I got my first tattoo from Bob Roberts in April of 1987 at Spotlight in Los Angeles. I knew about him from the punk rock scene in L.A. All of my favorite bands from England and here had tattoos. Not full-on sleeves, but more like bold, single tattoos on their arms. Band logos with words & things like that. When I started asking around, everyone said Spotlight Tattoo. That was pretty much it. “Go there.” This was around ’83-’84. I was in my mid-teens at this point and not old enough to get a tattoo. My mom told me I could do whatever I wanted with myself after I turned 18. So I spent the years leading up to that doing research & looking into it. I got my main inspiration and was heavily influenced by the Tattootime series of books. It wasn’t THAT long ago, but there weren’t tons of tattoo magazines like now. In the mid to late 80’s , you didn’t have easy information available. I got more familiar with Bob’s work through those books as well as everyone else that ended up being such a huge influence on me. I am so very grateful for being exposed to all of Ed Hardy’s publications. They are key to everything I’m still trying to get at. Nowhere near it, but still trying. Got 3 more tattoos from Bob in a short period of time & was totally hooked. I’d heard about Leo Zulueta , saw his work around and of course, read about him in the books. I tracked him down after he’d moved to Orange County & was working with Rick Spellman at Tattoo Magic (the first location). Got tattooed by him there, first real visible spot on me, and got along with him right away. I think it was at this time that I got the idea in my brain that I could do tattoos, but I didn’t quite know it all-the-way. Followed Leo when he left Rick’s shop to work at Laguna Tattoo. Got lots of work from him there & got to know SOME of the other tattooers at that shop. Was pretty much exclusive to L.Z. all up until he moved back to Los Angeles and opened Black Wave. Continued to get tattooed by him there while still visiting Laguna, near where I lived. Somewhere in here, I got some equipment & started tattooing people at my house. The work, of course, was junk. I don’t even know what I was going off of. Just the pure WANT to do it, I think. Did that for about a year. Then, through a weird set of circumstances, my wife’s uncle Ed, who knew Rick Spellman & Rick’s dad, Dave Spellman, tells me that Rick was looking for someone and wanted me to come by his shop. Dude, #1, first and foremost, I knew of Rick through the Black Flag connection. He did everything on Henry, including his back, had tattooed Dez, Chuck Biscuits, all of The Misfits, etc……. Man! All of the very tattoos that got me looking in the first! I also heard he sold machines. So I nervously called, set up a time to see him, went over with my feeble excuse of a photo album and bought a machine. He got in touch with my wife’s uncle again and said he wanted me to come and work with him! I jumped at it right away. I was not prepared and knew it, but I also knew it was the right move. No question. I stayed at Tattoo Magic with Rick, and sometimes his dad, for almost 5 years. Learned what I know now from him. Period. The one thing I most regret is not paying more attention. I DID learn and thought hard about what I was doing. But, probably because of my age, I didn’t learn all that I could have. Should have listened more. I followed in Leos footsteps once again and went to work at Laguna Tattoo in February of ’97. I was there over 9 years. I learned a lot about work and life in this time. In particular in the life category. Mostly positive stuff about day to day things. I also learned more about what a person should never, ever do. I do believe that you get what you give out. If you try to give out positive, even if you don’t get it back right away, you will in the long run. It can be frustrating, as I’ve learned in the very recent past. But stick it out & it’s the best way to go. I’m glad to know the way I am for sure. I’ll never re-adjust or compromise who I am. Being in a busy street shop has had great advantages for me. Working all of the time, coupled with the fact that my lovely wife travels for work and let’s me tag along sometimes, has given me the means to get tattoos by some of the artists I have always admired and thought so highly of. The last was Mike Malone, who now works in Chicago. I great story & a killer tattoo from him. I still find it really hard to believe that this is what I do for a living. I have so much further to go & look forward to it. - LHC