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. Deathboy Avatar
    Deathboy

    A big part of BME dies with this news.
    You were missed before and we followed you to body2, I just home this doesn´t turn into the BME it became when you were blocked.
    We well come check you out on zentastic not to feel so home sick.

    This is sad, sad news.

  2. skittle Avatar
    skittle

    i dont understand what actually happened and why you have to give it to rachel what actually happenedd from the start to make you get locked out of bme and stuff????
    some111 explainnn?

  3. Laurel Avatar

    Well Shannon, for the short time I’ve been on BME, I’ve seen it’s fluctuations, and I wish you the best! Thank you for all of your hardwork and dedication.

    –Laurel.

  4. Laurel Avatar

    Well Shannon, for the short time I’ve been on BME, I’ve seen it’s fluctuations, and I wish you the best! Thank you for all of your hardwork and dedication.

    –Laurel.

  5. ELY M. Avatar

    why give up BME? 🙁
    I’m sad to see you go.

  6. ELY M. Avatar

    why give up BME? 🙁
    I’m sad to see you go.

  7. Holah444 Avatar
    Holah444

    Time for a new God!

  8. Holah444 Avatar
    Holah444

    Time for a new God!

  9. Sweep Avatar
    Sweep

    BME, IAM and ModBlog have made a massive impact on my life over the past year. It sucks to see you leave. Good luck with everything, and I hope the new admins do just as good a job as you have!

  10. Sweep Avatar
    Sweep

    BME, IAM and ModBlog have made a massive impact on my life over the past year. It sucks to see you leave. Good luck with everything, and I hope the new admins do just as good a job as you have!

  11. bikuki Avatar

    I hope your life has many more good fortunes in store for you. I don’t think anyone needs to say you will be missed.

  12. bikuki Avatar

    I hope your life has many more good fortunes in store for you. I don’t think anyone needs to say you will be missed.

  13. Cucuy Avatar
    Cucuy

    Goddamnit this sucks. Good luck man!

  14. Cucuy Avatar
    Cucuy

    Goddamnit this sucks. Good luck man!

  15. David Avatar

    I really got used to check modblog on daily basis, it was a great way to start the day… now… we’ll miss you Shannon, I’ll sure follow up your other projects

    the best of lucks with everything!!!

  16. David Avatar

    I really got used to check modblog on daily basis, it was a great way to start the day… now… we’ll miss you Shannon, I’ll sure follow up your other projects

    the best of lucks with everything!!!

  17. anamorphic Avatar
    anamorphic

    Going to miss you Shannon old fella……

  18. anamorphic Avatar
    anamorphic

    Going to miss you Shannon old fella……

  19. Chemery Avatar
    Chemery

    Fuckkkkkkkk.
    Shannon, BME will suck without you; you’ll be hella missed man

  20. Chemery Avatar
    Chemery

    Fuckkkkkkkk.
    Shannon, BME will suck without you; you’ll be hella missed man

  21. mashallah Avatar
    mashallah

    All the best, Shannon, for your future endeavours. You have made a tremendous contribution to the way the world views mod & the modded. Please don’t ever underestimate the extent to which you have changed our lives through providing us with information, resources, and a sense of community/belonging.

    Thank you.

  22. mashallah Avatar
    mashallah

    All the best, Shannon, for your future endeavours. You have made a tremendous contribution to the way the world views mod & the modded. Please don’t ever underestimate the extent to which you have changed our lives through providing us with information, resources, and a sense of community/belonging.

    Thank you.

  23. Hannah Avatar
    Hannah

    Poo 🙁

  24. Hannah Avatar
    Hannah

    Poo 🙁

  25. robot spy butterfly Avatar
    robot spy butterfly

    Aww, man. I feel defeated. The first thing I thought was “NOOOOOOOOOOO!!!” then i regained my composure and what I meant was: Thanks for everything, Shannon. You’ve probably given more to this than most of us know for sure and please know that we appreciate it. I think you’ve helped shape more people’s lives than you know and, eventhough I’ve never spoken to you, I look up to you as proof of what heights can be acheived when we embrace differences not only in others but also from within ourselves. Your passion and conviction have truly been a gift to us all. We’ll miss you; I’ll miss you and we’ll do our best to keep this going right. I wish you and yours the best of luck, always 🙂

  26. robot spy butterfly Avatar
    robot spy butterfly

    Aww, man. I feel defeated. The first thing I thought was “NOOOOOOOOOOO!!!” then i regained my composure and what I meant was: Thanks for everything, Shannon. You’ve probably given more to this than most of us know for sure and please know that we appreciate it. I think you’ve helped shape more people’s lives than you know and, eventhough I’ve never spoken to you, I look up to you as proof of what heights can be acheived when we embrace differences not only in others but also from within ourselves. Your passion and conviction have truly been a gift to us all. We’ll miss you; I’ll miss you and we’ll do our best to keep this going right. I wish you and yours the best of luck, always 🙂

  27. mariess Avatar

    i really hope this site stays alive, its an amazing resource for the modified community. good luck in your future endeavors, i hope you stay in contact with the bme community!

