SAILOR JERRY

Norman "Sailor Jerry" Collins was born with a rebellious spirit, choosing to define himself outside the mainstream. In the 1920s, as tattooing emerged as a countercultural expression, Collins embraced it. He left home as a teenager, traveling the country by hitchhiking and train hopping, driven by wanderlust and freedom rather than necessity. During his travels, Collins began learning tattooing, working primitively with only a needle and black ink.

Collins’ life took a pivotal turn when he arrived in Chicago. Two significant events shaped his future: meeting local tattoo legend Gib ‘Tatts’ Thomas, who taught him to use a tattoo machine, and joining the U.S. Navy. His time in the Navy intensified his love for ships, and he eventually earned master's papers for various types of vessels. As WWII began, Collins settled in Honolulu, where he became "Sailor Jerry," tattooing American servicemen on shore leave in the infamous Hotel Street District.

Though famous for tattooing, Sailor Jerry was a man of many talents. He captained a schooner around the Hawaiian islands, hosted a radio show called Old Ironsides, played in a jazz band, and even worked as an electrician, using this skill to innovate his tattoo machines. Jerry continued living adventurously, cruising on his Harley, which he was riding when he suffered a heart attack that eventually claimed his life.

Before his death, Sailor Jerry entrusted his shop to his protégés, Don Ed Hardy and Mike Malone, with the instruction that if neither took over, it should be burned down. Malone kept it running for 25 years. Ironically, Jerry, an American patriot, was deeply influenced by Japanese tattoo masters known as Horis. He was the first Westerner to correspond with them regularly, blending American and Asian styles into his own iconic, irreverent, and artistic tattooing style.

Sailor Jerry left an indelible mark on both tattooing and the culture of rebellion. His work transcended the boundaries of tradition, merging American grit with Japanese artistry to create tattoos that remain timeless. His passion for pushing the limits of the craft set a new standard in the tattoo world and cemented his legacy as a true pioneer.