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.

Piercing History and Political History Intersection

Check out this interesting tidbit of piercing history crossing over with much larger world political history in this article by Yard[D]og, and then please come back here to comment or share your own stories. Click the picture to jump to the article.

Comments

146 responses to “Piercing History and Political History Intersection”

  1. Shannon Larratt Avatar

    socialcoma – If someone goes out of their way to destroy the personal lives of other people, I don’t see the harm in taking a peek at what makes them tick personally as well.

  2. Shannon Larratt Avatar

    socialcoma – If someone goes out of their way to destroy the personal lives of other people, I don’t see the harm in taking a peek at what makes them tick personally as well.

  3. doodly Avatar
    doodly

    no doubt if Louie was alive he’d be quite happy that this story is out there embarrassing this very evil callous man.

  4. doodly Avatar
    doodly

    no doubt if Louie was alive he’d be quite happy that this story is out there embarrassing this very evil callous man.

  5. socialcoma Avatar
    socialcoma

    Shannon, Marshall, Fliss – Thanks for your insights and attitudes towards this topic. I appreciate them and take them into consideration as different views of this article.

    I think I’m going to get a pa tomarrow

  6. socialcoma Avatar
    socialcoma

    Shannon, Marshall, Fliss – Thanks for your insights and attitudes towards this topic. I appreciate them and take them into consideration as different views of this article.

    I think I’m going to get a pa tomarrow

  7. Mounds Don't Avatar
    Mounds Don’t

    I bet BushCo would be surprised that there is a eunuch that can play 6 degrees of separation and get to Bush himself through only one other person.

  8. Mounds Don't Avatar
    Mounds Don’t

    I bet BushCo would be surprised that there is a eunuch that can play 6 degrees of separation and get to Bush himself through only one other person.

  9. Marshall Avatar

    As to the wikipedia issue, Louie isn’t notable enough to merit his own wikipedia page – The reason that the information was removed from the Karl Rove page is that it isn’t necesarily notable, and Jim Ward’s edit constitutes ā€œoriginal researchā€ which is a big no-no. Jim’s personal connection to the subjects father actually makes it a conflict of interest for him to edit the page at all.

    This post could serve as a primary source for a Wikipedia edit, but as it is blog derived, it’s going to have a very high bar to jump through, especially on a commonly vandalised page like the Karl Rove one.

  10. Marshall Avatar

    As to the wikipedia issue, Louie isn’t notable enough to merit his own wikipedia page – The reason that the information was removed from the Karl Rove page is that it isn’t necesarily notable, and Jim Ward’s edit constitutes ā€œoriginal researchā€ which is a big no-no. Jim’s personal connection to the subjects father actually makes it a conflict of interest for him to edit the page at all.

    This post could serve as a primary source for a Wikipedia edit, but as it is blog derived, it’s going to have a very high bar to jump through, especially on a commonly vandalised page like the Karl Rove one.

  11. Moony Avatar
    Moony

    Great article, Yarddog! I’ll look forward to reading more from you in the future. Very very good point on the six degrees of separation, an instance of which I was faced with two weeks ago. It further underlined the fact that a lot of people probably have (gay) skeletons in their closets. While I agree that Rove is entitled to privacy, it’s well-known that his father was gay, and he was well-known in the body modification community. The fact that the communities didn’t meet in the middle doesn’t give him immunity from being exposed for the fraud he is.

  12. Moony Avatar
    Moony

    Great article, Yarddog! I’ll look forward to reading more from you in the future. Very very good point on the six degrees of separation, an instance of which I was faced with two weeks ago. It further underlined the fact that a lot of people probably have (gay) skeletons in their closets. While I agree that Rove is entitled to privacy, it’s well-known that his father was gay, and he was well-known in the body modification community. The fact that the communities didn’t meet in the middle doesn’t give him immunity from being exposed for the fraud he is.

  13. Ringsofun Avatar
    Ringsofun

    Excellent, well written article. So now I know who that person was that filled my mind with wonder in my early days of getting pierced! Shannon, I have all issues of PFIQ and will scan and send what I can find about Louie. Thanks for the great article Yard(D)og.

