TATTOO HISTORY
TATTOOERS:
Spider Webb
Real name Joseph O’Sullivan. Born March 3, 1944 and died July 2, 2022 at 78.. Found tattooing at 14 in a Coney Island tattoo parlor. Learned in Coney Island parlors but after serving in the Navy 1962 to 1966 he went back to school and got a Bachelor’s from the School of Visual ARts in New York in 1970 and a masters degree from Instituto Allende in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico. Took the name Spider Webb after a character in move “Tim Tyler’s Luck.” First tattoo was “Mom.”
Part of the generation that elevated tattooing. When NYC banned tattooing in 1961 he challenged the ruling. In 1978 he tattooed a bird on the back of a woman in from of the Museum of Modern Art. He received a court summons for the stunt and pressed the case in court that tattooing was artistic expression protected under the first amendment. State court rejected his arguement in 1978. Did the stunt again in 1981 outside of the Met with Annie Sprinkle, and could get arrested. Couldn’t win the court battle but the city dropped the ban in 1997. Apparently widely flouted, with police officers being some of the best customers. Published a lot of books relating to his work, elevating the trade.
Tattooing was only one part of the art that he did. He was into sculpture, painting, drawing, performance art, comic books, and video.
“A good tattoo was a statement, an act of self-expression and liberation.”
Buried at Cedar Grove Cemetery, Elm City, North Carolina.
https://www.nytimes.com/2022/07/12/arts/spider-webb-dead.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spider_Webb_(tattoo_artist)
Chuck Aldrich
Born March 26, 1947 in North Carolina. Dad, uncles, and brothers all had tattoos. He knew he wanted tattoos. Joined US Navy in 1965. Finished bootcamp and got his first 4 tattoos. Got lots of tattoos while serving in the Navy. 1969 completed service and went back to civilian life. Worked various jobs until he met Ed Hardy in 1974. In 1978 Hardy offered to teach Aldrich. 1980 established the Tattoo Archive and began documenting tattoo history. Well published. Founded the Paul Rogers Tattoo Research Center with others and is working towards establishing a national landmark for the art of tattooing. Lives in Winston Salem, North Carolina.
https://www.tattooarchive.com/chuck_eldridge.php
Charles Wagner
1876-1953. Tattooed for over 50 years. Biggest contribution to tattooing was when he patented a tattoo machine in 1904. First machine (second machine patent ever) to be patented with coils in a vertical position. Most machines today are based on this design. Launched his supply business. Didn’t really advertise much during the Depression. Supposedly lost a small fortune in the Wall Street Crash of 1929. Made it back later in life. Tattooed sideshow attractions.
Buried: Potters Field, Hart Island, New York County, NY,
https://www.tattooarchive.com/history/wagner_charlie.php
https://buzzworthytattoo.com/tattoo-artists-tattooed-people/charlie-wagner/
“Hanky Panky” Henk Schiffmacher
Born March 22, 1952. Dutch. Considered an expert within field of body decoration. Has curated exhibitions, written books and presented on tv. Famous people amongst his clientele. A “rapscallion.” Loved art and drawing early. Studied at Reclame School REX in Amsterdam in 1970s. Worked and traveled and became interested in tattooing. Opened a parlor when he returned to Amsterdam. Began organizing tattoo cons. Participated and curated art exhibitions. Opened a clothing company with wife. Chosen by Amsterdam to design Covid-19 vaccine ads.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henk_Schiffmacher
Thomas Edison
Created an electric pen to create stencils. While it fell out of favor for making stencils, Samuel O’Reilly saw an opportunity with it and converted it into the first electric tattoo needle.
Buried: Llewellyn Park, West Orange, NJ
https://invention.si.edu/what-s-edison-got-do-tattoos
Samual O’Reilly
Born in Connecticut. Enlisted in the military around 1875. Learned tattooing while in the Navy. Converted Edison’s electric pen for stencils into the first electric tattoo machine. Obtained the first patent for it in 1891. Fell off a ladder, hit his had and died on May 1, 1909.