  28. mariess Avatar

    i really hope this site stays alive, its an amazing resource for the modified community. good luck in your future endeavors, i hope you stay in contact with the bme community!

  29. crimsoncherub Avatar
    crimsoncherub

    can this be april fools?

  30. crimsoncherub Avatar
    crimsoncherub

    can this be april fools?

  31. Spannka Avatar

    Thanks for the time you have spent on creating and evolving BME, Shannon. It has been everything to a lot of people. From satisfying ones curiosity to finding inspiration, friends, acceptance, courage, and a deeper sense of knowledge of the human mind as well as body.
    -Annka

  32. Spannka Avatar

    Thanks for the time you have spent on creating and evolving BME, Shannon. It has been everything to a lot of people. From satisfying ones curiosity to finding inspiration, friends, acceptance, courage, and a deeper sense of knowledge of the human mind as well as body.
    -Annka

  33. Shiza Avatar

    NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!! Atleast stay on as a guest writer for modblog! What will i get online for when i cant look at porn. You will be greatly missed on bme!

  34. Shiza Avatar

    NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!! Atleast stay on as a guest writer for modblog! What will i get online for when i cant look at porn. You will be greatly missed on bme!

  35. Herger Avatar

    @Shannon: without you starting BME & would neither be the one i am today (aaand i indeed am pretty happy with the road i’ve chosen to travel), nor would i have met quite i few people i am very glad to be able to call ‘friends’.

    So: thank you very much for all the blood, sweat & tears you’ve shed over the years maintaining all of this!

    All the best, take care!

    Marco aka IAM Herger

  36. Herger Avatar

    @Shannon: without you starting BME & would neither be the one i am today (aaand i indeed am pretty happy with the road i’ve chosen to travel), nor would i have met quite i few people i am very glad to be able to call ‘friends’.

    So: thank you very much for all the blood, sweat & tears you’ve shed over the years maintaining all of this!

    All the best, take care!

    Marco aka IAM Herger

  37. thizzcore Avatar

    wow. i have never posted here but have been an avid reader of bme/mod blog for years. hopefully this new transition sorts out the little problems there are…and shannon thanks for everything i’ve always admired your work and look forward to seeing more paintings ;)… for some reason everyday i check zentastic or your iam..quite possibly one of the most interesting people i have had the opportunity to read about.

  38. thizzcore Avatar

    wow. i have never posted here but have been an avid reader of bme/mod blog for years. hopefully this new transition sorts out the little problems there are…and shannon thanks for everything i’ve always admired your work and look forward to seeing more paintings ;)… for some reason everyday i check zentastic or your iam..quite possibly one of the most interesting people i have had the opportunity to read about.

  39. Natas Avatar
    Natas

    That’s very bad….This blogs kicks so much assssssssss

    You’ll meet me in hell and sit to me left .F

  40. Natas Avatar
    Natas

    That’s very bad….This blogs kicks so much assssssssss

    You’ll meet me in hell and sit to me left .F

  41. GreenHead Avatar

    Bme wont be the same… this is so crazy >_<

  42. GreenHead Avatar

    Bme wont be the same… this is so crazy >_<

  43. dana Avatar
    dana

    i want to cry. is that rediculous?

  44. dana Avatar
    dana

    i want to cry. is that rediculous?

  45. labelle Avatar

    i’m sad to see shannon go but i have faith that all will be left in good hands. my life wouldn’t be the same without bme and i really don’t know what to say so i’ll just say “i’ll miss you shannon and i hope you keep in touch.”

    ps: maybe now it won’t ALWAYS be a penis.

  46. nematzz Avatar

    damn, this sucks.
    good luck and thanks for everything!

  47. labelle Avatar

    i’m sad to see shannon go but i have faith that all will be left in good hands. my life wouldn’t be the same without bme and i really don’t know what to say so i’ll just say “i’ll miss you shannon and i hope you keep in touch.”

    ps: maybe now it won’t ALWAYS be a penis.

  48. nematzz Avatar

    damn, this sucks.
    good luck and thanks for everything!

  49. Beauty inthe Breakdown Avatar

    Again, “NOO” was an understatement.
    I CRIED AT WORK.
    I win.
    Haha.
    Miss you Shannon!

  50. Beauty inthe Breakdown Avatar

    Again, “NOO” was an understatement.
    I CRIED AT WORK.
    I win.
    Haha.
    Miss you Shannon!

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