It had been a few years since Punk Globe last interviewed Louie Perez...Knowing that he is an in demand Tattoo Artist I decided to ask him for an interview... We were close pals when our bands played shows together . I sure hope that you enjoy my interview and if you you are in the mood for some fresh ink Louie is the best....
Punk Globe: Thanks for the interview Louie. It has been awhile since our last interview. How is Covid 19 affecting the tatoo business?
Louie: Hello! I think it has almost been a decade since we last spoke! As for Myself ,(as I would like to assume the rest of the world) I am just waiting patiently for everything to be safe enough ,so we can open our doors to the public to do business again. Until then , it’s a game of survival, doing what we can to keep the bills paid. In the next couple of months, I think we will finally see things halfway normal , but this last year has all been a dreamcrusher unilaterally to say the least.
Punk Globe: When things were normal and we were in touch you mainly worked at The Shamrock. I understand that you now own your own shop. Tell us about the shop?
Louie: Yes! Two decades tattooing and I finally have my own spot! After 9 years of loyal service to Hollywood, I was given the opportunity to simplify my life,and daily commute by owning my own shop in Fullerton . It is minutes from my house and I get work with great people like my former apprentice Christina Harris Tran , Samuel Benitez, and Kirk Fagan. All amazing artists you should check out .The shop is called Tip Top Tattoo. We are right in the heart of Downtown Fullerton.
I will always cherish the friendships, and valuable lessons I learned in the decade I spent tattooing in Hollywood. Greatfully I still talk to my friends all of the time. When you spend that amount of hours together, you start to feel like “war buddies”...
Punk Globe: Let's really go back in time when you were at a place north of ChinaTown. Wherever it was it was hell to find... You have done so well for yourself. Was it hard to find your fit at a better place with more traffic?
Louie: I will always appreciate cutting my teeth in Echo Park, Silver Lake and Venice in the early days of my career. Yeah that was at least 2001-2? After 20 plus years of tattooing, I don’t take my trade for granted. I have been so fortunate to have people that have followed me wherever I go. I am so thankful for them. I started as a street shop tattooer and it is definitely in my blood. It’s ironic that it took a pandemic for me to feel ok with booking myself months out in advance ,but with no music gigs in sight, it felt safe. We definitely have a nice location in Downtown Fullerton with plenty of foot traffic. I could not ask for a better situation when the world is almost normal again...
Punk Globe: You also do work overseas. Tell us more about that?
Louie: I have done alot of world traveling, but I definitely got very busy the last 6-7 years just working in So Cal between Hollywood and Fullerton with only random excursions to Europe ect.. I did get a chance to work at the International Tattoo Museum in Amsterdam when it was there and that was fucking awesome!! In the coming years ,I plan on taking up my friends on the open invitations to go back to so many amazing countries more often then I did in the last 9 years. Dublin, Amsterdam, Edinburgh,and Tokyo are first on my list.
Punk Globe: Your artwork has gotten so fucking amazing tell us about some of your favorite work you have done thus far?
Louie: Thank you! I really try to push myself daily.I am my own worst critic . I will always want to be better than I was yesterday. I suffer from the fear of one day becoming comfortably accomplished , surrounded by “yes men” . Although it seems like a quality problem, you stop learning, and for me , the art comes first. Prestige can delude the experience sometimes. Mainly because it feels great on the surface. I like to limit the dosage of that stuff nowadays .I am humbled by the accolades I have received already, and I have barely gotten to where I feel proficient at the styles I enjoy doing. So I would have to say everyday above ground,working with a client that trusts me to tattoo them is the best gift I could have. So I really can’t play favorites when it comes down to it.
Punk Globe: Tell us about your new bands?
Louie: Currently I am in three bands.
It started with LPIII and The Tragedy, I sing and play guitar in it ,which is a rootsy, cowpunky project we started about 6 years ago. Its with my cousin Ruby Rosas, Carlos Guzman, and Eric Fuller. We have had the opportunity to tour with X, and have another record in the works.
