In 1982, a fifteen-year-old Corey Miller was playing drums in a punk rock band and he decided he needed a tattoo. So he carved out his first tattoo on himself using a needle with thread wrapped around it. This inspired Corey to build his own tattooing machine, which consisted of a fish tank pump motor, a bent toothbrush, the tip of a Bic pen, and some guitar string as a needle. He used to carry his homemade contraption around in a Vans shoe box with a bottle of Pelican ink.
Things changed for Corey in 1987 - on the night he met tattoo artist Mark Mahoney at a house party. Mahoney was performing his handiwork on some partygoers, and after watching him work, Corey realized there was a whole other level to the tattoo game. He started hanging out at the shop where Mahoney worked. The shop was called Fat George's Tattoo Gallery, and it was located in a tough neighborhood in La Puente, California. Over time, Corey started hitting Fat George up for a job as a tattoo artist. At long last, Fat George gave Corey his big break. Mahoney was making plans to open a new shop out in Los Angeles, and that meant that a chair was opening up. All of a sudden, Corey Miller had his first real job inking tattoos.
Corey has known Kat now for about 7 years, he joined Kat at her new shop when she opened the doors. Tattooing for 25 years, this California native has inked people all around the world from Japan and Amsterdam to Hawaii and Paris. He specializes in black and gray portraits and dragons that merge the traditional and classic styles with his own. A true master, Corey is known for his freehand work, drawing the image directly onto the skin, foregoing any stencil. He has an extensive client list, including celebrities like James Hettfield from Metallica, Jason Giambi of the NY Yankees and Jesse James. In his spare time, this married father of three enjoys playing the drums.
Want to find out what just a few of Corey Miller's tattoo designs & symbols mean?
Check out: Rose Tattoos,
Sword Tattoos,
Skull Tattoos.
