Edit/Update: After being offline for ages, here’s an archival link for the first-ever published interview with Rick Genest / Rico / Zombie Boy/ Skullboy.
Sorry about not getting this online earlier — it’s been a long day, which among other things, includes having a transport truck smash into me while I was driving with my daughter to an appointment! Ack!
Big thanks to Veronika for scoring (and doing) an interview with the infamous “Skullboy“, more appropriately known as Montreal’s Zombie. Click through to check it out, and as always, come on back to comment.
PS. You may remember Veronika from her cat portrait neck tattoo as well as her half-sleeve — she’s no stranger to both being featured and creating features!
Comments
425 responses to “Zombie (“Skullboy”) Interview Posted”
I think its all great but man whats up with all those comments people left? … their so far up their own asses … no sense of humor at all … they are jealous of his art so they are ripping him on not talking proper and for his personal opinions … just shows all they care about is how they’ll make money someday and what others think about them … just self appointed judges judging what their too afraid to do themselves … I mean have an opinion fine … but how can you say in one breath I love the whole idea BUT hes dumb cause he doesn’t represent a certain ideal mod person and has a bad attitude?… IT WAS HIS FUCKING IDEA IN THE FIRST PLACE TO DO IT but it is all for not cause of something he said? … its art its not a competition, its not politics let the man say whatever the fuck he wants … its fucking amazing and brave also no matter what your personal thoughts are on the art, people that can’t handle it are part of the problem and not the solution … I respect people more that don’t take themselves so seriously … great interview, in fact I like it more cause it isn’t another interview where the person is being painted as a starving, sad story just wants to be loved, misunderstood person, only cares about his next world changing inspiring tattoo … now I am ranting so yeah it is what it is it shows his personality what his plans for the future are, what he does… an like zombie already said fuck you assholes
Thank you Kenevin, you said exactly what I meant. And yes english is my thrid language so thanks for not pointing out all my mistakes 😛
And RPVitiello, EXACTLY my point also. Lots of you guys got sticks up your asses, loosen up, enjoy life, be HAPPY. Why is it so damn hard to appriciate somethng without always finding something negative to say.
A lot of the interviews on BME have had their answers edited (I think, not sure about this one), but he didn’t want to, he did NOT let me type ANYTHING! I didn;t ask him to write a novel, I asked him to answer questions, in his own words, write what he wanted to say, express himself how he want it, and that’s what he did, you don’t like it? You can go F… plant flowers in your backyard.
punk is dead, and, this kid is a moron.
You know, I don’t care that he doesn’t have a story behind his work [cause, who really gives a fuck about story? art is art people] I’m just so bummed he “regrets” his work. Considering how intricate and astounding the art is, it’s a real shame he regrets it.
And Bob, exactly. There has to be some sort of substance, otherwise there’s no real point.
The whole interview came across as goofy and fun… slightly tongue in cheek, it did a good job of capturing a certain flavor. If I ever met this guy in person I think his tattoos would freak me out a bit I like scary and it’s definitly scary.
I’ve always thought he was hot and those photo’s totally got me! DAMN!
i love the chat it made so much sense was interesting n love it to death lol
Although his tattoo work is amazing, and I’m 100% FOR getting tattoos just because they look nice, he sounds like an immature piece of shit.
I guess there’s no surprises. He’s just like any other 22 year old fuck up. I don’t expect every heavily modded person to be some kind of genius or anything, but he didn’t seem worth the interview.
I also think it’s a little sad to see so many people excuse stupid ass people like this as a totally cool down-to-earth guy just because of his mods. If this were an interview with anyone else would any of you have liked him as much?
ha that was great, and that skull piece is bloody amazing, a lot of attempts to work in real anatomy into a tattoo and vice versa come out like shit but his are GOLD!
oh and I know he was probably kidding but I would totally watch him in porn 😉
He’s really, really attractive. But I really wish the answers had been, well… deeper.
it’s really intereting the way that a person’s reasons (or lack thereof) for acquiring a mod changes the way we think about them/the mod.
just a thought.
