A black-and-white photo of a person mid-air in a Superman-style body suspension pose, supported by multiple hooks in their back and legs, smiling joyfully toward the camera. They are suspended horizontally in a large indoor space with high ceilings and visible rigging. A group of onlookers—some seated, some standing—watch with expressions of admiration, amusement, and support. The atmosphere is lively and communal, capturing a moment of shared experience and transformation.

Josh Prentice

Josh Prentice

“I began by getting pierced in a shop in Alabama and becoming friends with the people working there. I worked as receptionist for a short stint before being offered a piercing apprenticeship. I have been enthusiastic about the art of piercing ever since. During my apprenticeship I learned the fundamentals, like disease prevention and basic technique, but was left to learn a lot on my own. By networking with my peers in the profession I have become a pretty well rounded piercer. I’m now a proud member of the APP, and look forward to keeping with standards and promoting health and safety to the piercing industry as long as I’m involved, and will always advocate for the industry that has allowed me to make a profession out of something that I truly love.”
      – Josh Prentice, 1980-2007

See also: Comments and memories about Josh Prentice on other blogs.

Comments

192 responses to “Josh Prentice”

  1. Sara Avatar
    Sara

    Bastian- Doubtful, as that incident occured last Wednesday morning, I believe.

    I only met Josh once, about a month ago, but he patched up my unhappy piercings with a smile. What a loss.

  2. Sara Avatar
    Sara

    Bastian- Doubtful, as that incident occured last Wednesday morning, I believe.

    I only met Josh once, about a month ago, but he patched up my unhappy piercings with a smile. What a loss.

  3. deadinblood Avatar
    deadinblood

    my phone really isnt gonna ring and come up josh my pri anymore….. i will miss you so much… your cute lil jerk messages like “yo word on the street is you got one of those vagina things” fucker, i love you

  4. deadinblood Avatar
    deadinblood

    my phone really isnt gonna ring and come up josh my pri anymore….. i will miss you so much… your cute lil jerk messages like “yo word on the street is you got one of those vagina things” fucker, i love you

  5. redneckzombi Avatar

    Yeah. This sucks a lot.

  6. redneckzombi Avatar

    Yeah. This sucks a lot.

  7. Verno Avatar

    I’d meet Josh in the past as well and its really hard to fathom the fact that someone you know to be so vivacious could be lost! I think every one here will indeed miss Josh.

  8. Verno Avatar

    I’d meet Josh in the past as well and its really hard to fathom the fact that someone you know to be so vivacious could be lost! I think every one here will indeed miss Josh.

  9. Bridget Avatar
    Bridget

    I already left one comment earlier. I knew Josh very well, but you know it is amazing to see all the great things posted about him. Every person has pretty much said the same words about Josh. It really proves what kind of person he was. RIP Josh! Love you!

  10. Bridget Avatar
    Bridget

    I already left one comment earlier. I knew Josh very well, but you know it is amazing to see all the great things posted about him. Every person has pretty much said the same words about Josh. It really proves what kind of person he was. RIP Josh! Love you!

  11. lethallaura Avatar
    lethallaura

    man you were really cool…way too cool to die so yong…your in my prayers…

  12. lethallaura Avatar
    lethallaura

    man you were really cool…way too cool to die so yong…your in my prayers…

  13. Mana Avatar

    I responded to an email from Josh about 30 seconds before clicking into modblog earlier today to discover this. I’m crushed, my insides hurt. I’ll miss my lovely.

  14. Mana Avatar

    I responded to an email from Josh about 30 seconds before clicking into modblog earlier today to discover this. I’m crushed, my insides hurt. I’ll miss my lovely.

  15. Shawn Avatar

    I first met Josh online about 10 years ago. He was always a very enthusiastic kid and try though I did to dissuade him, he decided to persue a career in the piercing industry. I remember when things came full circle- a few years later someone told me that they had been pierced by “this amazing kid named Josh Prentice”. I got back in touch with Josh and we’ve talked on and off since then. We were finally going to meet in person at this years SW event. Sadly, that won’t be possible now. My heart goes out to his sister Mel and their family- Josh touched a lot of lives and I hope he’s remembered as more than just a piercer, but also as a man trying to better his life and the lives of others.

  16. Shawn Avatar

    I first met Josh online about 10 years ago. He was always a very enthusiastic kid and try though I did to dissuade him, he decided to persue a career in the piercing industry. I remember when things came full circle- a few years later someone told me that they had been pierced by “this amazing kid named Josh Prentice”. I got back in touch with Josh and we’ve talked on and off since then. We were finally going to meet in person at this years SW event. Sadly, that won’t be possible now. My heart goes out to his sister Mel and their family- Josh touched a lot of lives and I hope he’s remembered as more than just a piercer, but also as a man trying to better his life and the lives of others.

