Tattoo Talk: Red Sun Rising Members Discuss Their First, Fave, Most Painful and Meaningful Ink

Released on August 5th, 2015 via Razor & Tie, Polyester Zeal (buy it here) is an awesome, 11-track album courtesy of Akron, Ohio-based rock quintet, Red Sun Rising. Currently touring across the U.S. in promotion of the new tunes, we caught via email with Mike Protich (vocals, guitar) and Dave McGarry (guitar) to talk tattoos! Check what they had to say about some of their fave ink.

When, where and what was your first tattoo?
McGarry: I was 15 years old and my uncle gave me my first tattoo of a Phantom of the Opera mask, upstairs in an attic – I thought I was the shit in high school.

Do any of your tattoos have a particularly special meaning behind them? If so, do share man!
McGarry: I have an Angel on the inside of my bicep, it’s a tribute to my Grandma Jo. She passed away and I got it soon after. I always bought her angel trinkets for her birthday and every holiday, so it has a special meaning to me.

Do you have a specific shop or artist that you frequent (insert shameless plug time!)?
Protich: I always went to a guy named Trevor Moment. I was going to Kent State at the time and my buddy recommended him. It was close. I loved his work and still to this day get complimented on the line work. He’s done my entire right arm sleeve and my chest script.

Do you have any new tattoos planned or underway? Give us the dirt, dude!
Protich: Always scheming. The older I get I talk myself in and out of tattoos. When I was in my teens it I was looking for reasons to get a tattoo. I do have some amazing photographs of my grandparents when they were young I wouldn’t mind doing something artsy with.

Have you seen any fans with a band tattoo, anything crazy memorable?
Protich: It amazes me every time. Especially lyric tattoos. We know what our lyrics mean to us, but we love hearing what it means to someone else. That’s the beauty of art. It can mean something different for everyone.

Have any tattoos that were painful. Like made you cry, see white light, and regret being born?
McGarry: The elbow and near the armpit were pretty intense. I felt a shock all the way to my nipple, so weird. Nothing I couldn’t handle, more of annoying pain like being stung by a bee a thousand times.

Check out the song “Emotionless”