i remember when i got my head tattoo started a few years ago now i didnt put shit loadsa thought behind it,it went something like “im gonna get my head tattooed” an 2 weeks later i had a tattooed head and tragus,most of my tattoos have been that way including my throat,neck,hands,palms etc etcive actually been interviewed before and it mustve been the most boring fuckin interview to read in the history of the things,whatever happened to people doin things just cos they want to?and for the record most of my friends are punx who live in squats,dont work,and like myself wouldnt let something as trivial as a job in stand in the way of what they wanna do,i hope that didnt sound patronising cos its not meant too,i also thought it was refreshing to read an interview with someone that didnt sound theydv watched a season of miami ink!!
I was pumped for the interview.
Just like I’d be pumped for the interview with the guy with the stretched cheek piercings.
After I read this interview I thought “Oh… well that was that.”
As it turns out, Zombie’s just a regular dude with a lot of tattoos.
I have a lot of VERY visibly and uniquely modified friends and when people ask me about them hoping for some profound explanation or personality – they’re just NOT! They’re just cool people.
This dude’s obviously someone’s son, someone’s best mate, a good guy to hang out with for a drink… What more did you hope for?
He’s not the coming Christ! He’s a dude with amazing tattoos.
I’d definitely like to second (and some) an interview with his tattooer.
I think more impressive than his “look” is the quality of it. It’s nice to see someone with socially crippling body modifications of a seemingly above-grade calibre.
That’s a WELL DONE tattoo piece. (his face and back and chest)
Under it, he’s apparently just a regular guy. *shrug*
If anyone got to an “All about me – no holds barred, professionalism and expectations aside” interview they would all sing to the same tune as this one.
i just want to give a big hand to the tattooists.. especially frank from derm fx… *claps hands*.. great work…
Okay, so he doesn’t have to be super intelligent, deep, or philosophical. I’ll believe that he is a smart (or average) guy and was just messing with us, and now we’re left with even more maddening questions…Clever. But couldn’t he have made himself come off as normal or boring instead of forever 13 years old? I do wonder how he can afford so much talented work.
If he really is that stupid, thank god he was smart enough to pick good artists. He’s still beautiful, and I guess we’ll just have to stick with pictures instead of him opening his mouth.
I wish him lots of luck and hope he gets his eyes filled in like he wants.
That one picture of him smiling looks funny, it distorts the tattoo on his face. I always wondered what he’d look like with different facial expressions. It’s not funny in a “haha you look stupid’ way, but more like the fact that even stoic (at least in prior pictures) ‘skullboy’ can look not-so-serious.
I’m glad I got to see more of his work, updates on his suit would be great.
As for his devil-may-care attitude, I don’t know why everyone is shunning it. Just because you have a whole body transformation happening it doesn’t mean you’re zen and with nature, energy alligning with the earth and all that bullshit. You already decided what you wanted him to be and when he didn’t fulfil it you judge him for it.
Aside from the fact that I’d probably hate someone with that attitude regardless of his mods, it was a pretty bad interview. In a sense, worth it because of the value of showing both sides of the coin (ie. deep vs. don’t give a shit tattooed people). But I just don’t think that’s enough to balance out how bland and boring it really was… idk. Less sensationalism and more journalistic integrity, I would say. But then I am one of these types that cares about stuff 😉
‘If you don’t appriciate the interview, don’t read it, don’t click on it.’
Unfortunately, you have to click on it and read it to decipher if you like it or not. haha oh dear. there’s so much, but I won’t.
It is amusing how much stock people can put in the intentions and personal motivation behind modification. The much more interesting thing about this interview for me is, how he has come to regard these tattoos as a more or less casual thing to do, rather than a life-changing decision. It’s almost like he ‘opted out’ without fully realising it. Very interesting! And what’s more, he continues to ‘opt out’ of the BME community by not giving a serious interview and not having an internet connection.
Quite a noble thing to do, actually. How many of us could resist being a celebrity? Very punk, if you ask me, to have it all in front of you and say “no thanks”, and continue to live a life with close friends and family.
