Last week, an editorial team shooting photos for a book featuring people all over the world who have the iconic "Bars" from the 80's hardcore band Black Flag (Barred For Life) stopped in AZ to take some photos at a show. I posted the press release on AZPunk.com, and it sparked a spontaneous tattoo idea for me.

Author Stewart Ebersole explains in the press release that, "The band's logo, four staggered, parallel rectangles known simply as "The Bars", is one of the most enduring and vivid symbols of youth subculture." A subculture that I have personally devoted over 17 years of blood, sweat and tears to. A subculture that flourished in my mind, heart and principals since the day I picked up a pair of drumsticks.

Instead of the actual logo's four black bars, I decided to use the actual two sets of drumsticks that represented the very beginning of my love for American punk rock and hardcore; my black graphite drumsticks and quad mallets I used all throughout my high school band career.

I started playing drums in 5th grade, but didn't actually fully develop as a drummer until my exposure to high school band life. High school is where I spent four years a not just a member of the jazz, marching, and concert band ensembles, but lead Central High School's marching band as the Drum line Captain from 93-96. The more time I spent learning the disciplines of being the rhythm portion of these huge ensembles, equaled the ferocity of the storm that blasted through every muscle as I learned to play along with bands like Dead Kennedys, Rage Against The Machine, and Bad Religion in my own spare time. Much to my mother's dismay, the aggressive punk rock seed had been planted, and there was no way it was going to die.

23 years from picking up that first pair of drumsticks, 17 years of punk debauchery, 5 punk bands and almost 8 years of AZPunk.com later, this was one tattoo that just had to be done. Although I didn't end up participating in the Barred For Life photo shoot or going to the show, that wasn't too important to me. This was: