EDITOR'S COMMENT — May 1999
Whew! Time passes quickly. It seems like yesterday that I sat nervously in the offices of Larry Flynt Publications and answered a battery of questions posed to me by three learned, vice presidents in search of a new editor. That was two years ago, and the first issue that I put out was the May 1997 magazine with a sepia toned photo of Mrs. Ted Hamilton on the cover. Oh, the mail I got decrying the changes I was making. Let's just say that revamping the then, five-year-old magazine did not exactly thrill everyone in the tattoo community.
But, thank heavens, that is all behind us now, and a raft of major contributors and friends from all over the world support the editorial, philosophical and artistic focus of the current issues. I don't want to belabor this, but I want to commemorate our two-year anniversary by acknowledging those who were there at the beginning; those supportive and enthusiastic contributors and consultants who helped set the direction and tone of the publication that you see before you.
One of the key advisors was tattoo artist, Clay Decker from Los Angeles. It was Clay who realized that participation from the old guard legends of the tattoo world was key to the magazine's success. Clay knew that, in order to win the favor of many of the top artists and demonstrate that we truly had the best interests of tattooing at heart, Skin & Ink needed to involve the likes of C.W. Eldridge, head of the Paul Rogers Tattoo Research Center in Berkeley. It was Clay who got on the phone and connected me up with Eldridge. When we spoke, C.W felt that in order to define our ethical stand, Skin & Ink could no longer accept tattoo supplier ads. This, of course, lead to the Our Living History Column and a friendship with Chuck that I truly treasure.
Then there were the nightly roundtable meetings at Louise's on Melrose. Jesse Tuesday, Maurice Pacheco, Joe Vegas—talking and talking and talking magazines until they closed the place. And it was just a matter of days before R.J. and Dottie drove all the way to my office in Pasadena to introduce themselves and hold my trembling hand. Clay, C.W., Jesse, Maurice, Joe, R.J. and Dottie—these were the folks that helped me sketch the ethical blueprint, hammer out the magazine's initial philosophy and point me in the right direction. Even in the first, dark days of groping for the light, they were the magazine's staunchest defenders.
Then, of course, was Mr. Larry Flynt himself, who approved the no-supplier-ad policy (taking a big cut in advertising revenue, I might add) and allowed me to run the magazine as I saw fit. And how can I forget Permanent Mark who offered to write the very first interview with Hanky Panky and get the ball rolling editorially? I got nothing but positive support from P.M., starting on day one. Plus the support from Pote Seylor, who agreed to be featured, dressed only in a fig leaf, on our very first back cover. And here's a nod to Eddy Deutsche and Horiyoshi III who allowed me to feature them in the first couple issues. Their early participation gave the magazine some much needed credibility.
My art director, Jodi Barr—amazingly enough, the day I got hired by Larry Flynt, Jodi was busy resigning from a local newspaper. She was doing the job of five people. As luck would have it, she was looking for a new direction. Jodi's vision and incredible sense of form and color has elevated Skin & Ink into the recognizable and unique publication that it is. I cannot express in words my admiration and delight in working with this talented innovator and genius behind Skin & Ink's truly distinctive look. And how can I forget Bruce Litz who unhesitatingly designed our first logos and introduced special graphics to the articles?
A lot of water has flowed under the bridge in two years. Much of that is tears of joy. And some is sadness. We say good-bye to some friends and welcome others. In any case, it has been a once-in-a-lifetime tattoo odyssey that fills my life and tests me at every turn. And that, dear readers, ain't bad.
—Bob Baxter, Editor in Chief