And thanks for the interview and the added info, Veronika. Well done.
What an amazing interview. Definitely an interesting read, love the end photo where he is smiling.
you are so happy because of his physical-mental illness. congratulations!
I think some of his humor was lost on some of the readers. Oh well, the tattoos are still amazing too look at, even if you didn’t like him.
I think he’s super cute, and I like the attitude. why should every tattoo have a super meaningful concept? because he likes horror-movies…I think that’s reason enough. and I know several people with tattoos that they don’t like anymore, either because of poor quality or because of the motif. but obviously there are much more important things in life for them than worring about some stupid shit they got at the age of 16.
“you are so happy because of his physical-mental illness. congratulations”
what are you talking about?get a grip
I love his tattoos,I do think it reads like he hasnt put much thought into anything but I think he intends us to read it like that if you know what I mean. He reads to me like a typical 22 year old tbh, he has gone much further into his journey than most 22 year olds but I have a feeling from his interview that he wont regret it (dont know why I get this feeling I just do).
I dont think he just woke up one morning and thought ok today I get my face tattooed, though Im sure thats the impression he is pretending to give. One thing that made me really happy is he seems to have his family behind him which is great.
I actually enjoyed this interview more than some of the ‘deeper’ ones it seemed much more real.
I wish he had more to say… but no surprises there really…
ZOMBIE = BRAINDEAD
I’d like to second and third the requests for an interview with the artist.
Well I find it funny that most people find the interview a letdown…… Kinda like meeting god (any god you want) and finding out hes a retard or just the same as everyone else.
People with alot of mods or full body tattooing are the same as everyone else , its funny how some people look up to them as being something there not.
Ok, that wasn’t the most exciting thing I’ve read… some cool pictures though. The backpiece looks very well done.
I remember seeing pictures of his facial work a while ago and it’s cool to see the rest of the body stuff, but I don’t understand why he didn’t start out with the body first THEN move to the face at some point. He’s still very young and that’s one very extreme facial tattoo!
It’s all very well him joking about work, but the reality is…. who will employ him?
@Shannon : You’re right – Montréal Punk sums this whole affair up nicely.
@ Donna , alot of places would jump to employ him because of the way he looks.
@ Donna, he DOES have a job…
This is kind of confusing…
I skipped a vast amount of comments so forgive me if I reiterate.
I can understand regretting your tattoos – when you get little ones in the beginning that don’t fit in with how your “body suit” is going. *sigh* It’s a tragic side effect of being young once.
🙂
I think he’s through and through punk. And, he’s yummy – in a crazy sex sorta way.
*drool*
It was nice to see some bigger pictures of his work too! Yea for interviews.
what these comments mnake me think is that theres a whole bunch of subcultures within this subculture. there are some ppl who think are holier than thou based on the fact they choose to pick everything apart and use big words, cos they are eloquent and probably sit at some desk for a job all day.
you guys CANNOT expect and havent the right to expect everyone who is modded/tattood to represent the whole community with their brilliant minds and perfectly crafted arguments. not everyone wants to think of the ‘right’ answers for stupid questions like ‘did that hurt’ ‘why did you do that to yourself’ or ‘whats your momma/boss gonna say when they see you’
i have fuck all obligation to side with any of those twats who want to put people on the street right, to prove we are just ‘normal’ people making a chose about the way we look.
i dont wnat to explain to them or to you. just leave guys like zombie alone.
im just gobsmacked that there are people in this community dissapointed that zombie was just some dumb kid who had nothing to say. like the interviewer said, he chose to not divulge anything about his personal life and so he should. he owes us nothing.
the internet has turned into a culture where everyone opens up and shares lifestories, and if you dont want to then that should be fine, but there will always be folk who wont like that. theyll argue back saying you are not fighting their battle with them.
shannon chose to publish this interview cos of who he is more so that for what its inside, or thats what i suspect anyway.
and if anything bmezine what a site to showcase all modded/tattooed people, not just modded intellectuals who think everything must be done for a profound reason. and even then its doesnt even begin to represent a fraction of the type of people who chose to chnage their appearance permanently.
at last some sense,and would you believe that there are people that are heavily modified that arent interested in internet fame??!!
