Tattoo Talk: The Fear Drummer Benj Ashmead Talks Styles, Motivation & Personal Sacrifices

Having wrapped up 2024 supporting Alien Ant Farm on their UK headline tour as well as releasing their fiery debut single “White Noise” (ft. Kellin Quinn), Manchester’s rock newcomers, The Fear, are back with their highly anticipated second single, “Satellite.” Co-produced by The Fear’s Benj Ashmead and David Radahd-Jones (Amongst Liars, Cruel Knives), the new single proves that The Fear is more than just a band—they’re a force to be reckoned with.

Writing hard-hitting rock anthems isn’t the only string to their bow. Drummer Benj Ashmead is also an accomplished tattoo artist and currently splits his time between the two lives. Creating killer ink by day and rock bangers by night, it’s a miracle that the drummer/tattooist has a moment to spare. However, we managed to grab five minutes with Benj for the latest round of Tattoo Talk to find out about his tattoo work, what motivates him, and the sacrifices he has made for his art(s).

When did you know you wanted to get tattooed/get into tattooing?

“I was very young, maybe 9 or 10 years old, when my older brother started getting tattooed, he came home with a portrait of Bob Marley on his arm, and I was instantly fascinated by it. I can’t ever remember not having a creative mindset – always doodling or writing little tunes on my casio keyboard. So this new artistic medium just mesmerised me from the minute I saw it. Moving forward into my early teens, I got introduced to Blink-182, and being a drummer I was obsessed with Travis Barker, and that just reaffirmed my attraction to tattoos!”

What style of tattoo do you feel closest to? What drew you to it?

“Outside of music and The Fear I have built a pretty good career and a reasonable living out of tattooing, most of my clients will come to me for my colour realism style, which I love. But if I’m totally honest my heart really lies within neo-traditional. I love the bold clean lines and the vibrant, solid colour gradients. I love the fact that this style can age with you, and not often need a freshen up after many years.”

The Fear Tattoo Talk Pictures

Who are some of your favourite artists?

“I think the tattoo industry is an ever-changing landscape, and many artists are breaking through with different styles and keeping things fresh. Right now, there’s so many insanely talented artists popping up everywhere. However, if I was to name a couple, I would say Jamie Lee Knott and Sean Newman from Chapters Tattoo Studio, in Birmingham, UK. Those guys are just doing super super clean and bright tattooing.”

How would you describe your personal artistic style?

“Interestingly, I’d describe my tattooing—and my artwork in general—much the same way I approach writing songs for The Fear. I’m drawn to macabre themes but love presenting them through a bright, polished, pop-culture lens. For instance, I enjoy tattooing skulls or other dark, moody subjects, but I’ll incorporate super vibrant colors and maybe add elements like flowers growing out of them. Similarly, The Fear’s new album is rooted in a dark, troubled mindset with heavy, introspective moments, yet it’s layered with upbeat, fun, pop-inspired vibes.”

The Fear “White Noise” Single Artwork

What advice do you have for anyone looking to tattoo or get tattooed?

“‘This shit’s permanent’ – whether you’re looking to get tattooed, or you’re wanting to do it to someone else, this will last forever. I definitely think this isn’t being considered as much as it used to be, I see young people now with really bad stick-and-poke tattoos all over their public skin – hands and faces. But I’ve also seen plenty of people my parents age spending years getting laser or skin grafts trying to escape the bad mistakes they made. Things have gone full circle. It’s crazy!”

What would you never tattoo?

“I’ve always had a firm rule: I won’t tattoo anything that’s intended to harm, marginalize, or offend others. If it’s sexist, racist, homophobic, or malicious in any way, you won’t get it from me. About 15 years ago, I tattooed a portrait for someone who told me it was the singer of his favorite band.

