What do Friday the 13th, a Worcester tattoo shop and a country star have in common?
WORCESTER ― Tattoo ink and Friday the 13th go way back to the 1990s, when a shop in Texas launched a campaign to tattoo the number 13 on hundreds of people in an effort to reverse bad luck.
The plan worked and essentially turned the superstitious holiday into a day to get inked.
Just three decades later, the world's tattoo shops are doling out Friday the 13th-themed ink. Many shops opt for deals on "spooky" tattoos, like black cats, ghosts, skeletons and of course the number 13.
In Worcester, several local shops were offering deals Friday, including discounts for certain designs, as well as piercing discounts.
At the Black Rose Tattoo Co., it's wasn't just Friday the 13th but also launch day for country singer Brantley Gilbert's new album, "Tattoos." Gilbert chose a handful of shops around the county, including the Worcester shop on Park Avenue, to offer specific tattoos inspired by the singer.
Becca Depuy drove to Worcester from York, Maine, to get the special Gilbert ink.
"When I saw they were having this Brantley Gilbert special, I called immediately," she said, adding she'll be in attendance for his Sept. 21 show at the DCU Center. "This will be maybe my 15th show, and my eighth meet-and-greet."
Depuy opted for three of the four Gilbert designs, including a skeletal hand on her neck. The super fan is covered in tattoos and said her favorite is a full-color Hogwarts castle on her thigh, adding she would have definitely been put in the Slytherin house if she attended the fictional Harry Potter school.
?? FLASH SALE ?? FRIDAY 9/13 We will be offering EXCLUSIVE tattoos from @brantleygilbert in celebration of the release of his new album TATTOOS ! Get your exclusive BG tattoo just time for his upcoming show at the DCU Center! We will also be offering Halloween themed flash (which will be uploaded later today). Keep an eye out for teasers of all the amazing Halloween themed jewelry we will have out for the flash day as well!Call the studio to book your spot! 774-420-2553#brantleygilbert #tattoos #music #concerts #flashsale #flashtattoo #tattooartist #worcester #halloween #jewelry #countrymusic
Posted by The Black Rose Tattoo Company on Friday, September 6, 2024
Across the hallway, best friends Mandy Grondin and Tallie Patraw were getting matching Friday the 13th tattoos, a small image chosen from the shop's special, showcasing two skeleton heads and flames in the shape of a heart.
Artist and Black Rose Tattoo owner Steve Atkins held the tattoo needle in hand, humming along to the loud music streamed by a smart speaker. The room embodies Atkins, showcasing his love for Marvel Comics and specifically Venom, an anti-hero.
"I just wanted my shop to reflect me," he said with a smile, taking a momentary break from tattooing Grondin's wrist.
This was Grondin's second tattoo; her first is on her foot. Patraw, on the other hand, has dozens, including some on her ribs and chest.
The pair have been best friends for the last three decades and even gave birth to their children two days apart. After Atkins gave them their matching ink, they planned to grab coffee and spend the afternoon shopping.
Atkins often jumps in to assist with Friday the 13th promotions, but spends most of his time working on large, multi-session tattoos. He's currently booked out until January or February 2025.
Nicole Fillios is currently Atkins' apprentice. Coincidentally she received her license to tattoo on Friday the 13th.
"It's just such a fun job," she said. "I don't wake up dreading to go to work, I get to wake up and see my friends. I go to work excited; I get to draw and do the things I love."
The next Friday the 13th will fall in December.
This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: Friday the 13th, a country star and a Worcester tattoo shop