I found that interview quite disappointing. Yes, everyone is different and will get different work done on them for different reasons, but it didn’t feel like Zombie had a reason for altering his appearance like this beyond a commitment to boredom and pushing the envelope. And then he says he regrets all his tattoos, which I just find incredibly sad.
From what I’ve read in interviews from people who have extensive work done, it’s part of some sort of journey for them, however deep and meaningful that may be. I’ve seen the Skullboy photos around a lot recently and I was really intrigued when I saw an interview with him here. I thought that all the wondering I’d been doing would get answered and resolved, but now I just feel uneasy and disappointed. His motivations seem almost infantile. Eccentric, bohemian, challenging and anything like that I would expect and find intriguing, but this wasn’t what I anticipated finding.
Still, it’s another dose of reality and a bubble burst, which needs to happen sometimes.
It was a interesting interwiew. He did what he did and regret it, but so what? Its his body, his life and his choise so why bother him with it?
that guy is fucking awesome. i would buy him a beer. or five.
what a refreshing interview!. so good to hear from someone not obsessed with ‘meaning’ and ‘enlightenment’, there are so few REAL Individuals left in this world…
i just wish all of the ‘what-a-moron’ briggade could meet him face to face, as i’m sure he’d let ‘em get into their ‘self-respect-rah-rah-rah’ and just go “meh, whatever” and walk away smiling….
I personally don’t think you need a reason for tattoos, alot of these mo fuckn tattoo shows like miami ink build up that you NEED a GREAT reason to get a tattoo, and it better be a good one like your boyfriend died, or you were sexually abused and need to break out of your shell or you shouldnt get a tattoo because you’ll automatically regret it.
Having few tattoos myself, a lot of them were spontaneous tattoos which I still do not regret, I love them to pieces.
This interview was good, what are you people expecting from a 22 year old guy? He’s down to earth and says it like it is, he gets his point across.
I liked the interview a lot because does teach me a lot about the person and his motivations. I don’t know what a psychologist would say, but I think its wrong to see him as a dumbass. His tattoos are well thought out and purposely shocking and repelling. He may regret and dislike the individual tattoos, but he seems to like the overall effect. According to Veronika he is also a soft warm and friendly person, and he says that he has been growing up in hell. This all reminds me of several people I have met with very vivid/showy/flashy tattoos, who actually turn out to be very silent and introverted, having a low self opinion and too insecure to exploit their ambition. I’m not sure and maybe completely wrong, but perhaps he is hiding his uncertainty behind a mask of tattoos that make him look tough and unapproachable, perhaps its his way of self expression, perhaps he likes the certainty of having no options: no reasons to worry about career expectations from others. This also gives some kind of freedom, still being noticed and respected by like minded. The people I know who are this way are of type: Still waters have deep grounds. They deserve the respect that they so much like to have! Especially from our community.
Although I like the freakishness and the artistic concept of the tattoo, thinking of why he has them and realizing how much it restricts the life of such a kind person also makes me feel sad.
Whoo hes punk as punk can get. Up the punx.
Meh.
That’s just fucking sweet. Incredible.
I’d never do my face that much, but still that “zombie cover” pic is just fucking raw.
Great stuff.
I think he’s sarcastic as fuck.
oh and also…he already said he doesn’t own a computer and for us assholes to get fucked….kinda funny how much we still have to say about a person who clearly doesn’t give a shit.
KJ/etc – He doesnt’ say he regrets his tattoos. He says he regrets getting the small random ones at the start, but is now happy with it because they finally all flow together into a single concept.
I’m just jealous he got decent looking tatts and a lot of coverage on presumably little income. I can’t even afford any time under the needle haha
i think he is a work of art.his tattoos clearly reflect him and i think that is the most important thing about a tattoo.if it aint personal then why bother getting it.
So sad that he doesn´t want some girls at his no-beer time… He´s still just too sexy, but i´ve just gave up the idea of thinking of him as ‘interesting’.