Tattoo Talk: REAL SICKIES’ Todd Rocket Talks About His Set of Classic Tattoos, Including His Star Wars-Inspired Ink

The pitch with this band is simple; anyone down with the punky sounds of old school rock innovators Ramones or Teenage Head are going to lap up what Edmonton, Alberta’s Real Sickies are peddling. Just recently signed to Stomp Records, the group just released their sophomore record Out of Space on August 30th, an album filled to the brim with infectious pop punk contagion. (Order it now via Stomp Records or Bandcamp.)

Getting their start five years ago, Real Sickies (a perfect name for a punk band one might we say) formed with the objective to spread their sounds to all corners of the world, and beyond. What followed was a steady stream of demos and EPs which established them as a local draw on the live touring circuit. Shows with Stiff Little Fingers, Subhumans, The Real McKenzies, Guida, Mean Jeans, The Jolts, and more, expanded their appeal to new audiences. However, the momentum was only short-lived and some adversity arose, including lead singer Ben Disaster falling ill and requiring spinal surgery, not to mention a couple of band member departures.

Not ones to succumb to adversity, once Ben recovered, Real Sickies released their debut record Get Well Soon and toured endlessly behind it. Capitalizing on that success, they just released their sophomore album, Out of Space, a thirteen-song barrage of infectious pop-punk bliss which was recorded with Rob Lawless at Edmonton’s The Physics Lab. Somehow, in roughly just 30 minutes of music, the band deliver plenty of sing-along choruses, blazing downstroke riffs, and more than enough “whoah” moments. Like many punk bands, the members of Real Sickies are huge fans of tattoos, particularly Todd Rocket who dishes on his first Star Wars-related tattoo, the tattoo he gave to Ben Disaster, and more.

Check out Real Sickies’ recent and mad fun video for the single “Forgot To Let Go:”

When, where and what was your first tattoo?

Todd Rocket: “A Star Wars storm trooper helmet, on the forearm at Shambhala Tattoo in Edmonton, Alberta.”

Do you have a specific shop or artist that you frequent (insert shameless plug time!)?

Rocket: “All the artists at Liz Venom’s Bombshell Tattoo in Edmonton.”

Do you have any new tattoos planned or underway? Give us the dirt, dude!

Rocket: “Yes, but they are all top secret…for now.”

Have you seen any fans with a band tattoo, anything crazy memorable?

Rocket: “I tattooed a Wednesday Night Heroes t-shirt design on (singer) Ben Disaster in his bedroom.”

Some exclusive shots of Todd Rocket’s tattoos:

We know you have one… tell us about that stoned/drunken joke-tattoo you once got….

Rocket: “‘Cheers to evil’ with a haunted house, bats, spooky things on my inner calf. I was drunk and stoned and decided I wanted to learn how to tattoo, so tried on myself.”

Do you have any tattoos that you now hate, want to replace, or have covered up, and why?

Rocket: “I covered up my Star Wars stormtrooper helmet with a spider…. it was my first and just looked out of place so I had it covered up.”

Have any tattoos that were painful. Like made you cry, see white light, and regret being born?

Rocket: “Bottom of my wrist… that shit hurts like hell!”

If you HAD to get someone’s face tattooed on you, whose would it be and why?

Rocket: “Not into getting portraits, but if I had to it would be Lemmyfrom Motorhead for religious reasons.”

Check out the official music video for “Go Away,” off of Get Well Soon:

Upcoming Tour Dates:

09/17 – Saskatoon, SK – Black Cat Tavern
09/18 – Regina, SK – Exchange
09/19 – Winnipeg, MB – Windsor Hotel
09/20 – Thunder Bay, ON – Apollo
09/21 – Sudbury, ON – Asylum
09/23 – London, ON – Grooves Record Store
09/24 – Hamilton, ON – This Ain’t Hollywood
09/25 – Ottawa, ON – Dominion tavern
09/26 – Montreal, QC – Turbo Haus
09/27 – Oshawa, ON – Diezel Room
09/28 – Toronto, ON – Bovine Sex Club
09/29 – Windsor, ON – Phog Lounge
10/01 – Kenora, BC – Bobs Burger
10/02 – Winnipeg, MB – Into the Music Record Store
10/04 – Calgary, AB – Broken City
10/05 – Edmonton, AB – Temple
10/19 – Vancouver, BC – SBC

Out Of Space was released on August 30th, 2019, via Stomp Records. Check the artwork here: