came
up with the arrow. In German we have this saying that when
you’re really drunk or fucked up ”you have an arrow in your head”.
A combination of that and a thought about me driving through an
Indian reservation being attacked by Indians I guess«.
Are you inspired by anybody in the tattoo world?
»I would say that I’m inspired by many people. There isn’t
a famous guy that pops up in my mind – I’m inspired by
anyone who do their job good. No matter what they have
drawn or in which style it is made«.
Where do you get your inspiration?
»I get some of my best ideas when I’m drunk. I guess alcohol
speeds up the creative side. I would have even more
ideas if I could remember them all the next day, ha ha«.
What do the tattoos on your hands say?
»It says FACE MGNT meaning FACE MAGNET. You figure it
out!«.
PUNK