  14. Ringsofun Avatar
    Ringsofun

    Excellent, well written article. So now I know who that person was that filled my mind with wonder in my early days of getting pierced! Shannon, I have all issues of PFIQ and will scan and send what I can find about Louie. Thanks for the great article Yard(D)og.

  15. gaugesophia Avatar
    gaugesophia

    I read the original on Yarddog’s IAM page, and I just have to say, this is an amazing story. It’s sad to see someone disowned by their own family members.

    I wish this were the reason Karl Rove was retiring.

  16. gaugesophia Avatar
    gaugesophia

    I read the original on Yarddog’s IAM page, and I just have to say, this is an amazing story. It’s sad to see someone disowned by their own family members.

    I wish this were the reason Karl Rove was retiring.

  17. tattoedmat Avatar
    tattoedmat

    realy loved the artical. a great insight to a great man (and no i don’t mean the son)

  18. tattoedmat Avatar
    tattoedmat

    realy loved the artical. a great insight to a great man (and no i don’t mean the son)

  19. Louie Avatar

    Unbelievable article, this was truly fascinating.
    It makes me proud to share the same name as that man šŸ™‚
    Shannon, you probably live the most interesting life ever, I love it.

  20. Louie Avatar

    Unbelievable article, this was truly fascinating.
    It makes me proud to share the same name as that man šŸ™‚
    Shannon, you probably live the most interesting life ever, I love it.

  21. OwenBrown Avatar
    OwenBrown

    Awesome and truly amazing that a father and son could take such different paths.

  22. OwenBrown Avatar
    OwenBrown

    Awesome and truly amazing that a father and son could take such different paths.

  23. Emma Avatar
    Emma

    The only Rove I know is the comedian on Aussie TV, so the political crap is lost on me… From reading comments however I gather he’s not popular.
    I find it sad that homosexuality and mods have to be ā€˜skeletons’, I practise both and my heart sinks at the thought that my family consider me as something to hide.
    I pray the day never comes when we, as a community, are ashamed of our families for being mainstream.
    OwenBrown, fathers and sons take very different paths each day. The only difference in this is celebrity.

  24. Emma Avatar
    Emma

    The only Rove I know is the comedian on Aussie TV, so the political crap is lost on me… From reading comments however I gather he’s not popular.
    I find it sad that homosexuality and mods have to be ā€˜skeletons’, I practise both and my heart sinks at the thought that my family consider me as something to hide.
    I pray the day never comes when we, as a community, are ashamed of our families for being mainstream.
    OwenBrown, fathers and sons take very different paths each day. The only difference in this is celebrity.

  25. Vonnie Avatar
    Vonnie

    What a wonderful, beautifully-written story. Louie would be so pround of you! (I’m a middle-aged, straight white-bread mother, and the article brought a tear to my eye – and not because of the piercings!) Good on you.

  26. Vonnie Avatar
    Vonnie

    What a wonderful, beautifully-written story. Louie would be so pround of you! (I’m a middle-aged, straight white-bread mother, and the article brought a tear to my eye – and not because of the piercings!) Good on you.

  27. Yard[D]og Avatar
    Yard[D]og

    It has been a new and interesting experience reading what folks write about something I have written. I will continue to follow the train.

    However I want to add something to my story.

    With regard to the information on other sites … I am sad that they have picked this up and played on the ā€œgraphicā€ side. It was never supposed anything other than a personal experience.

    Secondly, I have since found out indirectly from ā€œthe familyā€ that there was a private ā€œfamily serviceā€ for Louie. I can respect a family’s intentions, but from a gay perspective, it is so typical for families who want ā€œhideā€ a persons sexual orientation to keep a funeral private away from long-time friends. AIDS deaths are clutter with ā€œprivateā€ family services.