I also sing in Manic Hispanic which I joined in 2018 and we have a record that will be out in May of 2021
My newest group is The Vulturas in which I also sing. We just finished our second record ,and can’t wait to talk more about the details soon. We had just wrapped up a tour with Old Firm Casuals and Charger before the shutdown . Our last show was with the Adolescents the week everything stopped. We went out with a bang at least , but we are definitely itching to show everyone what we have up our sleeves this time...
Punk Globe: I know this pandemic has put a stop to live shows and many clubs are just closing down. Do you have any thoughts on that?
Louie: This has all been so taxing on everyone.
Mentally and financially .It has been excruciating for musicians, fans and business owners alike to have been deprived of that creative release. Not to mention a means to survive with very little aid from the powers that be. This shit seems to happen about every 100 years no matter what your opinion is on it.The history is there so it makes sense. It’s been a while since civilization has seen a time like this so I guess we were due for an overhaul .I would like to see the death rates decrease. I would also like to see people have a reason to be happy again. With that said, I hope we can all make it to the finish line because, I know how amped everyone is going to be when we get a real greenlight to start having fun again. I mean, it doesn’t take a scientist to predict that every gig is gonna be packed to the gills with people who are dying to see some live music again. I really try to just focus on that ,and it tends to get me through the waiting period. It is really all we have at the moment.
Punk Globe: Have you been recording or doing any videos?
A song By Manic Hispanic that Louie sings on
Louie: Manic Hispanc shot a Video
And the Vulturas have finished a record. I am looking forward to getting that stuff out soon.
Punk Globe: I was looking for the Los Villains video where you are skating and take a fall .. I can not find it on You Tube anywhere . Any idea what happened to it?
Louie: I don’t know? It must be lost in the internet fog, I kinda like that it’s only a memory now ... Now its urban legend...
Punk Globe: Los Villains are on Instagram. Is the band back together? We played that off the wall show in Oakland... You guys ruled
Louie: It was all fun... Its was great to have Instagram to keep history alive. We noticed some band on the east coast trying to use the name Los Villains so we decided to set the record straight and let history dictate. We still talk all the time. That was a wild era,and such a strong unit of true friends! We aren’t planning on reuniting , but as I have seen in the past, ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE.
Punk Globe: Thoughts on all the shit the tangerine terrorist is causing?
Louie: Where do I begin.. I have lineage of immigrants on both sides.
I grew up on a steady diet of punk and activism. I have never particularly been trusting of most politicians, and I would say that I have never seen a more devisive, contradictory, unorganized , and more opportunistic administration in my lifetime at least. People can call it what they want, but instigating social unrest is hard to deny,but don’t worry most people have done a great job of it. The sad part is that disenfranchised people will continue to convince themselves that these rich businessmen and politicians are going to consider our well being - it’s a lie.It disappointments me to see people so sure of these prescribed convictions . The one truth I know is that Trump should and can go fuck himself back into the hole he crawled out of...
Punk Globe: Any Internet addresses you would like to share with the readers?
Yeah hers IGs of everything I talked about:
Louie: https://instagram.com/louie_perez_3?igshid=4x01b2z383tv
https://instagram.com/tiptoptattooparlor?igshid=nuaff6li7y8l
https://instagram.com/lp3andthetragedy?igshid=12jhme5w6e9hq
https://instagram.com/grupomanichispanic?igshid=118y9rlbhae3m
https://instagram.com/thevulturas?igshid=1lyrzsdhednew
https://instagram.com/losvillains99?igshid=typ1wg0l43ys
Punk Globe: Describe yourself in three words?
Louie: “ NEVER GIVE UP ! ”
Punk Globe: Any final words for Punk Globe readers
Louie: Thank you Ginger.. YES!! Follow you heart! Don’t let these fuckers break your will!! Hang in there! I am rooting for you! Quit your job , start a band, do the thing everyone said was a waist of time! Live free as long as you are not hurting others. It’s ok to make mistakes. Fail forward! No one dictates your destiny but you! The time is now, Tomarrow is not promised!!! I believe in you!! Make me proud!!!!!
Photo Credits: Albert Licano(The Vulturas Alexs Bar) and Robert Ortiz(Manic Hispanic Alexs Bar)