For this episode we found ourselves in Aachen at the Kaiserstadt Tattoo Expo, as always flawlessly organized by Andreas Coenen. The show opened with a pre-party exhibiting the life work of Bernie Luther, a mind-blowing array of flashes produced over four decades of traveling the world.  On the following day I had the pleasure of recording this interview in front of a lovely audience, which made the energy of this afternoon very special.  Bernie shared with us the recollections from  his...

There is a reason if everybody likes Freddy Corbin. His experience and contribution made him well known all over the world but that only doesn’t bring you that type of respect. His kind personality makes him connect joufully with people, instantly making you feel at ease. Even from a brief chat you can sense that he cares.   Needless to say it was an honor and a great pleasure to have him spend an evening with us, to share his story and insights. If you have the chance don’t miss on...

This episode is part of the OFF THE WALL project, an initiative to put the spotlight back on flashes as foundation of traditional tattooing.  Learn more at @stef_bastian_presents   Today’s guests are Nick Colella and Robert Ryan. Two veterans of traditional tattooing, these artists give us an insightful look on what it means to immerse yourself in the tattoo culture, what makes a design impactful and balanced and share some tattoo history from their respective backgrounds.   Above all,...

This episode is part of the OFF THE WALL project, an initiative to put the spotlight back on flashes as foundation of traditional tattooing.  Learn more at @stef_bastian_presents   In these interviews we talk with Omar and Bobeus about their own personal approach and experience and how to make the most of flashes in the learning process.  We mention tattooers that influenced the art form deeply(like Greg Irons, Bob Shaw and JD Crowe); the importance of Purpose behind every line; the...

This episode is part of the OFF THE WALL project, a new art project within the tattoo community to celebrate the flash as foundation of traditional tattooing, while raising money for those families affected by the war in Ukraine.   In this series of short interviews we ask our guests a little bit about tattoo history and the origin of the flash, what it means for them and how to make the best use of it today.    We sat down with Lal Hardy, British tattoo legend, and Dr. Ole Wittmann,...

David Speed is the co-host of the Creative Rebels podcast. His rich personal experience in the creative world(David has tattooed for a few years and has been a graffiti artists for two decades) enabled him to understand what it takes to build the best version of yourself and your business, often one being a reflection of the other.  What gave birth to the successful CREATIVE REBELS podcast is the willing to share these insights and build a community around some of the most accomplished...

Today I want to introduce you to a new series that I’m incorporating in what we normally do in the podcast. This series of extra episodes is called PANEL, and it will feature multiple guests at once, breaking down a specific topic. Each artist with their own unique experience and perspective.   For the first panel, I sat down with four of the most inspired and experienced artists, Holly Ellis, Chad Koeplinger, Robert Ryan and Andreas Coenen, to talk about something they excel at: American...

Shotsie Gorman is a character larger than life. One of those old timers that, you know, “they just don’t make them anymore”. Behind his 4+ decades of tattooing there is a deeply routed drive for Art, with capital A, and perhaps a la even deeper appreciation for Life and the people he crossed path with.  In this episode we talk about his start in tattooing with Mike Bakaty, the crazy characters he met along the way, his love for Italy and what it means to be a tattooer.  You can find...

I could introduce Dana Brunson mentioning all his accomplishments and all the majorly influential artists he crossed path with in his 50 years tattooing, Huck Spaulding, Paul Rogers, Cliff Raven, Don Nolan, Crazy Eddie… but we won’t do that. The aspect that I feel best describes Dana is his wonderful heart and genuine love for tattooing and the people he meets along the way. The wisdom that comes from a lifetime of dedicated appreciation is priceless and I am extremely grateful for...

Charlie Cartwright is a living legend. Crossing paths with some of the most influential American tattoo artists(Bert Grimm and Owen Jensen, to name a few), he’s been tattooing for six decades now. Together with Jack Rudy and his team of artists, he developed in the 70’s what we call today “fine line”, bringing tattooing from 3-6 needles to just one, mimicking and refining a style that was developing amongst the Hispanic community within the Los Angeles prison system.    Today Charlie...

Frank Rosenkilde is a walking piece of Danish tattooing history. From a country with a very rich tradition, Frank has been tattooing for over four decades, crossing paths with some of the most significant tattooers of his time. Tato Ole, Mike Malone, Tato Svend and Henning Jorgensen, to name a few.  His passion, burning today as forty years ago, made him collect memorabilia from all over Scandinavia, to the point that he created the Danish Tattoo Museum with the intention of preserving this...

Tamara is a talented and respected member of the tattoo community. There’s much more than what meets the eye tho. Artist, Anarchist, Teacher… a spirit that transcends and breaks the boundaries of one specific field. Tamara’s work in the field of social justice highlights the potential that tattooing carries with the concept of trauma-informed care and enriches this world with unique compassion and vision.  Please find these amazingly valuable resources at santibaneztattoo.com   Find...

