Tattoo Talk: Blackfoot Founder and Lynyrd Skynyrd Guitarist Rickey Medlock Discusses His Awesome Native American-Themed Ink

Blackfoot, the Southern American rock band who were originally formed in 1970’s by current lead guitarist of Lynyrd Skynyrd, Rickey Medlock, released their latest collection of hard rocking songs, Southern Native, on Aug 5th, 2016 via Loud & Proud Records (purchase yours here). Afforded some time via email with Medlock, we decided to flip him our Tattoo Talk segment to get the deets behind some of his incredible Native American-themed ink!

When, where and what was your first tattoo?
Medlock: Got my first tattoo in New Jersey around 1975. I still have it, and it is right underneath the one of Crazy Horse that I have on my upper left arm. In the background is the Black Hills with a banner that says “Crazy Horse”.

Do any of your tattoos have a particularly special meaning behind them? If so, do share man!
Medlock: They all have special meaning being that a great part of my blood is Native. I decided early on in getting tattoos that I was gonna make sure that they all had a meaning and purpose and just not some random thing that I might later in life be upset or disappointed in. To this day I love them all and as a matter of fact I still have some to yet get!

Do you have a specific shop or artist that you frequent (insert shameless plug time!)?
Medlock: As of lately, I have pretty well much three artists that I only go to. The first is the great Mark Mahoney @Shamrock Social Club in Hollywood, CA, he is the guru of tattoo guys that has been around for quite a long time and very well respected. The next is Jay Quarles in Nashville, TN @Black 13 Tattoo Parlor, and last but NOT least, Anson Eason @Forever Tattoo in Cape Coral, FL.

Do you have any new tattoos planned or underway? Give us the dirt, dude!
Medlock: I will see Mark Mahoney coming up in August for some new ink work! Can’t divulge where or what, but I know Mark and it will be awesome. His A list of people that he has worked on is out of control and over the top!!!

Have you seen any fans with a band tattoo, anything crazy memorable?
Medlock: We have seen a lot of fans with Lynyrd Skynyrd tattoos, some have Freebird, some have Simple Man, etc… But the craziest thing is when you sign your name on someone’s arm or shoulder and you come back to that area where they live and they show up at a show and see that they have done that. It is so wild, but I guess I should say I feel honored.

We know you have one… tell us about that stoned/drunken joke-tattoo you once got….
Medlock: Bahahahahaaaa, hate to disappoint you, but, I have no tatt that I got under those conditions!!! I have always been in control when getting ink work!

Do you have any tattoos that you now hate, want to replace, or have covered up, and why?
Medlock: No, not at all. I have had some touched up that were beginning to fade after what, twenty years, so I got them redone as they once were, but that is about all.

Have you had anything covered up? If yes, what was it and why… we need details!
Medlock: Nope, no cover-ups!!!

Have any tattoos that were painful. Like made you cry, see white light, and regret being born?
Medlock: I can pretty much tolerate pain, but I will say that the one on my back and around my elbow made me want to start back drinking again!!! LOL!

If you HAD to get someone’s face tattooed on you, who’s would it be and why?
Medlock: I have quite a lot of portraits of Native Chiefs on my right now, all being of heritage. But if I had to make a choice of a family member or close person, that would be a difficult decision since there have been and as of now, very important people in my life that has had to do with my personal being and musical life!

Check out the song “Southern Native”