Buried: Holy Cross Cemetery, Brooklyn, Kings County, NY
https://www.tattooarchive.com/history/oreilly_samuel.php
“Sailor Jerry” Norman Keith Collins
Born January 14, 1911 in Reno. Grew up in Northern California. Hopped freight trains across the country. Learned tattooing from “Big Mike” from Palmer, Alaska, originally using the hand poke method. In late 1920s he met Tatts Thomas from Chicago who taught him how to use a machine. Sailed the Pacific to Hawaii in 1930s. Enlisted in the Navy at 19 and developed a fascination with Asian art. Worked as a licensed skipper of a three masted schooner in addition to tattooing conducting tours. Made significant contributions to tattooing. Expanded array of colors by developing and testing pigments on himself. Befriended and brought over Japanese tattooing to US/western tattooing.Wanted one of his proteges/friends (Ed Hardy, Mike Malone, or Zeke Owen) to take over his shop when he died. (I believe Mike Malone did). Ed Hardy and Mike Malone partnered with Steven Grase to create Sailor Jerry Ltd. which owns commercial rights to Collins’ letters, art, and flash. This company also created Sailor Jerry Rum which depicts one of Collins’ pin up girls on the label. None of Collins’ family profit from his creations. Died in 1973.
Buried: National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, Honolulu, HI
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sailor_Jerry
https://sailorjerry.com/en/norman-collins/
Tattoo archive
Vice tattoo age
Mike “Rollo” Malone
1942-2007. Studied ceramics, learned carpentry, became a barber, light tech for 1960’s rock ballroom, photographer. Met Thom de Vita and entered the world of tattooing. Tattooed out of his apartment in New York City. Worked with Museum of american Folk Art in NYC on their 1971 tattoo exhibition. Moved to San Diego and worked with Zeke Owens at Ace Tattoo Shop. Bought Sailor Jerry’s shop and renamed it China Sea Tattoo Company in 1973. Maintained it until 2001. Started tattoo business called Mr. Flash and his tshirt company called Mr. Lucky. Both successful. Spent time with Paul Rogers learning machine building. Lived in Austin, Texas in the mid 1980s, working with Dave Lum and later in his own shop. 1990s wired with Ed Hardy to produce Sailor Jerry Flash books and licensed his designs. Standardized flash sheet size (11x17in). Known for blending asian and western iconography.
Buried: National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, Honolulu, HI
https://www.tattooarchive.com/history/malone_mike_rollo.php
Huck Spaulding
Born in December 1928. Served in US Navy. Founded Spaulding & Rogers Mtf, with Paul Rogers, largest manufacturer and distributor of tattoo equipment until 1980s. Big game hunter. Competed in NASCAR. Ed Hardy describes him as “one of the forefathers of the tattoo renaissance.” Ad for his machine kits on the back of many a tattoo mag. Well known artist from 150s-1970s. Mostly known for his supply company. Died Feb 1, 2013
Buried: Memory Gardens Cemetery and Memorial Park, Colonie, Albany County, New York
https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spaulding_%26_Rogers
Paul Rogers
Born Sept. 9th, 1905 in North Carolina. Worked in cotton mills from 13-37 years old. Started tattooing at 39. Worked the carnival circuit in the summer and in the cotton mills during the winter. Opened his shop in the 40’s and started tattooing full time. Opened Spaulding and Rogers with Huck Spaulding. Bounced around a lot of different shops. Left his substantial tattoo collection to the Tattoo archive when he died.
https://www.tattooarchive.com/history/rogers_paul.php
Buried: Greenlawn Memorial Park Cemetery, Chesapeake, Virginia, US
Captain Colman
August “Cap” Colman. 1884-1973. Coleman settled in Norfolk, VA around 1918. Claims that his father was in the business. Sailors were his main clientele. Had a supply company but was really low key about it. Moved to Portsmouth, Virginia when Norfolk banned tattooing. His body was found in the river near his home. Thought that he slipped, fell, and drowned.
