Tattoo Tuesday: Matt Burke

This week’s Tattoo Tuesday features my good friend Matt Burke, a Florida based photographer who has an extensive list of awesome bands he has shot during his concert photography career. His repertoire includes punk rock kings, blink-182, his friends in Go Radio and Mayday Parade, and the always amazing Radiohead.

Matt Burke is all about tattoos!

Covered in tattoos, Matt is no stranger to the art form and has a good amount to share with us. I was able to ask him a few questions on tattoo culture, the music industry, and his personal experience with his tattoos.

I first asked Matt about the limitations he might face in every day life due to his tattoos. I definitely feel like I used to be a bit limited, but as with everything else, I’ve been able to adapt. I do put forth a bit more effort than the ‘average looking’ person in terms of just general common courtesy in order to kinda counterbalance my look. Trust me ladies and gents, Matt will probably be one of the nicest and humble people you will ever meet.

Matt has a 3-year-old daughter, Bailey. I asked how her reactions to her daddy’s tattoos. Since Bailey has been born I have only gotten 2 or 3 tattoos, so she has always known me as a heavily tattooed dude, so it’s totally normal for her. She has overheard people out in public make negative comments about them and she always looks at me and says ‘I love your tattoos daddy’, so it seems she’s pretty stoked on them!

I moved away from the more serious topics with Matt and asked his thoughts on tattoo culture.

When asking what was the worst spot to get a tattoo from personal experience, he told me that… as far as pain, I would say the stomach, palm or jaw line. All of those were absolutely brutal to me. Ouch.

Seeing that some people’s tattoos could be absolutely horrendous, I asked if he had ever seen some body art that he wasn’t exactly impressed with, to put it in the nicest way possible. WAY TOO MANY! So many people these days are in an imaginary contest with their peer group to see who can get the most tattooed the fastest. I see all these fresh outta high school kids with their hands/necks/faces tattooed and I just sit there and scratch my head. You have no skills, no life experience, no career, and you’re tattooing areas of your body that are still in no way socially acceptable. To each their own, but don’t come crying to me when you realize ya goofed. Agreed!

Matt recently opened up a photo studio in Tallahassee, check out his work at mattburkephoto.com and follow him on Twitter (@mattburkephoto) to keep up to date with his life!

Be sure to check back next Tuesday to see part two of my segment with Matt Burke where we’ll be talking about his personal tattoos and the music industry!

Cathy is our residential Canadian writer at MusicSkins. Currently enrolled at Concordia University, she’s underway to getting her degree in Communications Studies. A huge pop punk fan, Cathy revolves her work around music. Check out her interviews and photos, and find her on Twitter… if you can.