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.

So Long And Thanks For All The Fish

After a personally difficult legal dispute over BME, I’ve had to face the potentially insurmountable reality of being massively in debt, and I have chosen to transfer the business to Rachel (the details of this deal are sealed, so please don’t ask). Within the month my role at BME will come to an end, and new staff (made up largely of people who’ve been working on BME for some time as well) will be taking over. I will no longer be writing online about body modification, although I will be maintaining my regular blog and other projects of course, as well as working on several body modification book projects which I am eager to complete.

It’s definitely a very strange and mixed set of feelings, having run this site from the very beginning, over nearly a decade and a half. On one hand I’m very much looking forward to having the opportunity and time to paint and tackle new adventures, and on the other hand I will very much miss both the people and the subject in general that I came to know through BME. That said, when I grew up and fell in love with body modification — and later built BME — this was a very different and much more “outsider” culture, so maybe now, as not just tattooing but body modification as a whole enjoys unprecedented levels of popularity and acceptability, it is a good time to pass the torch on to a new generation. It’s my hope that they maintain the site in the spirit that it was begun, while taking on the challenges of a new environment.

I have very much enjoyed being a part of BME and I leave it with good memories. Thank you to everyone who’s been a friend of the site, and everyone who’s helped bring it to this point. I hope you’ve enjoyed my contributions — I know I’ve enjoyed yours — and I hope that you continue to enjoy what BME brings in the future.

See you in hell! 😛

         Shannon
         [email protected]
         zentastic.com

 

Comments

760 responses to “So Long And Thanks For All The Fish”

  1. DANxCORE Avatar

    WE ARE GONNA MISS YOU!
    good luck in the future shannon
    its been fun, dont forget us!

  2. DANxCORE Avatar

    WE ARE GONNA MISS YOU!
    good luck in the future shannon
    its been fun, dont forget us!

  3. problematique Avatar

    good luck with everything Shannon
    xxx

  4. problematique Avatar

    good luck with everything Shannon
    xxx

  5. [QUEEN] Avatar

    Wow 🙁

    Well was going to renew my IAM today but now I think Ill wait and see.

    Shannon thank you for the few emails we exchanged and the tshirt I wear with pride when the name BME meant part of Shannon Larret too.
    Im so saddened to hear you will not even write about body modification online again. Even if sometimes I was not in agreement with all posted here, things will not be the same without you.

    Love to you and your family.

  6. [QUEEN] Avatar

    Wow 🙁

    Well was going to renew my IAM today but now I think Ill wait and see.

    Shannon thank you for the few emails we exchanged and the tshirt I wear with pride when the name BME meant part of Shannon Larret too.
    Im so saddened to hear you will not even write about body modification online again. Even if sometimes I was not in agreement with all posted here, things will not be the same without you.

    Love to you and your family.

  7. Smash Avatar
    Smash

    well i guess, this is goodbye Godspeed and happy wanderings i wish you well and all the best

  8. Smash Avatar
    Smash

    well i guess, this is goodbye Godspeed and happy wanderings i wish you well and all the best

  9. zion Avatar

    your brain works on a different level shannon a level that his hard to comprehend ……..we will miss you and thank you for everything that you have brought to us you have opened peoples eye,minds,and heart to all of this stuff

  10. zion Avatar

    your brain works on a different level shannon a level that his hard to comprehend ……..we will miss you and thank you for everything that you have brought to us you have opened peoples eye,minds,and heart to all of this stuff

  11. DTM Avatar
    DTM

    Id like to say thank you as well.. I found BME when I was 20 and fresh out of the Marines (long story) If it wasnt for you and this site.. An integral part of the life that brought me to where I am today would be missing…Not to say I wouldnt be me, but without BME which you have invested so much energy into I may not have been influenced by the people I have spoken to met partied and worked with through this community…
    For that I am grateful
    DTM

  12. DTM Avatar
    DTM

    Id like to say thank you as well.. I found BME when I was 20 and fresh out of the Marines (long story) If it wasnt for you and this site.. An integral part of the life that brought me to where I am today would be missing…Not to say I wouldnt be me, but without BME which you have invested so much energy into I may not have been influenced by the people I have spoken to met partied and worked with through this community…
    For that I am grateful
    DTM

  13. botoxdookie Avatar
    botoxdookie

    I tried posting earlier my opinion and it wasn’t…well…posted….why not?

  14. botoxdookie Avatar
    botoxdookie

    I tried posting earlier my opinion and it wasn’t…well…posted….why not?

