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Source from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G2VrL5MkyKQ
“There’s a full spectrum to my music,” Able Heart begins, his voice a mirror to the depth and diversity of his sound. “It started way darker, a lot of things that I went through in life,” he admits, hinting at a past marked by struggles and silence, now vocalized through his art. This spectrum isn’t confined to his music alone; it’s vividly illustrated in the living canvas of his skin.
“I’m blasting over old tattoos,” he shares, a metaphor for his life’s journey. “It’s kind of like my music,” he muses, “You evolve, and your art evolves with you.” His tattoos, once markers of a darker time, are now overlaid with images that reflect the man he’s become: a phoenix rising from the ashes of his past.
His mother’s influence, a constant beacon of support, is immortalized in ink on his skin. “My mom’s lips here,” he points to a seemingly fading tattoo on his forearm, “She always said, ‘You’re able to do anything your heart desires.’ That’s where ‘Able Heart’ comes from.” It’s not just a name; it’s a philosophy, a salute to the limitless potential within each of us.
The transition from a world-class snowboarder to a musician wasn’t without its scars — both physical and emotional. “I used to ride with a company that helped support people that couldn’t pay to travel and go to competitions,” he recounts, a nod to the community that once uplifted him, now mirrored in the Full of Heart Fam group he’s fostering through his music and online presence. The glimmer in his eyes as he speaks about his community only echoes how important the outreach to his fans truly is.
His continued commitment to his fans also comes through in a unique (but also seemingly popular) way. In discussing his virtual concerts, Able Heart’s enthusiasm is palpable. “They’re unique… intimate,” he says, his eyes lighting up. “It’s all about connecting with people, even if it’s through a screen.” This sense of connection, of reaching out and touching lives across the digital divide, is what drives him. “Music is the best funnel… for people listening and being able to resonate with things,” he explains.
Yet, it’s not just about the music or the tattoos; it’s about the journey — his relentless pursuit of happiness, his unwavering belief in the power of manifestation, and his dedication to helping others realize they’re not alone in their struggles. “I care about other people in the sense that, if they see something, I want them to also know that they’re able to do anything their heart desires,” he says, his voice earnest, his message clear.
Able Heart’s tattoos do more than decorate his skin — they tell his story, a narrative of overcoming, evolving, and embracing every facet of his being. From the sonic depths of his darkest hours to the vibrant beats of his brightest moments, his life is a testament to the power of resilience.
As we trace the contours of his tattoos, we’re not just observing art; we’re reading chapters of a living, breathing autobiography, one where every line, every note, and every cover sings of a heart that’s truly able.
We’re all looking for somewhere to belong. It’s human nature: we need connection, community, and belonging to maintain our well-being. In a world where authenticity can sometimes feel elusive, Ashley McBryde is the lighthouse we’re all searching for. Through her vocals, raw storytelling, and direct actions, she champions the importance of belonging and community, fostering connections that transcend beyond the music industry.
McBryde is one of the most acclaimed country artists to emerge within the past few years. She received six Grammy Awards nominations with one win, one Country Music Awards (CMA) trophy, three Academy of Country Music (ACM) awards, and one nomination for a Daytime Emmy. With success like that, it’s easy to enter a self-obsessed bubble. But McBryde is still badass and a true girl’s girl. She sets the record straight: “I know it can seem like women in country music are catty. We are not. We want you here. We party together. Come on over.”
Growing up as the youngest of six kids, music was always part of McBryde’s life. “I’ve been singing since I was old enough to know that they were throwing shoes at me trying to get me to shut up,” she jokes. With influences like Dolly Parton, Patty Loveless, and Trisha Yearwood, McBryde was surrounded by powerhouse female artists who shaped her musical journey.
McBryde found belonging in music, in storytelling, and with audiences. “I remember when I was little, I was really shy and I didn’t want to talk to people, but I could sing to them,” she reflects. Music has served as a gateway to human connection for McBryde. Before embarking on her world tour, McBryde spent some of 2023 touring with Jelly Roll, CMA’s New Artist of the Year. “When we got on tour, he said to me, ‘You’ll never feel more at home anywhere than you will on my tour.’ This rang true for his audience, especially being someone who’s covered in tattoos in country music, where being tall and blond and pristine is standard. And I’m short and brunette and covered in tattoos.”
McBryde wants to return that sense of belonging to her audience — to every person. “I want people in active addiction in my crowd. I want people in recovery in my crowd. These are the people that will stick to the devil they know. These are the guys and girls going nowhere. They’ve been told this. They’ve been told they’re pieces of shit by their teachers, their coworkers, their spouses in some cases, and their parents. That’s who I want to sing to.”
When talking about performing her song “6th of October,” McBryde says, “When we sing, ‘Reckless hearts, the tattered and bruised ones, the slightly confused ones, the ones holding stools down in bars, will show up and find us and gently remind us to not be afraid of our scars and who we are.’ That is my favorite thing to watch. When the audience closes their eyes and turn their head to the side and sing ‘slightly confused ones,’ they are in that moment admitting that’s them or recognizing that’s somebody close to them. And that’s a gift that we can’t just give on our own. That’s only through the power of song and live performance that we can offer them just a couple milliseconds of peace.”
