It Helps Keep Me Sober

Jay Haizlip: I wouldn’t show up to do things I had been hired to do—whether it was film for a video or do an ad for a magazine or something.

Myke Chambers: Long story short, I didn't want to go to prison, so I packed a backpack and hit the rails.

Haizlip: So, they sent the production company to go find somebody.

Chambers: The rest is history.

Haizlip: Yes. It plants a seed, waters a seed, and we’ll trust God to give the increase.

•••

Chambers: There I continued to tattoo with hand-wrapped coil machines, using my clock radio as a power supply, and hand sharpened needles.

Haizlip: Well, it wasn’t directly connected to the fame.

Chambers: Well, it helps keep me sober, for one.

Haizlip: I could keep a good front.

Chambers: Like when everyone went from 35mm film to digital for taking tattoo photos.

•••

Haizlip: But, like a lot of people from that generation, a lot of them went on to be super successful.

Chambers: Luckily, they turned out to be awesome, and now that’s all I use.

Haizlip: It’s making a huge impact. None of it really worked for me.

•••

Chambers: I know it sounds lame and totally un-punk rock of me, but learn to love.

Haizlip: And, when I realized what I was doing, and I didn’t know how to quit, I just really broke.