Tattoo Talk: The Bushwick Hotel front man Gregory Ferreira Talks Tebori Tats, Tarantulas, and Spirit Animals

Brooklyn, New York rockers, The Bushwick Hotel, released their stomping new 7-song album, Graffiti of the Young Man’s Mind, on November 19, 2013. Ever-since the band has been busting their asses to promote their new, dirty, blues-influenced recording. Check out the lead single and title track, “Graffiti of the Young Man’s Mind,” for an example of how banging this album is. Recently we spoke with the band’s heavily-tattooed front man, Gregory Ferreira, about all things ink.

When, where and what was your first tattoo?
Ferreira: About 1995, Bennie’s tattoos in New Hampshire. It was illegal to get Tattoos in my town, so I drove and hour and a half to go and get what end up being a green Virgin Mary on my right leg. She’s about 10 inches tall.

Do any of your tattoos have a particularly special meaning behind them? If so, do share man!
Ferreira: They all have meaning for me, in the themes and also the circumstances in which I acquired them. I like some tattoos that have some humor and some darkness in them. For instance, my “I’ll drink to that” tattoo on my left leg, is a blacked out pink elephant that was done by a guy in AA.

Do you have a specific shop or artist that you frequent (insert shameless plug time!)?
Ferreira: I cannot stress enough how much I love the people and the art of Eight of Swords in Brooklyn, and also Magic Cobra Tattoo Society. Sky Winchester did the bulk of my tattoos during the time we worked together in Boston, and still remains the most repeat offender on my epidermis. And for the special rare treat of Tebori (hand-done traditional Japanese tattoo), I go to Rueben “Horikei” Kayden of Boston, Massachusetts.

Do you have any new tattoos planned or underway? Give us the dirt dude!
Ferreira: I’ve been working on my head lately. Next up is a tarantula, right on the dome.

Have you seen any fans with a band tattoo, anything crazy memorable?
Ferreira: No, but one time I used to date a girl who would cut herself.

We know you have one… tell us about that stoned/drunken joke-tattoo you once got…
Ferreira: It is going to take a long time to talk about EVERY SINGLE tattoo that I have. They all fall under the stoned/drunk category.

Do you have any tattoos that you now hate, want to replace, or have covered up, and why?
Ferreira: I don’t have any that I hate, because usually that comes along with branding yourself a part of a group of some sort. My tattoos come from my imagination and my experiences, and although they might not all be beauty queens; they’re still all tens to me.

Have any tattoos that were painful. Like made you cry, see white light, and regret being born?
Ferreira: Getting my knee cap tattooed, made me question my faith.

If you HAD to get someone’s face tattooed on you, who’s would it be and why?
Ferreira: I already have someone’s face tattooed on me, my spirit animal, Serge Gainsbourg. He lives on my left thigh.

Check out the song “Graffiti of the Young Man’s Mind”