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.

Tag: The Lizardman

  • Is it a world record? [The Publisher’s Ring]


    Records: An alternate view

    I make no claim to speak the absolute truth at all times, but I do hope to make statements that lead people to truths. That is, I’d like to believe that people read the things I write and use them as a foundation to come to their own conclusions.

    I recently wrote a column about world records. I’d like now to include an alternate viewpoint, from world class performer and freak, and my friend, Erik Sprague,

    The Lizardman.

    Shannon Larratt
    BMEzine.com




    Erik Sprague

    Photo: Allen Falkner

    I got an email this morning [1/7/03] from a morning radio crew I did an interview with a little while back. They said they just heard about a guy getting three concrete blocks smashed with a sledgehammer on his groin and wanted to know if I would comment on it — since they were really interested in my act where I get a concrete block smashed on my groin with a flaming sledgehammer. Now, I assume the guy stacked the blocks and had all three smashed at once — since doing the act repeatedly is nothing new, I have done hundred if not thousands of times. How do I feel about it — well, I don’t care much really. I give whoever it was a certain basic respect for performing the act and putting his own twist to it with the multiple blocks (though in terms of the physics that actually makes it safer, not riskier) but in the end I would have to see it to make any real judgment. This is because what counts here is the show — he obviously didn’t just do it for himself by seeking the press, so it now becomes (to my mind) a question of whether or not he managed to give the audience something worthwhile. If he managed to in any way inspire, awe, or simply entertain people then I say more power to him.

    It was this, along with Shannon’s recent piece about records on BME, that got me once again thinking about world records, or alleged world records as the case may be. I have been approached about records, probably hold a few, and I am friends with many people who now hold or have held various records — as recognized by ‘authorities’ like Guinness and Ripley’s. I can tell you that among many professional performers of such acts, that records are held in fairly low esteem and seen only as holding any value for the promotional value and resulting ticket sales they produce. Actually, it is probably more accurate to say that we [performers] often hold the record ‘authorities’ in somewhat low esteem — just like many a viewer we hold people who achieve great things with some regard — not for the appellation of a record but for the act itself. In fact, being ‘in the know’ we often see records — as presented by people like Guinness and Ripley’s — for the illusions they often are. A person’s look and connections can easily result in them getting the record over someone who outperforms them in the actual technical specs. And as for those specifications, they are often a joke — created by uninformed ‘experts’ and enforced at the whim and leisure of their directors. Take a look at their idea of what constitutes a sword for sword swallowing and then look at some of what has been used by their record holders and this is readily apparent [It was also the subject of amusing conversation at a meeting of the Sword Swallowers Association International]

    Once a person realizes that the records as they are presented are often inaccurate and, regardless of this, certainly temporary the focus often returns to the perennial question of “why?”. Why seek out records, why push yourself to such extremes? Is it just for media glory and attention — that as well is certainly fleeting and likely hollow but seems to be the motivation of many. And further, it is often argued that such attention seeking via records and extreme acts is a symptom of the modern media — and to most, a vilifying one. I think this is a bit out of touch with history though. Currently, we are certainly in an upswing for attention with the popularity of various TV shows but this is just a cycle that has gone on for centuries. Our modern media has not created this, at most it has perhaps exacerbated it to a new level given the ability of world media to reach much of the globe’s population almost instantly. Contest, feats of daring and endurance, and grand exhibitions are as old as recorded history and have always been the mainstay of politics, religion, entertainment, and the human experience in general.

    What purpose does this serve? There is certainly the basic thirst for knowledge at play — as with any form of trivia. We want to know who’s bigger, who’s faster, etc. I think that we also want to know about our limits and to explore them — both individually and collectively. By pursuing and seeing others pursue records we learn about what is possible and experience, even if only vicariously through the performer, a sense of striving and triumph. To me, this is where records almost certainly have value — even if they aren’t entirely accurate. They set a challenge before people, they say this is what has been done but you can try and go further. And, by attempting to go further they can inspire awe and wonder and remind people that limits are more often perceived than real. Beyond which, seeing a record may inspire a person on a journey of their own to break that record or to simply have a similar experience.