McBryde doesn’t just sing to her audience — she commits to deeply connecting with them, even if they cannot hear her voice. She recently began signing lyrics and phrases on stage. After surgery on her vocal cords, she couldn’t speak for weeks, so McBryde learned enough American Sign Language for necessities, like water and food. “I’m still learning, and sometimes slowly,” she says. “But it just became more and more apparent to me that one: I needed to learn more. And then I remembered we’ve got interpreters. And I thought it would be even cooler if I could thank the interpreters myself. And even better, can I thank my non-hearing and hard-of-hearing crowd? Because they’re there, or there wouldn’t be an interpreter. I want to thank them myself and say things like, ‘We see you, we’re happy you’re here, it’s nice to meet you, welcome to my show.’”
She was right — they were there. “The first reaction that really moved me was a lady at a show who said, ‘My sister is 62 years old and has been deaf her entire life and has been invisible her entire life. And you make me feel like she can be seen right now.’” It’s clear McBryde is committed to creating a community of inclusivity and belonging, and this is just one example.
On the inside of her left elbow is a tattoo of a devil staring into a rearview mirror, inspired by her latest album “The Devil I Know.” The album is filled with tender emotions, tough revelations, and the message of staying true to yourself, even when it’s not so pretty. “That’s the devil I know for sure,” she says. “And this really reminds me of my song ‘Blackout Betty,’ and one of the lines that is ‘I’m a real piece of shit sometimes.’ That’s not necessarily gorgeous, but it is true. And it doesn’t have to be pretty to be true. So, I know that bitch is still in the back seat, and she is ready to take over at any time.”
That fiendish passenger may still be in the back seat, but McBryde wouldn’t change a thing. “If I could go back and make it easier on younger me, her skin wouldn’t be as thick, and she wouldn’t be as strong as I get to be now.” It’s that mix of tough exterior, authenticity, and deep connection with audiences that keeps fans returning to the main stage.
In the ever-evolving music industry universe, there are those rare talents that completely transcend boundaries. These days, artists who can utterly captivate audiences with their raw talent, creativity, and unapologetic individuality are few and far between. Doja Cat, born Amala Ratna Zandile Dlamini, is a shining example of such a rare character.
Breaking through the surface of the music industry, a product ushered in purely by the digital age, the Grammy Award-winning superstar planted her roots firmly in the SoundCloud scene before headlining an international arena tour. The tattoo-clad icon’s rise to global stardom is nothing short of extraordinary, indicative of her pure and unflinching star power.
Born and raised in the vibrant cultural hub of Los Angeles, Doja Cat’s upbringing was steeped in a rich pool of musical influences. With a childhood that found the star lost in the eclectic sounds of artists like Busta Rhymes, Erykah Badu, and Nicki Minaj, coupled with an enthralling passion for piano, Doja’s love of music and innate talent ignited a spark that would set the world on fire. These early influences laid the groundwork for pop-focused rap which the star finds herself consistently breaking records in today.
At 16 years old, Doja Cat made her mark on the music scene in 2013 with her first upload to SoundCloud, a platform that served as the launching pad for her historic rise to fame. From there, it wasn’t long before the star’s undeniable talent caught the attention of industry insiders, leading to a pivotal moment in 2014 when she officially signed with Kemosabe/RCA Records, setting the stage for her rapid ascent to stardom.
The release of her EP “Purrr!” and debut album “Amala” paved the way for Doja Cat’s burgeoning career, but it was her August 2018 single “MOOO!” that catapulted her into the mainstream consciousness. With its infectious beat and irreverent charm, “MOOO!” captured the attention of fans worldwide, earning critical acclaim and labeling Doja Cat as a rising star to watch.
Her sophomore album, “Hot Pink,” released in November 2019, further solidified her position as a musical powerhouse. Boasting more than 6 billion streams worldwide, the album showcased Doja Cat’s versatility as an artist, with hits like “Streets,” the soundtrack behind the viral Tik Tok Silhouette Challenge that blew up on everyone’s FYP during the COVID lockdown, and the Grammy-nominated “Say So” drawing in audiences and critics alike in record-breaking numbers.
In June 2021, Doja Cat released her Grammy Award-winning album “Planet Her,” a tour de force of creativity and innovation. Dominating the charts and generating a historic number of streams on Spotify, “Planet Her” is what solidified Doja Cat as a global superstar. Collaborations with fellow artists like SZA on the multi-platinum hit “Kiss Me More” further elevated her continuous influence and widespread appeal.
The release of her fourth and most recent studio album, “Scarlet,” in September 2023 marked yet another milestone in Doja Cat’s illustrious career. Featuring the smash hit single “Paint the Town Red,” which made history by becoming the first rap song to top the Billboard 200 chart since August 2022.
“Scarlet” showcased Doja Cat’s evolution as an artist and solidified her reputation as a trailblazer in the industry. A complete shift from her previous public persona, “Scarlet” is a horror-infused era for Doja. Shifting away from the divine femininity that simply oozes from “Planet Her,” “Scarlet” showcases the scarier side of the star. Once again, captivating the masses and maintaining a steady hold over pop culture and the A-list music industry she’s had for the better part of a decade.
Doja’s impact extends beyond music, as the pop culture icon recently brought tattoos to the forefront of the fashion and beauty industry during the 2024 Grammy Awards. Styled by Turkish-British designer, