On Wednesday, January 13, Sailor Jerry Spiced Rum launched
its first podcast, hosted by Matt Caughthran, the lead singer for punk-rock
band The Bronx. The Sailor Jerry Podcast is
an effort to honor Norman Collins, who is also famously known as the father of
American old-school tattooing.
Norman Collins left home at a young age and spent time
hitchhiking and travelling the country. He picked up random jobs and spent
nights camping, which is when he began using a needle and ink to make stick and
poke tattoos. After a few years, Normal Collins landed in Chicago, where he
learned how to use his very first tattoo gun and decided he wanted to join the
Navy. In the Navy, he became fascinated with boats and ships and got his
nickname Sailor Jerry.
Back in the 1920s, tattooing was seen as American
counterculture and was very uncommon. However, soldiers and sailors got tattoos
as mementos of the places they visited, the people they met, and symbolism of
certain achievements. Some examples of common tattoos include anchors, sharks,
dragons, skulls, ships, hearts, and eagles. While it wasn't mainstream to give
or receive tattoos, Sailor Jerry pursued his passion and mastered the art of
tattooing. The podcast is dedicated to hosting different tattoo artists, chefs,
athletes, and musicians to tell their stories and inspire others.
The next episode of the podcast will be released on Thursday,
January 28, when Big
Freedia will be the featured guest. Big Freedia is famously known as
the Queen of Bounce music and has collaborated with famous artists such as Beyoncé
and Drake. In her featured episode, Big Freedia will discuss her Sailor Jerry
tattoos, her lively and enthusiastic energy in the studio, and her efforts to
try and give back to her fans.
The podcast will be available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and
Google Podcast. Go to buzzsprout.com
to stay up to date with The Sailor Jerry Podcast that will be posted bi-weekly.
For more information on Sailor Jerry and how to access the podcast, please visit sailorjerry.com
Photo by Allef Vinicius on Unsplash