    In Shannon’s article he wrote:


    “Remarkable acts should be their own reward, and paths to enlightenment are not a sideshow act. I’m not saying it’s wrong to ask for recognition if you pass through a significant ritual, but if I can get preachy, I will say that it is wrong to treat recognition as the sole reason for significant ritual.”

    I respectfully disagree with him in a certain way. Remarkable acts and paths to enlightenment have long been a sideshow — and I don’t mean exploited in western entertainment but in their own respective cultures and times. Religious and political leaders historically would often perform great feats (records) in order to gain attention and following. Historically, to prove that you were really in touch with the true god(s) or nature and yourself and should be leading you would perform publicly — miracles, wonders, feats of endurance, etc. This continues today and probably will for as long as the human experience. If a man ‘walks down from the mountaintop’ with the secrets of the universe, even if they are legitimate, it will take these sorts of demonstrations to often get people to pay attention. Would anyone have listen to Jesus without the miracles? Didn’t Ghandi use prolonged fasting and other ascetic rites to draw attention? Do not many modern people use these acts for such gain? I agree that the act should be done for one’s own self first and foremost because something done solely for recognition often bears little of value over time but if it takes the enticement of recognition to get someone to go down the path, I’m not bothered by that. I’m actually willing to take the bet that once the person goes through the experience they may very likely recognize it value beyond the recognition — eventually.

    For myself, as an entertainer, I love what I do and do these things with and without an audience. When I have an audience I hope to give them a sense of awe and to inspire them — if making records attempts does that, then I am all for it. Plus, it can often get me an underwriter for something I have been wanting for myself but couldn’t otherwise afford 😉

        Erik Sprague
        iam: The Lizardman
        web: www.thelizardman.com


  • 2003: The Lizardman’s Year in Review – Through the Modified Looking Glass

     

    title
    2003: The Lizardman’s Year in Review


    If you believe the past can’t be changed, you haven’t read a celebrity’s autobiography.

    Sam Ewing

     

    Hey! Here comes the bandwagon — let’s jump on and do a year in review piece!

    Actually I hopped on two years ago when I started doing these for my site: www.thelizardman.com. But now that I am primarily writing for BME, why not share the love?

    It’s a well documented fact that I am not a fan of the New Year revelry, resolutions, or other calendar related phenomena but I do think there is value in a regular accounting of the past; taking stock as it were.
    Also, it provides a good chance for historical summary and reference. As my art professors used to say, ‘Document! Document! Document!’ So, here it is for the events of 2003 — one more document.




    January
    20040101-jan

    The year began with an unusual busy streak for me. The holidays and then the remainder of winter don’t often result in many events that clamor for freaks. But come New Year I was on the cover of XBM and traveling a good part of the month. Before hitting the road I attended the Austin Tattoo Revival and finally met Larry the Leopard (who would take part in my Emos show and later put on a wrestling match with me).

    My first event for the year was AM-JAM. It was here that I met Spider Webb and got my X tattoo. After AM-JAM I returned to Austin to perform at Emos along with TSD and USS Friendship. From there it was on to the Super Bowl of Ink in Ohio. I wrapped up the month with an appearance at the Palace of Variety in Times Square, NYC.

    This was also the month when I wrote what became my BME guest column, About Records, that laid the foundation for my regular column Through the Modified Looking Glass.


    February
    20040101-feb

    This month began with some very good news as I was able to announce that I would be the MC for the 2003 Jagermeister Music Tour. From there it only got better as I went to the UK with Shannon, Marty, and Jill to spend a week with Patrick Bartholomew filming for the BME Movie.

    This was also the month that I appeared on the local FOX affiliate for a piece on tongue splitting. That small piece foreshadowed what would become the 2003 media frenzy on ‘the tongue splitting fad’ and resulting legislation attempts across the country.



    20040101-mar
    March

    Shortly after returning from the UK, I hit the road on the Jagermeister Music Tour.