Buried: Forest Lawn Cemetery, Norfolk, Norfolk City, Virginia, USA
https://www.tattooarchive.com/history/coleman_august_cap.php
Bert Grimm
February 8,1900-June 15, 1985. Considered the “grandfather of old school”. His work contributed to the development of American traditional style. Ran away at 15 and started working in carnivals. Started to learn to tattoo. Made a living as a sideshow tattoo artist. Traveled with the circus in the summer and going to amusement arcades in Chicago in the off season. Apprenticed with Sailor George Fosdick and Sailor Charlie Barrs. Continued to tattoo for over 50 years. Tattooed all over the country. Bert Grimm style was a stripped down version of American Traditional style. Simpler with limited color palette.
Buried: Ocean View Cemetery, Warrenton, Clatsop County, Oregon
https://buzzworthytattoo.com/tattoo-artists-tattooed-people/bert-grimm/
Kazuo Oguri “Horihide”
Credited as first Japanese tattoo artist after World War Two to travel to the US. Meet with Sailor Jerry to share art and history of tebori and introduce traditional Japanese culture to western culture. Practiced traditional Japanese tattooing. Became apprentice at 19 and spent 5 years as an apprentice. Apprenticeship was very strict. Clients were mainly yakuza and occasional hot spring geisha.
https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/la-xpm-2012-jun-24-la-ca-culture-japan-20120624-story.html
Horiyoshi III
Born March 9, 1946. Specialized in Irezumi. Inspired when he saw a full body tattoo in a public bathhouse. Began apprenticeship at 25. Second tattooist to be granted that honorific title. Freehands outline with electric needle. Originally lined by hand until late 90’s. Friends with Ed Hardy which led to him using electric needle. Shading and color done by tebori. Restricts motifs to classic repertoire of trad Japanese stories (peonies, koi, dragons, tenyo, ect). Now limits work to finishing existing clients tattoos. Work published by Ed Hardy. Last apprentice is his son, Souryou Horiyoshi IV.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Horiyoshi_III
Lyle Tuttle
October 7, 1931- March 26, 2029. Tattooing since 1949. 1954 opened his studio in SF, was open for 35 years. Tattooed on 7 continents, tattooed on 6. Never knowingly tattooed a minor. Tuttle was on the cover of Rolling Stone in October 1970. Tuttle taught seminars in tattoo machine maintenance and machine building at conventions. Attributes tattooing gaining popularity to women’s liberation. Officially retired in 1990 but would occasionally tattoo his signature on a friend or acquaintance. Had the opportunity to tattoo in Antartica. Tattooed his signature tattoo and autograph on project assistant/tattoo historian Anna Felicity Friedman. Died because of an inoperable growth.
Buried: Unknown
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lyle_Tuttle
Don Ed Hardy
Born January 5, 1945. Was interested in his father’s friends army tattoos. Attended SF Art Institute. BFA in printmaking. Offered a full scholarship MFA from Yale but declined to pursue tattooing. Mentored by several famous and prolific tattoo artists including Samuel Steward. Steward showed Hardy book of Japanese tattoos. After Steward showed Hardy the book he claimed he had an epiphany. After apprenticeship with Steward, studied with Zeke Owen and Doc Webb. Eventually became friends with Sailor Jerry Collins. Through Collins Hardy was able to begin foraging connections with Horihide. He studied and tattooed in Japan off and on through 70’s and 80’s. Eventually became recognized as the main influence and driver of incorporating Japanese Tattoo aesthetics and techniques into western styles. Noted for elevating flash and preset tattoos as well as transitioning to customized and personalized work. 2009 hardy retired from tattooing.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Don_Ed_Hardy
Edward Thomas Funk “Crazy Philadelphia Eddie”
August 22,1936-October 8, 2016. Organized the first tattoo convention. Was the first president and co-founder of the National Tattoo Club of the World, in 1976. Later renamed to the National TAttoo Association Received first tattoo at 15. Opened multiple studios in his lifetime. Founded the United Tattoo Supply Company. Was one of the people to defend tattooing when NYC banned tattooing in 1961.
