Episode 18

Jun 8

This week, we welcome Salem Ofa of Eye of the Tiger Tattoo to the show. Salem grew up in LA for most of his childhood but then traveled north to San Francisco when he turned 18. Haight Street became his choice place to hang out with the street kids and those in between tours. Dropping acid and running around a little thugish writing graffiti, Salem soon found his tribe with some of the kids heading up to Eugene for the shows in the summer of ‘93. He jumped in the back of a Uhaul on Haight Street and he’s been on the bus ever since! Salem bounced around the country eventually getting deported from Canada! He found his way to the ‘94 spring east coast tour, sellin’ boomers, raging with the east coast kids and breaking into Disney World!

In ‘95, Salem made his way to the Northwest, ending up trading some paintings for some amazing glass pipes. He took those up to Seattle selling all of them, making enough money to buy his first tattoo machine and power supply from Emerald City and the rest is history. Self taught tattoo artist, he just kept moving forward and pushing himself and now has 30 years of tattooing all over the world under his belt. Known for his Grateful Dead tattoo art, he sought out other Dead inspired tattoo artists around the 50th anniversary. In his search, he rounded up an amazing group of artists and is now working on a book, Gratefully Tattooed, consisting of a collection of Grateful Dead inspired tattoos. Tune in because there is so much more!

To learn more about Salem Ofa:

Web site: ⁠http://eyeofthetigertattoo.com/salem/⁠

FB: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/salem.ofa/⁠

IG: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/salemtattoos/⁠

Book: ⁠https://gratefullytattooed.com/⁠

Gratefully Tattooed Teaser Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R5eY9LetTfs

Music from this episode:

Cream Puff War by GD 5/19/66 The Avalon Ballroom, SF, CA (Source 1)

Weather Report Suite by GD 6/18/74 Freedom Hall, Louisville, KY (Source 1)

Drums by Byron Bay Drum Circle YOUTUBE

Promised Land by GD 9/18/90 MSG NY, NY (Source 3)

Truckin’ by GD 5/19/74 Portland Memorial Coliseum Portland, OR (Source 1)