FEATURE ARTISTS
A Father’s Legacy Passed
to a New Generation
I started scratching in my mom’s
kitchen when I was 12. One day I
found an ad for Milton Zeis’ tattoo
machine in Popular Mechanics; I
ordered it and gave my homemade
rotary to another scratcher with
high hopes!
LARRY HANKS
How did you get started in the tattoo industry?
I started scratching with a homemade rotary in my mom’s
kitchen when I was 12 years old. One day I found an ad
for Milton Zeis’ tattoo machine in Popular Mechanics; I
ordered it, and gave my rotary to another scratcher with
high hopes!
Tell us about the beginning of your career. Who did you
work with? Who was your mentor?
I worked with a few people before I moved to San Diego
in 1974. I wrote Doc Webb a letter asking if I could get
a job at his shop; he wrote me back saying as long as I
promised to NOT tattoo hands, faces, or penises, I was
hired. I asked him if it was okay to tattoo tits, pussies, and
asses and he said that’s fine! Doc taught me most of what I
know about tattooing and about life as well. He taught me
the importance of honesty and integrity, how to make good
things happen in my life, and to stay away from people
who could lead to my downfall.
Tell us about some of your most prestigious awards and
what they mean to you.
Some of my most recent awards include: best of show
at the Hawaii Ink and Art Expo; my brother and I also
received an achievement award there for our establishments
in Hawaii. A couple months ago I received the RJ Rosini
award in Vancouver that is given for positive contributions
to the tattoo industry; that one means a lot to me!
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Have you tattooed anyone famous?
I’ve tattooed some famous people here and there but probably the most notable
is Dennis Avner (Stalking Cat) from Ripley’s Believe It Or Not. People know
him best as the Cat Man; I tattooed his face and did some other work on him in
1984/85 in San Diego. He passed away a while back...
Tell us about the tattoo industry when you began and how it’s changed to
what it is now. Is it better or worse?
When I was starting out it looked like an amazing opportunity for a fine young
artist. Now it seems like an opportunity for all of the non-tattooers to capitalize
on us, which doesn’t look good to me. It might be good for others, but I’ll just
keep doing my thing.
Where are some of the most memorable places you’ve lived and tattooed?
I’ve worked in Reno, San Diego, Riverside, San Berdoo (San Bernardino),
Hawaii, and the Topaz Lake area in Nevada...out in the fuckin country and away
from the fuckin rat race!