Pennywise with Fletcher Dragge (far left)

Everyone loves a good tattoo story. Being the proud owner of some awesome body ink is one thing, but the details and circumstances of the art are what make it worth the pain and the price. It's a philosophy that Pennywise guitarist Fletcher Dragge knows all too well. The punk legend and co-owner of 3rd St. Tattoo in Hermosa Beach has a body full of permanent markings ranging from creative to cringeworthy. He's been tattooed by professionals, drunk friends and occasionally turns the tattoo gun on himself. And every piece he's got seems to be inspired by something emotional or crazy that's happened to him. 

"I've always thought of tattoos as markings of time I'm not one for just getting something off the wall," he says. "I usually get something that was important in my life then I got out and have too many beers and just decide to get 'em, drawn up on scraps of paper. Some tattoos aren't pretty by any means but when I look at them they bring back memories."

Before he and his band jump on stage today to headline Costa Mesa tattoo and music festival MusInk--in celebration of their 25th anniversary and reuniting with original front man Jim Lindberg--Dragge was good enough to let us peek at a a handful of his tattoos and explained the meanings and stories behind them.