Simon Erl Interview

We have had this in the pipeline for a few months now, and finally weve got our act together to post this up.

this is something i have been waiting a few years to do, and im really happy that simon took the time out to help us out and give us a great interview,

Many people know who you are, but for the people who don't could you please introduce yourself?

My name is Simon Erl, I do tattoos, eat vegan food and worship Satan.

Can we get the boring questions out of the way first? What first attracted you to tattooing?

I've always loved tattoos as a child. I was intrigued and attracted to them. Later I got into punk and hardcore in the mid '90s so that's when I specifically encountered good traditional tattoos. From doing artwork for bands and finally being old enough to get tattooed myself I knew it was something I wanted to get into.

Since you started tattooing you must of seen allot of trends come and go?
What have been some of the worst and best?
With anything if you follow it long enough you will see all sorts of trends and cycles come and go. I think my least favourite was when kids were getting really negative stuff tattooed. Severed girls heads or girls crying blood and whatever. I'm guilty of drawing things like that in the past too but now I hate that stuff it's too negative and almost massoganistic.  I like nice things these days, a tattoo should be an adornment on the body. Also the blind use of satanic and black magic symbols is out of control at the moment.
As for good trends I'm very much liking the influx of old timey looking stuff recently, the 1920's potato famine sign board looking stuff, it looks classic and isn't too polished, I think it's classy.

Anyone who has seen your work knows your influenced by dark subjects like the occult, satanism and Nazism, what got you into this subject and whats your fascination with it?
What I'm into in my personal life very much shines through in what I draw. I like cults, covens, guilds, gangs, etc because I appreciate any social structure in which a group of people live by their own set of rules and laws outside and above of the ones enforced on us by the government.
I like satanism not only on a spiritual level but aesthetically too, I guess that's pretty plain to see.
As for Nazis and fascism I have no time or interest in it any further than the haircuts. I'll draw a swastika with a much thought and meaning as a school boy draws a cock and balls on the toilet wall. It's a common, and I guess partly self inflicted, misconception that I'm into Nazism. I abhor racism and right wing politics whole heatedly. The late trend of getting SS girls or Nazi insignias tattooed was a huge mistake. 

I heard your really into your music as well, what kind of stuff are you into?

I love what I like and I hate what I don't like.

Your a collector of vinyl and memorabilia aren't you? Tell us some of your precised pieces.?

This is a mean question. It's like asking a mother which of her children are her favourite.

Apart from tattooing, the film and music you like does it influence your day to day life and art or is it more of an escape?

I try to live my life so I don't need an escape from it. I'd hate to be stuck in a life I don't like and constantly be in need of escaping it. My influences are my interests and the way I live.

You've travelled allot through tattooing, doing guest spots and conventions. Why did you choose London and the UK as your home?

It was a reaction to having grown up on a small island on the bottom of the world I guess. I wanted to travel Europe but the New Zealand dollar wasn't worth much anywhere else in the world so I thought I'd come to London to attain a few of the queens pounds to take me further. I just always ended up coming back here. I had a love/hate relationship with this city for the first few years but I've learnt to appreciate it's beauty and it's opportunities.

When travailing have you found it hard being away from family, friends and creature comforts?
Strangely enough I never found it hard. I have something strange and horrible in me that let's me pack my bags and leave all my friends and family and venture off alone with no remorse. It doesn't mean I don't care or love them, although it's difficult for me to convince them of this, it's just something I can do a little too easily. Perhaps it's my mothers fault from when she decided to pack a one year is chubby simon into a pappoose and travel the world alone. As for comforts, I've been on the road in the worst conditions, slept under bridges, in cardboard boxes in the rain, no money or food and then the next day been hanging out in a mansion with a pool and tennis court and eating a variety of vegan caviar. Being on the road is a strange thing.

Holy Terror and the process church is something i know your really to. Is religion a big thing in your life?

The process church fascinates me. My beliefs don't coincide with what they preach but I'm intrigued by their views on good and evil and even more so by  their aesthetics.
Another common misconception about me is that I'm anti Christian or anti religious. I see religion in is powered sense as a positive thing. It's only when the government or state become involved in it that it turns into an ugly beast.

What could we find you doing when your not tattooing?

Sleeping, eating, painting and dreaming about riding my motorcycle.

Is there any other art forms you like to practice in?

I've been meaning to start oil painting but I just don't seem to find the time. I also plan on going to film school in a few years to release two films before I die.
Fanzig are fans of the cinema. what films when you were younger got you into the morbid side of life?
Well to be honest I was never raised on television or films. My mother always encouraged me to play outside or read books. We never had a TV in the house. So I can't blame what you call my interest on the morbidity of life on television. Let's blame Lord Henry Wotton.

Has there been any artists, films, records, books or anything else you've came across recently that you have fallen in love with?

I stumbled across a kid from up north called Liam Barrett. He does some great stuff, not what I'm usually into but defiantly worth checking out. I haven't seen a good new film in a while, Valhalla rising took me by surprise. La bas by Huysmans is a great novel and the best new record I got recently was the King Dude 7" black triangle.

I know your into some low key stuff, like films like Simon King Of The Withes and bands like Electric Wizard, how do you find out about these great things?

Ha ha both these things aren't that hard to come across. Electric wizard is one of the heaviest bands on earth and Simon King of Witches is a classic.

Where do you think tattooing is at the moment? do you feel its a relaxed thing or still a taboo?

I think it's dangerously close to being extremely mainstream and watered down.
Is there something you have been tattooing allot recently that you've loved doing?

Due to having been on the road for such along time I've only been doing one hit tattoos but being at Jayne Doe permanently has given me the opportunity to do bigger projects which I'm enjoying greatly.
Do you feel your constantly processing with your work?

Unfortunately not, sometimes I see a clear progression and other times I feel like I'm stuck doing the same bullshit mistakes over and over and it makes me want to pack up and disappear into the desert on my motorcycle. But I guess its important in tattooing to be very self critical.

What would be your "perfect" tattoo?

One that makes my customer happy.

If someone wanted to get tattooed by how would they go about it??

Contact me on any of the social networking pages, call the shop, or just pop in and say 'ello.

Any last shout outs?

Thanks to Marv, fingers and Matty for having put me on track with tattooing whenever I've been close to derailing on it. Jayne Doe!
Big shout out to the Esoteric Gents, the Broken Barons and the Pale Riders.