    It was also suggest to me that the family may have know about Louie’s body modifications. It is not an absolute that the family would have known about them. Louie told me and others (see above), that he never wanted a tattoo because it was permanent; you can take out a piercing. And Louie was well into giving things away before he died. He gave me a collection of photographs for instance. Again, that is typical of single, older gay men. More than once I have been asked to ā€œclean out a closetā€ā€¦

    Thanks to the folks who have contacted me or Shannon about Louie with information. And bits and pieces of his life and the times will help the historical record.

    This last week I have been developing a question. It has to do with the father and son relationship. There is a part of me that wonders why Karl would NOT want it to be seem as ā€œdistancing himself from his fatherā€ (Karl says they were close) … But his father is gay, why not distance himself?

    Karl on one hand is not distancing himself from his father but on the other hand is developing a political strategy based on inflaming an anti-gay political base!

    Where they as close as you or I may think ā€œcloseā€ is? Or was/is the son ā€œusingā€ the father on their trips to Santa Fe to help him (Karl) develop that strategy at some level? God knows, maybe they went off together and developed that strategy ! A kind of father son bonding?

    Whatever the case, Louie was gay; people knew it then and now. Perhaps not gay like a 20 year old is today, but just the same he was. What I don’t understand is why/how the son could do something that had the possibility to hurt the father one way or another. Why would Karl do that? Could you do that to your son? To your father?

  28. Yard[D]og Avatar
    Yard[D]og

    It has been a new and interesting experience reading what folks write about something I have written. I will continue to follow the train.

    However I want to add something to my story.

    With regard to the information on other sites … I am sad that they have picked this up and played on the ā€œgraphicā€ side. It was never supposed anything other than a personal experience.

    Secondly, I have since found out indirectly from ā€œthe familyā€ that there was a private ā€œfamily serviceā€ for Louie. I can respect a family’s intentions, but from a gay perspective, it is so typical for families who want ā€œhideā€ a persons sexual orientation to keep a funeral private away from long-time friends. AIDS deaths are clutter with ā€œprivateā€ family services.

    It was also suggest to me that the family may have know about Louie’s body modifications. It is not an absolute that the family would have known about them. Louie told me and others (see above), that he never wanted a tattoo because it was permanent; you can take out a piercing. And Louie was well into giving things away before he died. He gave me a collection of photographs for instance. Again, that is typical of single, older gay men. More than once I have been asked to ā€œclean out a closetā€ā€¦

    Thanks to the folks who have contacted me or Shannon about Louie with information. And bits and pieces of his life and the times will help the historical record.

    This last week I have been developing a question. It has to do with the father and son relationship. There is a part of me that wonders why Karl would NOT want it to be seem as ā€œdistancing himself from his fatherā€ (Karl says they were close) … But his father is gay, why not distance himself?

    Karl on one hand is not distancing himself from his father but on the other hand is developing a political strategy based on inflaming an anti-gay political base!

    Where they as close as you or I may think ā€œcloseā€ is? Or was/is the son ā€œusingā€ the father on their trips to Santa Fe to help him (Karl) develop that strategy at some level? God knows, maybe they went off together and developed that strategy ! A kind of father son bonding?

    Whatever the case, Louie was gay; people knew it then and now. Perhaps not gay like a 20 year old is today, but just the same he was. What I don’t understand is why/how the son could do something that had the possibility to hurt the father one way or another. Why would Karl do that? Could you do that to your son? To your father?

  29. robot spy butterfly Avatar
    robot spy butterfly

    The end… woah. Life really is strange and the only thing stranger is how long it actually takes to get accustomed to that idea. Stories like this help remind me of the boundlessness of reality. This feels like it was written with a lot of compassion so thanks for sharing it.

  30. robot spy butterfly Avatar
    robot spy butterfly

    The end… woah. Life really is strange and the only thing stranger is how long it actually takes to get accustomed to that idea. Stories like this help remind me of the boundlessness of reality. This feels like it was written with a lot of compassion so thanks for sharing it.

  31. Russell Blackford Avatar

    Don’t be too critical of Wikipedia. It’s interesting, but it’s original research by Wikipedia’s definition. Wikipedia does not act as a primary source of information but always (theoretically) relies on previously-published sources that are known to be reliable. Also, it is frequently burned with libel suits, so it has to be extremely careful about stuff like this.

  32. Russell Blackford Avatar

    Don’t be too critical of Wikipedia. It’s interesting, but it’s original research by Wikipedia’s definition. Wikipedia does not act as a primary source of information but always (theoretically) relies on previously-published sources that are known to be reliable. Also, it is frequently burned with libel suits, so it has to be extremely careful about stuff like this.

  33. MCW Avatar
    MCW

    Hey all, just thought you’d like to know the major political blog Wonkette picked up on this today – I’ve shared the link below.

    http://wonkette.com/politics/no-more-a_roving-dept%27/karl-roves-gay-dad-made-his-son-fall-in-love-with-jeff-gannon-292407.php

  34. MCW Avatar
    MCW

    Hey all, just thought you’d like to know the major political blog Wonkette picked up on this today – I’ve shared the link below.

    http://wonkette.com/politics/no-more-a_roving-dept%27/karl-roves-gay-dad-made-his-son-fall-in-love-with-jeff-gannon-292407.php

  35. SRS Avatar
    SRS

    This story is awesome…karl totally deserves this, whether this is true or not.

  36. SRS Avatar
    SRS

    This story is awesome…karl totally deserves this, whether this is true or not.

  37. inkmanlarry Avatar
    inkmanlarry

    I lived in Los Angeles from November 1982 to Sept 1991, and went to Louie’s home for piercing parties. He had a house in the Wilshire District, a few blocks west of La Brea Ave and in the block south of Wilshire Blvd. Jim Ward pierced my nipples and my genitals. He did two didos on me, and the actual piercing hurt like hell. I live in Vancouver, WA now. Perhaps one of these days we will meet. I know Bugs. I have met him at several tattoo conventions. He bought Dottie M’s old studio on Venice Blvd. Best wishes. InkManLarry

  38. inkmanlarry Avatar
    inkmanlarry

    I lived in Los Angeles from November 1982 to Sept 1991, and went to Louie’s home for piercing parties. He had a house in the Wilshire District, a few blocks west of La Brea Ave and in the block south of Wilshire Blvd. Jim Ward pierced my nipples and my genitals. He did two didos on me, and the actual piercing hurt like hell. I live in Vancouver, WA now. Perhaps one of these days we will meet. I know Bugs. I have met him at several tattoo conventions. He bought Dottie M’s old studio on Venice Blvd. Best wishes. InkManLarry

  39. inkmanlarry Avatar
    inkmanlarry

    I lived in LA (Pasadena) during the eighties, and was heavily involved in the gay tattooing scene, and leather and motorcycle clubs. I lived in SF fours years prior to moving to LA. I was a member of the Recon Motorcycle Club and the Warlocks MC Club. Both were heavily involved in the South of Market (SOMA) scene. Very enjoyable. I wanted to get my nipples pierced in SF, but couldn’t find any one to trust to do it. I moved to LA in Nov. 1982, and had Jim Ward pierce my nipples within a couple of weeks of the move. He did it at the Gauntlet in West Hollywood. I had a ladder of about 8 piercings in my penis. I also had a Prince Albert and two didos. All done by Jim Ward at the West Hollywood Gauntlet.

    Anyway, I was more heavily active in the Gay tattooing scene, what little there was of it. I was one of the original founding members of the Illustrated Men. We had private pool parties, bar meets, and some runs to the motel clubs in Palm Springs.

    Bud, the artist who did the covers of PFIQ designed the tattoo on my back. Robert Benedetting of Sunset Strip Tattoo had Bud design the piece. It was completed in April, 1985, just in time to be shown at the National Tattoo Convention in Seattle. My IAM page is inkmanlarry.

    I was no where near as heavily involved in the piercing scene as you were, but I did live in Southern California during that era, and knew many of the individuals you talk of. I lived in LA near Grifith Park Blvd, and Los Feliz. I belive it is the Hyperion District. I moved to Pasadena in 1985, and lived at 72 S. Greenwood Ave., until Sept. 1991, where I accepted a transfer to Portland, OR. I lived 1/2 block South of Colorado Blvd, and two blocks east of Allen.

