BME: Body Modification Ezine

A tattooed person suspends from hooks, laying flat, one leg higher than the other. Their head is back, and they seem to be smiling, dark hair dangling like an anime character.

Celebrating body modification culture since 1994.

Author: Shannon Larratt

  • Don’t blink if you want to be beautiful

    Written by

    Shannon Larratt

    I think by now most people have seen pictures of Jocyelyne Wildenstein, who used extreme cosmetic surgery to transform herself into a cat (sort of) in a failed attempt to win back the love of her billionaire husband. Well, last night Entertainment Tonight featured a new male champion of bizarre plastic surgery, Steve Erhardt, who has spent $250,000 to look more like a Ken Doll. He’s even the first recipient of bicep implants (well, not including Jesse Jarrell that is; he’s had custom muscle-wrapping implants for some time). Click the pictures below to skip to his story and see some video.

    However, unlike Jocelyn who transformed herself to seek someone else’s approval, Steve claims that this is a personal decision and it’s making him happy — if that’s really the case (rather than an excuse), more power to him, and screw anyone who denounces him for these decisions.

    And yes, he did go to the same doctor as Michael Jackson. Why do you ask?

  • Like the shirt says: Chicks dig scars!

    Written by

    Shannon Larratt

    I think outsiders to body modification probably assume that scarification is a very masculine and “tough” or “brutal” artform, which is ironic given that in a historic context it often serves as a feminine form of expression. In any case, it’s come of age to the point here in the West that we’re able to see it fill that role. I wanted to show two pieces from Shawn Porter‘s ScarWars. The piece on the left is by IAM:vampy on IAM:square, and the piece on the right is a “scar fusion” piece by Brian and Jesse Villemaire on IAM:amnesiac. Both are between two and three months old in these pictures.

    ScarWars II is tentatively scheduled for February 2006 in Los Angeles (but don’t quote me on that). Keep an eye on the SW website for more info.

    Oh, and it seems like Something Aweful’s Fashion SWAT today decided to tackle tattoos. If you’re a fan of their Cliff Yablonski writing, well, this is a whole lot friendlier but in the same vein. Enjoy or don’t. Lucky they don’t know about the tattoo pictured below.

    Sorry about that, I had to correct the gender imbalance in this entry.

  • BME Newsfeed for Aug 18, 2005

    Written by

    Shannon Larratt

    Please note that links may expire. IAM members, please help out by submitting stories!

  • TSD Show Tonight in Dallas

    Written by

    Shannon Larratt

    Tonight is the TSD Reunion Show in Dallas Texas (August 18th)! Come see their first show in almost five years!

    It’s at The Church (2424 Swiss @ Good Latimer) as part of Odd Fest, and doors open at 9 PM. The show is 18 and up only. There’s a contest for the “Oddest People” with the winners getting both Ozzfest tickets and a contract with HVQ Agency.

    [Javascript required to view Flash movie, please turn it on and refresh this page]


    DivX download link for BME members: Extreme2 or Full members

    Thanks to Ron Garza for this old footage of Allen Falkner and Xeon throwing hooks into Mark Rose for the debut of their 360-suspension at EMOS in Austin, Texas (the piercings were done at True Blue Tattoo). Music in the clip is Los Gatos Locos, Someone’s Gonna Get Their Head Kicked In Tonight.

  • Tattoos = Pop Culture

    Written by

    Shannon Larratt

    I’ll say with some certainty that at this point My Little Pony tattoos are popular enough that they’re well beyond passing trend. Certainly it’s not unusual for tattoos to blur the line between personal reference and clever pop culture reference, and these are a great example of that.

    But, like dead celebrities, it’s not a trend until it comes in threes, so maybe a Vegas bookie wants to take odds on what’s going to be the next big thing in hipster tattoos in the BME tattoo galleries: The Morton Salt Girl or Ghostbusters? Place your bets… Personally my money is on the Salt Girl.

    Send in your picture to settle the bet.

Latest Tattoo, Piercing, and Body Modification News