Tattoo Talk: Culture Killer Guitarist Collin Townsend Discusses His First Tattoo and Meaning Behind Some of His Ink

Daytona Beach, FL-based 5-piece metal band, Culture Killer, signed to Metal Blade Records in mid-2015 and, on November 27, 2015, are set to release their debut full-length album, Throes of Mankind. Undeniably heavy, we’re going to be hearing and seeing a lot of things from this young group act in the near future so, recently, we checked in with guitarist Collin Townsend who was kind enough to talk tattoos with us!

When, where and what was your first tattoo?
Townsend: My first tattoo was the phrase “Break the Absolute.” I got it tattooed across my chest when I was 18 in a little shop called Funhouse Tattoos in Orlando. To me it simply means, “Do the Impossible, and break the paradigms of ‘the norm'”.

Do any of your tattoos have a particularly special meaning behind them? If so, do share man!
Townsend: All of my tattoos hold some sort of meaning to me. Though, the most relevant one for me at this time is the one on my right shin. It’s the skull of a lion biting down an a dagger which is breaking through the top of its skull. This represents my struggles with self destruction as a young adult. It’s like a reminder that we all have our issues, and it’s all we can do to see them for what they really are, accept them, and then take the steps necessary toward fixing them.

Do you have a specific shop or artist that you frequent (insert shameless plug time!)?
Townsend: I am currently looking for my “go-to guy.” I’m not completely covered in tattoos, and I haven’t quite found any one shop or person who I’d want to be my main artist. Maybe I never will. I like variety in art.

Do you have any new tattoos planned or underway? Give us the dirt, dude!
Townsend: I’m currently looking for the right person to finish my right arm. So far I’ve gone with imagery that means something to me on a deeper level. Ideologically, maybe even spiritually. I want to keep that theme and finish it out.

We know you have one… tell us about that stoned/drunken joke-tattoo you once got….
Townsend: I actually have never gotten a tattoo I didn’t heavily consider first. I’m sure there might be a couple down the road. Haha.

Do you have any tattoos that you now hate, want to replace, or have covered up, and why?
Townsend: Not really. I only have some pieces I wish that I wish I would have tied into a bigger design, but nothing I regret.

Check out song “Justice Through Retaliation” here.