Scanned from original 3×5″ prints, these photos are circa 1970s.
Dr. John was a client of Ed Hardy’s who had a full body squid tattoo. It was always so iconic to me, seeing this giant cohesive piece that was years ahead of the curve. Photos of this client were used on the cover of Albert Morse’s THE TATTOOISTS.
Occult Vibrations 
Seriously bad ass. Definitely years ahead of the curve. Stuff like this makes me sad when I think of all the idiots wearing Hardy gear, that have no clue about his genius.
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Thems proper squid pants son !
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This is the tattoo that graces the cover of the late great Albert Morse’s 1977 book “The Tattooists”. An amazing piece by one of tattooing’s greatest!!
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The subject was Andrew John Lemes III, and while Hardy did great work, Lemes was a nutcase. He pretty much turned the entire industry at that time against him due to the radical, unsafe practices he advocated. He also wound up badmouthing most of the industry leaders of that time, including Hardy.
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