Eric Emerson called late one night in 1975 and invited me to a party at Edgar Winters Loft on Park Ave South. The party had been going on for at least 24 hrs before I arrived with my camera and things were beginning to spiral out of control. Lots of naked people, some conscious, some unconscious getting tattooed by famed tattoo artist Spider Webb. My relationship with Helen Wheels began that night and the iconic song Helen wrote for the band The Blue Oyster Cult, titled “Tattoo Vampires” was inspired. Helens lyrics profoundly capture the beauty and sadness that so defined these times.
Seeding the night at the inker’s parlor
Flesh permabrand pricked for a dollar
Her wrist surreal a heart and flying skull
Lettered “life and love pass swiftly”
Ozret Art 