Buried: Was not buried, was cremated. Ashes given to family.
https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_Funk
https://inkedmag.com/culture/crazy-philadelphia-eddie
The Leu Family:
There isn’t a whole lot on them. Most information focuses on Filip.
Felix Leu
Lived 1945-2002. Early flash was varied. Met wife at Jewish Museum of New York at a gala. Clicked instantly. Had 4 kids. Taught his son Filip how to tattoo at 14.
Buried: Unknown.
https://www.meettheleader.com/interviews/loretta-leu
Loretta Leu
Married to Felix Leu. Also a tattoo artist.
Filip Leu
Born in 1967 to Felix and Loretta Leu. He grew up traveling through Europe, India, Nepal, and North Africa. 1981 Family settles in Switzerland and creates The Leu Family’s Family Iron Tattoo Studio. He began tattooing at 14. Known for his Japanese work. Married to Titine K-Leu. Very good at freehanding tattoos. Isn’t a fan of stencils. Learned from a bunch of different tattooists in different countries. OG mentor was his father and they had similar styles. Has a distinctive style he is known for. Is also a fine artist. Has work in Halle Saint Pierre and others. Love his dragons. Founded the Art Fusion Experiment.
https://www.artjaws.com/en/portfolio/filip-leu-2/
https://yellowmanblog.wordpress.com/2009/05/26/filip-leu/
http://opentranscripts.org/transcript/interview-filip-leu/
http://www.leufamilyiron.com/site/tattoos/
Titine K-Leu
Renowned fine artist. Painter. Married to Filip Leu
Stoney St. Clair - Stoney knows how on youtube
Nicknamed Stoney. Born Leonard L. St. Clair (November 9, 1912 - December 3, 1980). Crippled by rheumatic fever and confined to a wheelchair and his growth stunted. Disabled by arthritis at age four. Joined the circus at 15 as a sword-swallower. Befriended a tattoo artist while in the circus. The artist gave him equipment. Over came a lot in his disability in order to tattoo. Circus wintered in Tampa and St. Clair settled in the city. Moved to New Orlens and eventually Columbus, OH where he passed away.
Buried: Roselawn Memorial Gardens, Princeton, Mercer County, West Virginia
FRANK TRAN TIMELINE:
Fakir Musafar (RIP) - Fakir Intensives: Alumni 2002
Bill Brierly (RIP) - Body Excotic: San Jose, CA (apprenticed 2002-2004)
Dave Flowers - Guru Tattoo: San Jose, CA (2004)
An Tran - Salvation Tattoo: San Jose, CA (apprenticed 2004)
Vu Nguyen - Red Demon Tattoo: San Jose, CA
Khuong Nguyen - Daruma Tattoo: San Jose, CA
Tattoo U-II: Fremont, CA (2005)
Fura Body Works: Castro Valley, CA (2005)
Bad Influence Tattoo - Fountain Valley, CA (2005 - 2008)
Eighth Element Tattoo: Fountain Valley, CA (2009 - present)
Fip Buchanan - Avalon Tattoo 2: San Diego, CA (met at 2011 Bejing Tattoo Convention - China)
Horiyoshi 3 - Yokohama, Japan (visits 2011 - present)
Dan Dringenberg - Dringenberg & Co: West Covina, CA (apprenticed 2020 - 2022)
Filip Leu & Loretta Leu - Leu Family’s Family Iron: Switzerland (met 2010 at 3rd Musink Tattoo Convention - USA)
Nick Wolak - Evolved Body Art: Columbus, OH (guest artist at Evolved: 2023 - present)
Horihide - Gifu, Japan (visit in September 2024)