KVD looking H-O-T on the cover of our print edition. On streets now!
(Credit: Carlos Rios)
A bona fide metal-head, Von D cites bands like Slayer and Turbonegro among her favorites and appears in the video for “Killing Loneliness” by Finnish post-metallists HIM, but also geeks out over late Mexican pop legend Selena. Still, none of the above come close to the sonic love she has for...Beethoven? If you’re lucky enough to get a glimpse, she has a huge portrait of the composer on her upper thigh. To say the woman has range would be an understatement.
Not surprisingly, Von D’s La Brea tattoo shop, High Voltage, has become a rock ’n’ roll tourist attraction. You can usually find at least a handful of fans hanging out front, lining up to purchase posters, T-shirts, wall calendars and even Kat Von D bandanas like they’re at a concert.
“We’re literally a stop on a Hollywood bus tour now,” she laughs between drags on a cigarette. “It makes it difficult to work in the shop sometimes, because I want to give every client all of my attention. I also want to be as accessible as possible though. No one should ever feel intimidated about saying hi to me.”
Commercial success, however hasn’t diluted her creative focus. Von D is a natural artist—just watching her sketch is impressive—and securing a session with her is not easy. Potential clients can attempt to get inked by her on the show via TLC if their story is good enough. Otherwise, there’s a perpetually growing wait list on her website. She did take her art to the masses recently, in a much-publicized spectacle tattooing 400 people who lined up around the block to get her “L.A. Ink” logo marked somewhere on their bodies. Von D set the world record for most tattoos done in a 24-hour period.
The ink-slinging superstar’s shrewd business acumen and love of big rock riffs now finds her pulling together the first MusInk Tattoo and Music Festival, happening at the OC Fairgrounds this weekend. This two-headed-beast of a festival will feature more than 200 of the world’s finest tattoo artists, such as Kore Flatmo, Horetaka and Megan Hoogland. The musical lineup includes headliners Tiger Army, the Used and L.A. party posse Metal Skool, and a variety of tattoo contests will be judged over the three days. Von D and the entire “L.A. Ink” crew will also be filming the rock ’n’ ink circus for the show’s season finale.
Here's a look at some of the featured acts:
Tiger Army
Looks like: ’50s greasers after a Hot Topic shopping spree
Sounds like: The Smiths gone punkabilly
Tattoo cred: 100% Forget counting MySpace friends. Fans of these Berkeley, CA, natives are so hardcore that more of them than we’re comfortable with sport Tiger Army tattoos. On the band’s website, fan ink is divided into four separate categories, not including the members themselves. Can your band say that?
The Used
Looks like: The pervy stoners from your suburban neighborhood that everyone’s sister (and ex-girlfriend) hooked up with.
Sounds like: Arena-ready emo. Aremo?
Tattoo cred: 98.9% While the whole band sports an array of ink, bass player Jeph Howard boasts an awesome dagger that runs the length of his knuckles when he clasps both hands together. True tat fans will want to see this one.
Fireball Ministry
Looks like: Beavis and Butthead grown up with two hot rocker chicks
Sounds like: Heavy effing metal
Tattoo Cred: 91.1% Kat Von D counts them among her favorite bands, and has even tattooed members of the group. Rawk!
Metal Skool
Looks like: Those really embarrassing pictures of your mom she pulls out from “the Mick Mars years” after too many glasses of Chardonnay.
Sounds like: The cast of VH-1’s “Rock of Love” on a coke bender
Tattoo cred: 69% Only drummer Stix Zadinia rocks an abundance of ink, but that’s cool. These dudes always party like it’s 1987, and that’s what we’re talking about, and we’re pretty sure they’re cool with their pecentage rating anyway.
Scott T. Sterling is Music Editor for Metromix Los Angeles.