When Kari talks about tattooing, a rare quality strikes you right away. The fresh sparkle in her eyes tells you, better than a thousand words, that her 42 years in the business haven’t diminished her passion. If anything they distilled it into a deep, humble appreciation for what this represents. Personal growth, meaningful friendships, craftsmanship and dedication. Her personal trajectory crossed with some of the most significant tattooers in history -Ed Hardy, Jack Rudy, Paul Rogers,...

C.W. developed a passion for tattooing very early on. His service in the Navy in the 60’s brought him across the world, collecting tattoos in exotic parlors like Pinky Yun’s in Hong Kong. After getting tattooed by Ed Hardy he got offered the opportunity of learning tattooing and from there he crossed paths with pillars of modern tattooing. Paul Jeffries, Good times Charlie, Jack Rudy, Jerry Swallow to name some.  Since 1980 he has been promoting the history of tattooing through research and...

Alex Binnie needs no introduction. Founder of the legendary Into You in London and unanimously considered one of the most influential artists for more than one generation of tattooers, Alex shares his invaluable take on art, the creative process and the unique relationship between artist and client.   Find Alex on Instagram  @abinniepaperandskin @1770tattoo Follow the updates on the latest episodes on Instagram @tattootalespodcast and Stefbastian.com    

40 years tattooing and going strong. That’s the word that I think can describe Deb best, Strong. She’s well known in the community for her kindness, authenticity and genuine love for tattooing. That type of old school lifelong love, matured in times when you often had to swallow your pride to belong to this world, especially as a woman. Beside that, Deb’s path hasn’t been an easy one. The obstacles she faced would have been enough to sink the toughest of us but not her.  In this interview she...

Tony has been tattooing for over 50 years, longer than many of us have been alive. Just for that he deserves huge respect.  A tattoo godfather in Australia, he’s well known in the community worldwide, crossing paths over his long career with institutions of this craft such as Lyle Tuttle, Cliff Raven, George Bone, Lal Hardy, Doc Price, Terry Wrigley and the list goes on and on. Listening to him recollecting the magic of other times with a passion that hasn’t changed a bit in over half century...

I have a lot in common with Jason, most of all a restless spirit that brought us both to travel the world for years in search of that ”something” we couldn’t name. Years down the line Jason is a more mature man and artist with a newly found sense of purpose. With this interview I wanted to get you to see what I see in him, that special sensitivity that sets him apart, a sensitivity that finds expression in his art and his words. I feel lucky for having him opening up for us and sharing some...

In New York the name Bakaty and Tattooing are two sides of the same coin and the city knows it well. A second generation tattooer, Mehai watched his father Mike, respected and loved legend in the Lower East Side, practicing the craft since he was four years old. At the age of 11 he was making needles for the family business that operated underground throughout the long ban that made tattooing illegal in NY for over 30 years. Surrounded by the most iconic figures in the history of the Bowery,...

When you lose yourself into different cultures of distant countries you re-emerge with a newly found appreciation for the people you met and for all the beautiful nuances that characterize them. A deeper sense of wonder and acceptance. This is the difference between a traveler and a tourist. As a consequence your daily reality takes on a different light, without the need for moving away from it. With 77 countries visited(tattooed in 34 of them and in all 50 states) Chad is one of the most...

Two creative souls that found each other, this is the beautiful story of Virginia and Stephanie. They both gained their reputation through years of hard work and dedication at the highest levels of this profession, shoulder to shoulder with the best. What sets them apart tho is their unique sensitivity, perhaps matured overcoming all the obstacles that life put on their way, and their caring. Caring for their industry; caring for issues that might trouble others, being social, cultural or...

With many interests and viewpoints in common, the chat with Robert couldn’t have been but awesome. In this episode we touched many topics like what constitutes the foundations of traditional tattoooing, the implications of a spiritual practice in Robert’s work ethic and life lessons from a seasoned contract killer. Find Robert on Instagram You can give us some love on our IG pages Tattoo Tales and Stef Bastiàn and follow updates and projects on Stefbastian.com

I remember how I used to look at Shawn’s paintings 10yrs ago, amazed by his masterful use of color, composition and personal interpretation of the subject. A fresh voice in the tattoo world. It’s beautiful to have witnessed his personal artistic trajectory which reflects his own journey of growth and self discovery.Today Shawn is a mature artist with a sensitive look on life, reflected through his brushes, and a strong voice in the art and tattoo community. It’s been an absolute pleasure to...

This episode is part of a series on the history of tattooing in various countries, aiming at preserving the origins of our beloved craft. Why is important to learn about the past? Studying where we come from allows us to understand where we’re at today, to develop appreciation for what we have and to treat it with respect, going beyond short-sighted personal interests in the eyes of a bigger picture.   Today we have Terry Manton, a retired tattooer from Glasgow that took on the mission of...

Tattooer, punk rocker, bank robber, surfer, musician... it’s hard to put Shane in a box.His life could be a movie, a good one, made of passion, defeat, revelations and love. Love for what life is, for the good and for the bad. In his words there is the honest portrait of a man who learned the most precious lessons the hard way and that is never afraid of being real.It’s been a privilege to listen to his stories and peek into his big heart. Find Shane on InstagramGet his record...