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.