It wasn’t until after the tattoo was finished and the client had left that I discovered it was Ian Donaldson, the lead singer of Skrewdriver, a racist, white power band. I felt sick and deeply guilty—it remains the worst thing I’ve ever tattooed. That experience taught me an invaluable lesson, and now I always research and verify anything I’m unfamiliar with. I refuse to support anything rooted in hate.”

The Fear Tattoo Talk Pictures

What motivates you to create? What inspires you?

“I think I’m just naturally a creative person—life itself inspires me. Little experiences throughout my day often spark excitement, making me eager to get home and start drawing on my iPad or jump into my recording studio to write a song. At the same time, I’m quite an anxious and obsessive person, so when I get an idea, it snowballs.

I end up overthinking every detail, constantly calculating how to improve it. When I finish a tattoo, drawing, or song, I’m extremely self-critical, breaking it down to figure out what could be better so I can improve the next one. In a way, you could say that self-doubt fuels my creativity. Although, admittedly, that sounds a bit grim!”

Tattoo artists are similar to bartenders in the sense that people confide in them. What’s the most personal story you’ve shared (or been told) while getting work done?

“Tattooing — and getting tattooed — is an incredibly intimate experience. Nowadays, I mainly take on large projects, which means my clients spend days with me, putting a tremendous amount of trust in my hands. I believe it’s important to earn that trust, so over the years, I’ve learned to open up quickly and honestly. I wear my heart on my sleeve, sharing personal stories as naturally as I listen to theirs.

I’ve talked about losing my brother and father at a young age, my struggles with failed relationships, and the darker chapters of my life. But I also share the good—like the amazing bond I have with my wife, the joy of raising two incredible kids, and the supportive circle of friends I’m lucky to have. Interestingly, while I find it easy to open up in conversations with my clients, I struggle to channel those positive experiences into my songwriting. Maybe that’s something I’ll tap into more in the future!”

The Fear Tattoo Talk Pictures

Getting a tattoo is a deeply personal experience; do you feel people choose a tattoo artist in the same way they choose the actual tattoo design?

“I absolutely do – you’re going to be wearing that tattoo for the rest of your life, people are going to ask you about it. If you had a bad experience with your artist, whether the tattoo is amazing or absolute crap you’re going to remember where you had it done and your feelings about it. Believe me.

I have always said I’d rather have a roughly done tattoo that makes me smile about the person that did it, than an amazing piece of artwork that makes me feel uncomfortable about the situation in which I had it done. Another reason why you shouldn’t rush into a tattoo on an emotional level at the start of a relationship, at the end of a relationship in memorial, etc.”

What’s the single hardest thing about being a Tattoo Artist?

“This is a funny question, I have a shop with 6 artists and I’m constantly telling them that we have the best job in the world and there should be no complaints, I’m from a different generation of tattoo artists than the guys getting into it quite recently and I genuinely feel so lucky everyday.

I feel quite hypocritical answering this, but I’m going to say it’s a lack of freedom. Recently I’ve had to free up my diary and not take on a lot of work because things are taking off with The Fear. But for many years I’ve been tied down to a diary 6 months long, feeling guilty anytime I’ve had to reschedule, redrawing things until midnight and answering messages when I’m trying to have a date night or family day out.”

The Fear Tattoo Talk Photos

What guided you to get into this line of work?

“I’ve always known that my career had to revolve around a creative outlet. Throughout my life, I’ve taken jobs to get by and fund my living, but I’ve never accepted the idea of doing anything other than art or music as my true calling. Creativity is what drives me, and without constantly pushing myself—striving to improve on every project and seeing how far I can go—I honestly don’t think I could function.

I live with a lot of self-doubt and rarely feel fully satisfied with what I’ve created. But that’s part of what keeps me going: the need to do better, to refine, and to grow. I find happiness in the process itself, in the journey of creating and improving. The destination never quite matches the ideal I have in my mind, but that’s what keeps the fire alive—it’s the pursuit that fulfills me.”

For more information on The Fear, head over to their socials here.