  17. Ash Avatar

    :(. I never met him, but its a damn tragedy. Rest in peace.

  18. Ash Avatar

    :(. I never met him, but its a damn tragedy. Rest in peace.

  19. Mari Avatar
    Mari

    RIP.

  20. Mari Avatar
    Mari

    RIP.

  21. Max Brand Avatar

    wow!…..you’re on top of this stuff!…..This was so recent!…..I don’t think Josh and I really liked each other, but he was certainly a nice guy. Also being a piercer in Atlanta, it sucks to see a fellow pro go out like that…..RIP

  22. Max Brand Avatar

    wow!…..you’re on top of this stuff!…..This was so recent!…..I don’t think Josh and I really liked each other, but he was certainly a nice guy. Also being a piercer in Atlanta, it sucks to see a fellow pro go out like that…..RIP

  23. billiejane Avatar
    billiejane

    Someone ealier asked about a forum to remember IAM members who’ve died. I don’t think anyone’s posted it yet (and if they have here it is again): BME Remembers

  24. billiejane Avatar
    billiejane

    Someone ealier asked about a forum to remember IAM members who’ve died. I don’t think anyone’s posted it yet (and if they have here it is again): BME Remembers

  25. Fae Avatar
    Fae

    R.I.P.

    This brought tears to my eyes.

  26. Fae Avatar
    Fae

    R.I.P.

    This brought tears to my eyes.

  27. Tohnia Avatar
    Tohnia

    even though I didn’t know him, my heart goes out to his family and friends. It’s always horrible when Earth loses another angel. May his memory live on in his friends, and those who he loved and those who loved him in turn.

  28. Tohnia Avatar
    Tohnia

    even though I didn’t know him, my heart goes out to his family and friends. It’s always horrible when Earth loses another angel. May his memory live on in his friends, and those who he loved and those who loved him in turn.

  29. derkaiser Avatar

    rest in peace 🙁

  30. derkaiser Avatar

    rest in peace 🙁

  31. ItchyStitches Avatar

    Rest in peace, good sir. I like to think that as long as people remember you, you live on. Clearly Josh was loved by many, and lives on in the hearts and minds of those people.

  32. ItchyStitches Avatar

    Rest in peace, good sir. I like to think that as long as people remember you, you live on. Clearly Josh was loved by many, and lives on in the hearts and minds of those people.

  33. Suzanne Avatar

    rest in peace.

  34. Suzanne Avatar

    rest in peace.

  35. raven inside Avatar
    raven inside

    I only knew Josh through the telephone. He would order jewelry from us. The funny thing is, he always seemed to call just after I got off the phone with someone rude or demanding. I would always comment to my co-worker side kick how grateful I was for people like him. The fact that he worked at a shop called Virtue and Vice was no irony for his sweet, friendly voice. He was someone I looked forward to meeting at APP someday. I have lost many, so my heart goes out to those who were close. RIP.

  36. raven inside Avatar
    raven inside

    I only knew Josh through the telephone. He would order jewelry from us. The funny thing is, he always seemed to call just after I got off the phone with someone rude or demanding. I would always comment to my co-worker side kick how grateful I was for people like him. The fact that he worked at a shop called Virtue and Vice was no irony for his sweet, friendly voice. He was someone I looked forward to meeting at APP someday. I have lost many, so my heart goes out to those who were close. RIP.

  37. david Avatar
    david

    I’ll always remember him coming in my club with different mustaches drawn on the insides of his fingers. He used them as his “disguises”
    Such a miserable end to such a funny, quirky kid. Miss you man. (and no, you still can’t ride my bike)

  38. david Avatar
    david

    I’ll always remember him coming in my club with different mustaches drawn on the insides of his fingers. He used them as his “disguises”
    Such a miserable end to such a funny, quirky kid. Miss you man. (and no, you still can’t ride my bike)

  39. Raevyn Avatar

    I hope you’ve found peace,Josh.
    Never knew you, but like many, I’m sure it would have been good to. It’s obvious you’ve touched ALOT of peoples’ hearts.

  40. Raevyn Avatar

    I hope you’ve found peace,Josh.
    Never knew you, but like many, I’m sure it would have been good to. It’s obvious you’ve touched ALOT of peoples’ hearts.

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