  15. vladimir Karpets Avatar
    vladimir Karpets

    Peace, love and bless you Shannon x

  16. vladimir Karpets Avatar
    vladimir Karpets

    Peace, love and bless you Shannon x

  17. John Durante Avatar
    John Durante

    I am sorry to hear this…. I was very anti for sooo long!!! Shannon thank you for all of the help and support… I dont think it will be the same… Much respect brother… LTD….John D

  18. John Durante Avatar
    John Durante

    I am sorry to hear this…. I was very anti for sooo long!!! Shannon thank you for all of the help and support… I dont think it will be the same… Much respect brother… LTD….John D

  19. IckyNichola Avatar
    IckyNichola

    Shannon, thankyou so much for all the work you’ve done over the years.
    BME saved my life. i am eternally grateful.
    ~Nichola

  20. IckyNichola Avatar
    IckyNichola

    Shannon, thankyou so much for all the work you’ve done over the years.
    BME saved my life. i am eternally grateful.
    ~Nichola

  21. ash_issom Avatar
    ash_issom

    *saulte* travel well, and through the modifications i’ve gained through contacts here remind me of your work. 🙂

  22. ash_issom Avatar
    ash_issom

    *saulte* travel well, and through the modifications i’ve gained through contacts here remind me of your work. 🙂

  23. Lady Luck Avatar

    good luck you’ll be dearly missed

  24. Lady Luck Avatar

    good luck you’ll be dearly missed

  25. SkullKing Avatar
    SkullKing

    I wish you all the best for your future.

  26. SkullKing Avatar
    SkullKing

    I wish you all the best for your future.

  27. Thomas Moore Avatar
    Thomas Moore

    Fsk. Well, all I can say is, good luck Rachel. You are really going to need it.

  28. Thomas Moore Avatar
    Thomas Moore

    Fsk. Well, all I can say is, good luck Rachel. You are really going to need it.

  29. Klem Avatar
    Klem

    Farewell Shannon….the end of something always announce new things to come up…good luck for your plans, thanks for your work and take care of your new life coming up…

  30. Klem Avatar
    Klem

    Farewell Shannon….the end of something always announce new things to come up…good luck for your plans, thanks for your work and take care of your new life coming up…

  31. Tom V. Avatar
    Tom V.

    I don’t think I could say anything that has not been said already, but I would also like to share my deep appreciation for your work within the industry as a whole. I have lost count of the amount of times I said “I found this awesome picture of a tattoo/scar/piercing/whatever, I’ll give you the link!” to a friend.

    When you dedicate your life to a single cause for such a long time, you are bound to have generated a lot of respect among your peers and I truly congratulate you on all the work you have done.

    Cheers!

  32. Tom V. Avatar
    Tom V.

    I don’t think I could say anything that has not been said already, but I would also like to share my deep appreciation for your work within the industry as a whole. I have lost count of the amount of times I said “I found this awesome picture of a tattoo/scar/piercing/whatever, I’ll give you the link!” to a friend.

    When you dedicate your life to a single cause for such a long time, you are bound to have generated a lot of respect among your peers and I truly congratulate you on all the work you have done.

    Cheers!

  33. Chaq Avatar
    Chaq

    Bye-bye Shannon, Thanks for the insights, smiles and laughs you’ve provided us through this blog!
    And lotsa luck with your new ventures!
    <3

  34. Chaq Avatar
    Chaq

    Bye-bye Shannon, Thanks for the insights, smiles and laughs you’ve provided us through this blog!
    And lotsa luck with your new ventures!
    <3

  35. INKSKIN Avatar
    INKSKIN

    Merci Shannon pour l’oeuvre que tu as entreprise. Tous mes encouragements pour la nouvelle oeuvre qui te reste à entreprendre.

  36. INKSKIN Avatar
    INKSKIN

    Merci Shannon pour l’oeuvre que tu as entreprise. Tous mes encouragements pour la nouvelle oeuvre qui te reste à entreprendre.

  37. Anatomie Avatar

    What everyone else said.
    You will be missed 🙁

  38. Anatomie Avatar

    What everyone else said.
    You will be missed 🙁

  39. phrawzty Avatar

    +1 – don’t panic !

  40. phrawzty Avatar

    +1 – don’t panic !

  41. Rauka Avatar
    Rauka

    I hope it doesn’t go to fuckcaketown now =(
    but yah god speed shannon !

  42. Rauka Avatar
    Rauka

    I hope it doesn’t go to fuckcaketown now =(
    but yah god speed shannon !

  43. Flo Avatar
    Flo

    Shannon

    You are an amazing person

    Good luck with everything dude
    xxx

  44. Flo Avatar
    Flo

    Shannon

    You are an amazing person

    Good luck with everything dude
    xxx

  45. Arachne Avatar

    All the best in your future endeavours Shannon, and thanks for everything you’ve done.

  46. Arachne Avatar

    All the best in your future endeavours Shannon, and thanks for everything you’ve done.

  47. IAM: BxtremeDmodSxM Avatar
    IAM: BxtremeDmodSxM

    mad love <33333333!!!

  48. IAM: BxtremeDmodSxM Avatar
    IAM: BxtremeDmodSxM

    mad love <33333333!!!

  49. Ryan Avatar
    Ryan

    good luck and thank you shannon, i wouldnt be the person i am today without this site.
    x
    🙁

  50. Ryan Avatar
    Ryan

    good luck and thank you shannon, i wouldnt be the person i am today without this site.
    x
    🙁

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