Chatting with Tattoo Artist Josh Mosh

Interview: Josh Mosh
By: Rob Smittix

RRX: Josh Mosh, man, you’ve been a legendary tattoo artist around the area for a while. I say artist because you can actually draw, you’ve got some great artwork. I know there’s a difference between a tattoo artist and a tattooist.

JM: Oh, absolutely because for one, it’s a trade, so it’s a skill learned. To apply a tattoo, you need the tools and the knowledge to execute but then on the other hand, artistry comes into play. Like there’s something to be said about following a line. Sure, anybody can do that but when you wipe a stencil off and there’s no line to follow and you have to use creativity, what are you gonna do if you don’t have creativity or artistry? You gotta stop, reload and reapply, knock it off, you know what I mean?

RRX: Yeah, man, that’s what makes you the real deal. So, you’ve been doing this forever, right?

JM: I got a text the other day of a healed pic of a tattoo that I did 26 years ago, so I’ve been tattooing at least that long and I know it’s been longer than that.

RRX: Isn’t that awesome? I mean, at this point, you probably don’t even remember all of the the tattoos that you’ve done, right?

JM: Oh, there’s no way. But it was so heartwarming and aspirational too, to see a healed pic from 26 years ago that still looks tip top.

RRX: Oh definitely man.

JM: I’m applying my corpse paint as we speak.

RRX: Oh, corpse paint, I thought you said court payment.

(Both Laugh)

RRX: Tell us about The Blood Shed

JM: The Blood Shed is actually my business that’s an LLC I took out but I work at Bloodlines (Crossgates Mall). The Blood Shed is multi-layered. I had a space I was renting for an art gallery. There were some issues about sacred space and blah blah blah blah, whatever… that’s its own separate entity. But yeah and then it’s like a death cult and it’s a band as well.

RRX: So there’s a band too? How did I not know this? Well, I know it now!

JM: It’s up and coming. It’s more like a darker dark, blacker black, metal metal.

RRX: I would expect nothing less. I’m here in our office right now and we proudly have some Josh Mosh artwork on display, I’ve also got some Josh Mosh Artwork at my house as well.

JM: I appreciate that, the support alone is just huge.

RRX: Yeah dude, been a fan for quite some time. I also noticed that you were included in some books too, I remember seeing a while ago.

JM: Yeah, I’ve been published in a few art books, I think I’m up to like 8 or 9 now. But I’m actually working on writing my own book. That’s exciting too. I took my first interview with Mike Valente… he’s gonna have his own chapter. It’s gonna be like a 518 local history, I mean… it’s gonna be all inclusive. I have a few chapters already plotted in the head and formulating. It’s been a slow grip but it’s gonna be a good payout I’m sure.

RRX: Well, it sounds like you’ve got a lot of things spinning. What’s a day in the life of Josh Mosh like? How’s it start out? I imagine you drink your coffee black like you like your metal.

JM: (Hahahah) With a little whiskey, like a funeral.

RRX: No, seriously, what is it like to be Josh Mosh, with all these different ideas in your head?

JM: Absolutely brutal, absooooluuuutely brutal!

RRX: Yeah, I could see that. But you got some cool stuff, man. I remember, a lot of times you do the Upstate Punk Rock Flea Market, you’ve got some great artworks and things that you sell there. At one point I think you had tattooed pig ears or some sh**.

JM: I’ve been doing hot sauce too.

RRX: You got a hot sauce?

JM: Rip your face off sauce!

RRX: Wow.

JM: R.I.P.

RRX: Gotta stay on brand. So you got your own freaking hot sauce. What don’t you do?

JM: I try to get my hands in a little bit of everything but not too much to spread myself thin. Just within my market niche.

RRX: What’s the biggest thing going on in your life right now?

JM: Well, tattooing for sure, being single, that’s huge.

RRX: Yeah, that’s a new thing for you.

JM: This is the longest I’ve been single in like 30 years.

RRX: No sh**, wow.

JM: Yeah, so it’s f***ing detrimental.

RRX: Now, are you looking to get off the single market?

JM: Oh no, they hunt me down. That freaks me out a little bit. I’m shy and awkward.

RRX: The side of Josh Mosh, you wouldn’t know, the shy and awkward part. We’re familiar with the dark side and the metal guy. You mentioned Mike Valente earlier, he interviewed you on his podcast a while back. I thought it was hilarious.

JM: So much fun, dude. He dressed up like the Pope and Ray dressed up like a priest and they’re throwing f***ing whiskey on me, but they were saying it was holy water.

RRX: Oh, that was whiskey? What would happen if they threw real holy water on you? Would it burn?

JM: Oh, I have no idea.

RRX: If you were gonna put out a message to the world, what would you want people to know?

JM: That I sell weapons. I am a weapon, tattoos are a weapon and you should get tattooed and weaponize yourself.

RRX: You know, I don’t have any but maybe I should because I am a weapon. I’m pretty lethal that way. I’m pretty much a black belt, so…

JM: And you understand black magic too.

RRX: Yeah, black magic. Honestly, I’ve indulged a little bit.

JM: I can’t not indulge.

RRX: I think a lot of people don’t realize that it’s real. There’s something going on. We’re gonna have to make plans, so you and I can do some kind of ritual or something and you can show us what it’s all about.

JM: F*** yeah, that sounds great!