Scab Vendor: Confessions of a Tattoo Artist – Johnny Depp, Iggy Pop, Jim Jarmusch and more feature in the new documentary
Johnny Depp, Iggy Pop, Jim Jarmusch, Eugene Hutz (frontman of Gogol Bordello), Joe Coleman (world-renowned painter), and Kelly Cutrone (TV personality/fashion publicist) are among those sharing memories about legendary tattoo artist Jonathan Shaw in the documentary feature Scab Vendor: Confessions of a Tattoo Artist.
A look at the life of Jonathan Shaw, the son of bandleader Artie Shaw and Hollywood starlet Doris Dowling. After overdosing in his 20s, Jonathan learned from the best American tattoo artists and quickly became the go-to tattoo artist in NYC. His Fun City Tattoo Studio opened before tattooing was legal in Manhattan and was frequented by his friends, Johnny Depp and punk legend Iggy Pop. Scab Vendor explores how a man, at the height of his career, chose to give up on his celebrity lifestyle to escape from his own vicious cycle.
Scab Vendor – which will be available On Digital and On Demand July 30 via Dark Star Pictures – examines the life of Shaw, who opened his Fun City Tattoo studio in New York City before tattooing was even legal in Manhattan.
Also featuring stories from Jonathan Shaw himself, the film is based on his 2017 book of the same name, and features music from Iggy Pop and Gogol Bordello. The film’s key art is from legendary cartoonist Robert Crumb.