Iron Maiden Tattoos in NYC and the world
Ever since I was a kid, I have loved heavy metal music. It was an escape from the economic hardship of growing up poor in Guatemala. Music was always my escape, and I fantasized like a little kid dreaming of becoming a superhero—becoming a guitar player in a heavy metal band.
When I was a kid, I can’t count the number of times I got in trouble for drawing Iron Maiden “Eddies” during class, especially because I was attending a Catholic school and had a scholarship, so I was always afraid of being expelled and not being able to afford a decent school. I was categorized as “satanic,” but from the moment I saw the artwork for The Number of the Beast, my life changed. I was so intrigued—what is this music record? The moment I listened to the intro by Barry Clayton saying:
“Woe to you, oh Earth and Sea,
For the Devil sends the beast with wrath,
Because he knows the time is short…”
and then those twin guitar riffs and Bruce Dickinson’s voice—I was hooked. From that moment, I decided this is my life, I want to be like them. I decided I wanted to get tattoos and have long hair, and so many of my life choices led me, by chance, to become the person I am today.
Little did I know that years later I would make a living by doing tattoos of the artwork of the band that changed my life. I have seen Iron Maiden over 20 times over the years, and it’s really nice to connect with other Maiden fanatics like me. When a client comes in for a consultation for a Maiden piece, it’s like I’m talking with an old friend. It seems like music attracts like-minded people. The way ideas flow is natural, and all the pieces come together because we already know everything about the subject matter.
These are just a few of my Maiden pieces. I will be adding more to this gallery as I go through my picture archives. I will be traveling to Frankfurt next week to start a new Maiden piece. If you want an Iron Maiden piece—whether in NYC, Spokane, WA, or anywhere in the world—consider collecting a piece by me, and we will blast Iron Maiden all day long and we will have so much fun.
Up the Irons.
Done in my Studio in NYC, the devil from Number of the Beast. two days later I went to the Great Frog and get another Maiden ring, Powerslave.
When you get a Maiden tattoo make sure you go with a person who loves the band as much as you do, this is my friend and client Ben and myself. we went to London to see the 50th anniversary tour - Run for your lives. it was one of the best concerts of my life!
