Sponsored message
Audience-funded nonprofit news
radio tower icon laist logo
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
Subscribe
  • Listen Now Playing Listen

This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.

This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here .

Arts & Entertainment

Tattoo Artist Kat Von D's Guinness Record Attempt

With our free press under threat and federal funding for public media gone, your support matters more than ever. Help keep the LAist newsroom strong, become a monthly member or increase your support today.

One of the many tattoos done by Kat Von D

This past Friday night, The Learning Channel's LA Ink tattoo artist vixen, Kat von D , attempted to break the world record for most tattoos done in a 24 hour period. With lines forming almost 48 hours in advance, people flocked from as far away as Ohio to be apart of tattoo history. At about 3:30 in the morning on Friday, we decided to head over to High Voltage on La Brea and Fountain with a camera in tow to get the scoop on the scene. What follows are interviews, videos, and pictures of what went on.

We started off at the very end of the line which wrapped around Fountain. This first interview is with a young woman who was told that in order to get a wrist band, she had to show up hours in advance.

Sponsored message

Long line wrapping around La Brea and Fountain.

This next video shows a security guard explaining to a group of girls that they would most likely not be getting a tattoo that evening. For the most part, people seemed pretty pissed that there was confusion regarding wrist bands. If you check out Kat's MySpace profile , you can see that her blog post announcing the event has been taken down. Also, you can see in her comments section that people were turned away even after waiting for a full 24 hours.

Further up the line, we caught up with a couple girls who were about 10 people away from the store entrance. We apologize for the crappy angle; some people weren't too happy with our stealthy interviews and camera work.

Closer to the entrance.

Sponsored message

You get the idea.

Kat Von D.

The following is an interview with a couple girls who were next in line.

Cleaning up the tat.

And finally, this is an interview with a girl who just got hers done. But she didn't even have to wait in line! Nepotism?!?!

Sponsored message

In the end, we still haven't gotten word as to whether or not Kat broke the record. Some comments on her myspace said that they "heard the great news", so we'll be staying tuned to see if the record was actually broken. All we know is that she worked her ass off, and there are a few hundred more people reppin' LA with some new ink. Congrats, Kat!

UPDATE: This morning Kat posted a blog on her myspace featuring a brief thanks and a long apology. But it turns out she did in fact break the record! Read it here.

All interviews done by Gerry Block. All images and video capture done by Ali Miller for LAist.

At LAist, we believe in journalism without censorship and the right of a free press to speak truth to those in power. Our hard-hitting watchdog reporting on local government, climate, and the ongoing housing and homelessness crisis is trustworthy, independent and freely accessible to everyone thanks to the support of readers like you.

But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.

We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.

Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief

Chip in now to fund your local journalism

A row of graphics payment types: Visa, MasterCard, Apple Pay and PayPal, and  below a lock with Secure Payment text to the right