This was originally posted on BodyTwo, but I was asked about it again this morning, and I thought it related well to the lip disc posts.
One of the most asked-about members of the modification community is “Fishmaul” (“Fishmouth”) or “Zygzag”, who is said to wear massive plugs in stretched cheek piercings. Here’s the photo set that most people have seen reposted over and over:
Some people claimed he was part of the German street punk scene in Aachen, others claimed he was Russian, and others claimed it was simply a fake Photoshopped picture. As it turns out he’s Polish, and quite real. A reader wrote me about him,
Hi Shannon. That “Fishmouth” is from Poland and everyone calls him “ZygZag”. For now he lives in Germany in a punk squat or something. I don’t know him but he’s a Polish BodyMod legend. For now he doesn’t wear his plugs. I’ve got different photos of him without plugs.
Here are the photos that came with that email:
He was drinking a beer at the time, so clearly he’d figured out how to live with giant holes in his cheeks…
Not long afterwards I received this photo of ZygZag with his plugs in at an event, wearing his cheek plates and other piercings:
As I wrote at the time, I can’t begin to express the admiration that I have for ZygZag’s dedication to developing this look… He’s got to be the only person on the planet, maybe the first in history, to push cheek stretching like this, and the degree he’s done it to is staggering. It’s really amazing to me, and the first time in a long time that I’ve seen something that’s genuinely new.
Unfortunately not much information on ZygZag is out there, as another Polish reader explains,
In January I discussed with my friends the subject of cheek stretching. Someone said that Zygzag is the only person in Poland with stretched cheek piercings so we started to look for his pics. After a few months of searching some guy contacted us and said that he knew Zygzag, and we wouldn’t find anything because he never wanted to have his pictures published. We also came to know that he removed the plugs because his eyes were constantly irritated and he couldn’t speak properly cause of the facial deformation. He had his skin transplanted few times to make the holes smaller. I don’t know how much of this is true, but it’s some additional info about the guy anyway.
So there you go… It won’t surprise me if he ends up being the only person to do this, ever. If anyone knows more (or knows anyone else that’s done this), please do write me!
Comments
875 responses to “Fishmaul / Fishmouth / ZygZag Cheek Stretching”
I knew ZygZag (FishMaul/FishMouth) in person from many punk festivals etc,and i want to add/share a late (and sad) update about him. He is passed out at March 06,2015, at a local hospital of Frankfurt, due to horrible facial infections after 4 months of denial to go see a doctor about his crucial condition. Zyg’s never asked for attention and such.That’s why you never find some interview from him or more photos.That’s all and thanks to everyone liked Zyg for his attitude all these years .:)
I knew ZygZag (FishMaul/FishMouth) in person from many punk festivals etc,and i want to add/share a late (and sad) update about him. He is passed out at March 06,2015, at a local hospital of Frankfurt, due to horrible facial infections after 4 months of denial to go see a doctor about his crucial condition. Zyg’s never asked for attention and such.That’s why you never find some interview from him or more photos.That’s all and thanks to everyone liked Zyg for his attitude all these years .:)
I knew ZygZag (FishMaul/FishMouth) in person from many punk festivals etc,and i want to add/share a late (and sad) update about him. He is passed out at March 06,2015, at a local hospital of Frankfurt, due to horrible facial infections after 4 months of denial to go see a doctor about his crucial condition. Zyg’s never asked for attention and such.That’s why you never find some interview from him or more photos.That’s all and thanks to everyone liked Zyg for his attitude all these years .:)
I knew ZygZag (FishMaul/FishMouth) in person from many punk festivals etc,and i want to add/share a late (and sad) update about him. He is passed out at March 06,2015, at a local hospital of Frankfurt, due to horrible facial infections after 4 months of denial to go see a doctor about his crucial condition. Zyg’s never asked for attention and such.That’s why you never find some interview from him or more photos.That’s all and thanks to everyone liked Zyg for his attitude all these years .:)
I knew ZygZag (FishMaul/FishMouth) in person from many punk festivals etc,and i want to add/share a late (and sad) update about him. He is passed out at March 06,2015, at a local hospital of Frankfurt, due to horrible facial infections after 4 months of denial to go see a doctor about his crucial condition. Zyg’s never asked for attention and such.That’s why you never find some interview from him or more photos.That’s all and thanks to everyone liked Zyg for his attitude all these years .:)
CrasHxCourse – You’re saying he died? I’m very sorry to hear that.
CrasHxCourse – You’re saying he died? I’m very sorry to hear that.
CrasHxCourse – You’re saying he died? I’m very sorry to hear that.
CrasHxCourse – You’re saying he died? I’m very sorry to hear that.
CrasHxCourse – You’re saying he died? I’m very sorry to hear that.
Oh, that’s terribly sad.
My thoughts go out to those who knew him personally.
Oh, that’s terribly sad.
My thoughts go out to those who knew him personally.
Oh, that’s terribly sad.
My thoughts go out to those who knew him personally.
Oh, that’s terribly sad.
My thoughts go out to those who knew him personally.
Oh, that’s terribly sad.
My thoughts go out to those who knew him personally.
Sad update, indeed. Although with the size of the “piercings”, and his standard of living, I’m not surprised he went at such a young age. His lack of hygiene no doubt led to massive infection which riddled his whole body. May he finally rest in peace.
Sad update, indeed. Although with the size of the “piercings”, and his standard of living, I’m not surprised he went at such a young age. His lack of hygiene no doubt led to massive infection which riddled his whole body. May he finally rest in peace.
Sad update, indeed. Although with the size of the “piercings”, and his standard of living, I’m not surprised he went at such a young age. His lack of hygiene no doubt led to massive infection which riddled his whole body. May he finally rest in peace.
Sad update, indeed. Although with the size of the “piercings”, and his standard of living, I’m not surprised he went at such a young age. His lack of hygiene no doubt led to massive infection which riddled his whole body. May he finally rest in peace.
Sad update, indeed. Although with the size of the “piercings”, and his standard of living, I’m not surprised he went at such a young age. His lack of hygiene no doubt led to massive infection which riddled his whole body. May he finally rest in peace.
Just to inform you all, he is not dead and is in Berlin, I see him nearly everyday on my way to work. He is still into body mods and lives on the street, as far as I can see.
Just to inform you all, he is not dead and is in Berlin, I see him nearly everyday on my way to work. He is still into body mods and lives on the street, as far as I can see.
Just to inform you all, he is not dead and is in Berlin, I see him nearly everyday on my way to work. He is still into body mods and lives on the street, as far as I can see.
Just to inform you all, he is not dead and is in Berlin, I see him nearly everyday on my way to work. He is still into body mods and lives on the street, as far as I can see.
Just to inform you all, he is not dead and is in Berlin, I see him nearly everyday on my way to work. He is still into body mods and lives on the street, as far as I can see.