Photograph by Valeria Foschetti

Crapman: Italian tattoo artist makes his mark on San Diego.

“I got to tattoo Speedo” — aka Rocket From the Crypt guitarist John Reis — “in Milan, Italy in 2018, backstage at a Hot Snakes concert,” says Italian artist Mayo Maggiore, aka Crapman. “And then he asked me to do the visuals for the Rocket from the Crypt 2019 Halloween concert. I did the poster, the masks, the merch, and the free tattoos at the show. Since then, I’m always in charge of the Halloween concert poster and art.”

Maggiore’s connection to the group’s annual local free tattoo tradition stems from a relationship that dates back to the turn of the millennium. “RFTC is one of my all-time favorite bands. I met them the first time they played Italy in 1999. I interviewed them for a magazine I was writing for. They were nice to me, and I went to see them every time they played Italy. When I moved to London, England, every time they played there, we would meet at the club they were playing, and we kinda became friends. Then in 2013, my band The Manges opened their gig in Milan. I spent a couple of days showing them around town, and we became closer. Speedo asked me to draw some art for the Return to Monkey Island picture disc, and that’s when my artistic collaboration with the band started.”

But Maggiore’s love affair with America’s Finest City began before his collaboration with one of its most famous bands. “I fell in love with San Diego when I was a kid, because of music. A lot of the bands I loved were from there. Then I toured the USA with The Manges in 2007 and, for the first time, I got to visit. I was afraid to be disappointed because of huge expectations, but no, it was as good as I dreamed about. People are cool, the weather is perfect, you got the ocean, you got the desert, it’s close to Mexico, and now I have a lot of friends in town. It’s really a great place for me to be.”

One attraction is the local culinary scene. “Since I love Mexican food, I would go for a place Speedo brought me a bunch of times that I like a lot: Jimmy Carter’s Mexican Cafe on 5th Avenue.” Another connection with San Diego music and art was formed while still overseas. “I met Melody [Jean Moulton, future Trash Lamb Gallery owner] in Italy, in Milan, she was travelling in Europe. She wanted a tattoo. Speedo suggested she get in touch with me after I tattooed him, so I tattooed Melody, and we became friends. She helped me out at the 2019 RFTC Halloween concert by being my assistant during the free tattoo thing at the club. When she opened Trash Lamb Gallery, she asked me to design the logo of the gallery, and I did some artwork for the first merchandise she made.”

Trash Lamb, which opened October 2020 in Burlingame and melds the San Diego art and music scenes by hosting exhibits by musicians, such as the late Rick Froberg, who create visual art, is presenting Maggiore’s latest exhibit, entitled I Want Your Skull. The title comes from the infectious chorus of a 1982 Misfits song called “Skulls,” but many other musical acts fed Maggiore’s creative output — including a host of San Diego outfits. “There are several skulls in the upcoming exhibition inspired by San Diego bands. There are some Hot Snakes, some Drive Like Jehu, some Black Heart Procession. There is Olivelawn, too.”

The exhibit runs from October 21 through October 30, and Maggiore will be giving free flash tattoos at Rocket from the Crypt’s October 28 Halloween show at House Of Blues. He hopes to provide more tattoos than he did in 2019. “That time, I was able, by myself, to do eight flashes in about two-and-a-half hours. This year is going to be me and [artist] Beatle, so, depending on the time we’ll have before the show starts, we might be able to do more. From the flashes I did in 2019, I recall that the “drink blood” flash with the vampire was one of the most requested. But the logo designed by [legendary SoCal cartoonist] Pushead, it’s the best seller.”

Those who can’t make it to the show can also meet Crapman at multiple Trash Lamb Gallery events. “Come on by; we can chat about music, tattoos and skulls.”