EDITOR'S COMMENT—May 2001

Welcome to Skin & Ink issue number 50. As you may recall, we took over the helm on issue 26, back in May of 1997. A lot of tattoo ink has flowed under the bridge since then.

Here's some highlights from the last year.

The May 2000 issue generated a lot of mail with "What Does God Think About Tattoos?" plus the beautiful but sad farewell to Paulo Suluape in our report on Samoa's "Le Tatau—Tattoo Millennium Convention."

In July, the thought-provoking "Why People Get Tattoos" shared space with our Theo Mandell interview, "A Short History of British Tattoo Clubs," by Paul Sayce; "Forbidden Tattoos" with San Francisco-based photographer, Charles Gatewood; plus "Sailor Jerry Swallow's Old School Get-Together" by frequent Skin & Ink contributor, Mike McCabe.

September featured "The Chris Treviño Interview" and Tim Coleman's biographical tribute to photographer extraordinaire, Chris Rainier. Charles interviewed Matty in "Gatewood Grills Jankowski," and, of course, Bernard Clark blew us away with his photos of Brian Everett and Tramp's 5th Annual Motor City Tattoo Expo.

November's pages were dominated by Big Apple tattoo shops in "Mike McCabe on New York City," not to mention Bonge, Butch and Clayton's "Third Annual New York City Tattoo Convention."

The new millennium got off to a bang with the January 2001 tribute to "Tattoo Flash" featuring the work of 26 world-class artists, including Felix and Filip Leu, Ed Hardy, Mike Malone, Greg James, Mike Wilson, Joe Capobianco, Sailor Barney and Horiyoshi III. And don't forget Leo Zulueta and Dianne Mansfield in Tahiti and our candid interview with Deano Cook.

March focused on "Ten Top Los Angeles Tattoo Artists" plus, of course, our ongoing Bits & Snatches, Readers' Gallery, Tattoo Artists and Their Rides, Talkback, Hipshots, Ten Big Questions and the regular columns, Our Living History with C.W. Eldridge, Danny Fowler's Tattoo Science, Spotlight with Danielle Oberosler, Holly Tuesday's Diggin' the Dirt with Holly, Travelin' Mick with Michael Laukien, Q&A with Matty Jankowski and Bruce Litz's Sketchbook, Tattoon and the irrepressible Captain Eddie.

I'd also like to give heartfelt thanks to the legendary columnists, Mr. Zeke Owen and Mr. Ed Hardy, for their significant contributions to Skin & Ink and its readers around the world. Our hats off to you, gentlemen, for giving us your best—and may good luck follow you both in whatever adventures you pursue.

Did we leave anyone out? You bet. We saved the best for last.

Yes, indeed. From the countless tattooed men and women, guys and gals from Beverly Hills to Borneo, New York to Nairobi, it's heartfelt thanks from all of us—to the man who made it all possible, our publisher, Mr. Larry Flynt.

—Bob Baxter, Editor in Chief

P.S. Check out our Web-site <skinandink.com> for information on ordering back issues.