    April
    20040101-apr

    Most of this month was spent on the road with Jagermeister. However, once the tour wrapped up, I dragged myself back to Austin for my pro-wrestling debut versus Larry the Leopard with special guest referee Joe Lifto (still waiting for an airdate). And, a small personal triumph, Lizardman merchandise went online.


    May

    This was the month of my life that was nearly stolen by one dumb legislator in Illinois. Most of my time and effort, and that of many other people familiar here on BME, was taken up by addressing, interviewing, and de-bunking for stories on tongue splitting. Personally, I had the pleasure (?) of debating the Illinois tongue splitting ban author (David Miller) on a couple of occasions. The man makes Diamond Joe Quimby (from The Simpsons) look like an upstanding, well-informed public servant.

    May also saw the debut of my regular BME column — addressing, of course, tongue splitting legislation.

    When not pre-occupied by tongue splitting I developed a new act: The Blockhead Blowgun. A historical first, I managed to accurately shoot darts out of my nose.


    June
    20040101-jun

    Highs and Lows.

    I celebrated my 31st birthday this month. For the third consecutive year I appeared for Sobe at the KROQ Weenie Roast in LA and made my live Canadian debut at a press conference for Klondike Days in Edmonton.

    Dervish passed away.

    This was also the month that I made my IAM page my primary online journal. And perhaps in a reactionary move from the previous month’s activities or the Texas legislature introduction of tongue splitting specific codes; I used a scalpel to cut my tongue split a bit deeper.


    July
    20040101-jul

    What a wonderful month.

    We got a new addition: Ginsu. I spent over a week in Puerto Rico, followed by a week in Edmonton. I finally got my feet tattooed.


    August

    20040101-aug

    I was honored this month — twice.

    First, I got to take part in the Mayhem 8 man mobile crane suspension. Suspension is a lot more engineering than many people realize; it is understandably easy to focus on the physical when you see hooks through skin. This creation was a triumph and I was lucky enough to get to go along on the ride.

    Second, I once again attended and got to be a featured a performer at the 2nd Annual Sideshow Gathering. This event is amazing not only for who is there and the content of their shows, but simply for existing. Franco and his crew work tirelessly to make it happen and bring everyone in. I received a standing ovation that still chokes me up a bit when I think about it.


    September

    Went to Cleveland for the Gravity Games to make an appearance for Sobe. Otherwise it was a slow month.


    October
    20040101-oct

    For the third year running I returned to Orlando to be part of Universal Studios Halloween Horror Nights. On the way from Austin to Orlando, I stopped off in New Orleans to meet Harry Anderson and check out his new store space; Sideshow.


    November
    20040101-nov

    The Universal Studios gig lasted into the first week of November and was shortly followed by the 2nd Annual Pen-NY Body Arts Festival.

    After 7 weeks on the road I returned to Austin. But, one week after getting home I was off again. Meghan and I went to Vegas on a week’s vacation and while we were there we got married! And, when we got back we got ourselves a wedding present: Houdini.


    December

    I’m still working on figuring out why Xmas doesn’t equal sideshow in more people’s minds (a fat man and elves — sounds like freaks to me) but it was nice to relax more or less with my new wife. I did spend a good chunk of time this month working sorting out copyright settlements and chasing down people who were inappropriately using my image. My parents visited Texas for the first time and came to see us and the ferrets for Xmas. A pleasant end to a very pleasant year.


    2004 plans?

    Well, I have big hopes and plans for myself and my show for the coming year. As for this column, there are a number of interviews coming and I am currently researching and working on some historical and opinion pieces regarding the connection between history of body modification and the sideshow. As long you are reading, I will be rambling…

     


     

    sigErik Spragueheadshot

     

    because the world NEEDS freaks…

    Former doctoral candidate and philosophy degree holder Erik Sprague, the Lizardman (iam), is known around the world for his amazing transformation from man to lizard as well as his modern sideshow performance art. Need I say more?

    Copyright © 2003 BMEzine.com LLC. Requests to republish must be confirmed in writing. For bibliographical purposes this article was first published January 1st, 2003 by BMEzine.com LLC in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

     


     

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