    When I lived in Southern California, I got major work from Cliff Ravern, Robert Benedette (Sunset Strip Tattoo), and Bob Roberts (Spotlight Tattoo on Melrose Ave.).

    One of these days, it would be great to meet you and spend some time talking about the good old days. I may be in the LA area in February or June of next year. I would come down as part of a trip to a tattoo convention.

    If you ever want to talk, my e-mial address is [emailĀ protected]. My home phone is 360-882-1173, and my cell is 360-904-9270. I only keep my cell phone on when I am out of the house. My name is Larry Happ.

    Best wishes, InkManLarry

  40. inkmanlarry Avatar
    inkmanlarry

    I lived in LA (Pasadena) during the eighties, and was heavily involved in the gay tattooing scene, and leather and motorcycle clubs. I lived in SF fours years prior to moving to LA. I was a member of the Recon Motorcycle Club and the Warlocks MC Club. Both were heavily involved in the South of Market (SOMA) scene. Very enjoyable. I wanted to get my nipples pierced in SF, but couldn’t find any one to trust to do it. I moved to LA in Nov. 1982, and had Jim Ward pierce my nipples within a couple of weeks of the move. He did it at the Gauntlet in West Hollywood. I had a ladder of about 8 piercings in my penis. I also had a Prince Albert and two didos. All done by Jim Ward at the West Hollywood Gauntlet.

    Anyway, I was more heavily active in the Gay tattooing scene, what little there was of it. I was one of the original founding members of the Illustrated Men. We had private pool parties, bar meets, and some runs to the motel clubs in Palm Springs.

    Bud, the artist who did the covers of PFIQ designed the tattoo on my back. Robert Benedetting of Sunset Strip Tattoo had Bud design the piece. It was completed in April, 1985, just in time to be shown at the National Tattoo Convention in Seattle. My IAM page is inkmanlarry.

    I was no where near as heavily involved in the piercing scene as you were, but I did live in Southern California during that era, and knew many of the individuals you talk of. I lived in LA near Grifith Park Blvd, and Los Feliz. I belive it is the Hyperion District. I moved to Pasadena in 1985, and lived at 72 S. Greenwood Ave., until Sept. 1991, where I accepted a transfer to Portland, OR. I lived 1/2 block South of Colorado Blvd, and two blocks east of Allen.

    When I lived in Southern California, I got major work from Cliff Ravern, Robert Benedette (Sunset Strip Tattoo), and Bob Roberts (Spotlight Tattoo on Melrose Ave.).

    One of these days, it would be great to meet you and spend some time talking about the good old days. I may be in the LA area in February or June of next year. I would come down as part of a trip to a tattoo convention.

    If you ever want to talk, my e-mial address is [emailĀ protected]. My home phone is 360-882-1173, and my cell is 360-904-9270. I only keep my cell phone on when I am out of the house. My name is Larry Happ.

    Best wishes, InkManLarry

  41. inkmanlarry Avatar
    inkmanlarry

    Just a correction to comment 71. I lived in the Silverlake District, not the Hyperion District, when I lived in LA during the early 80′s. InkManLarry

  42. inkmanlarry Avatar
    inkmanlarry

    Just a correction to comment 71. I lived in the Silverlake District, not the Hyperion District, when I lived in LA during the early 80′s. InkManLarry

  43. Phone blocker Avatar

    Interesting post as for me. It would be great to read something more concerning that matter.

  44. Phone blocker Avatar

    Interesting post as for me. It would be great to read something more concerning that matter.

  45. Larry Happ Avatar
    Larry Happ

    Just some additional comments. I went to several piercing parties at Louie Rove’s home in the Wilshire District. He had a beautiful home in the Wilshire District, just south of Wilshire Blvd., between La Brea Ave., and Gardener.

  46. Larry Happ Avatar
    Larry Happ

    Just some additional comments. I went to several piercing parties at Louie Rove’s home in the Wilshire District. He had a beautiful home in the Wilshire District, just south of Wilshire Blvd., between La Brea Ave., and Gardener.

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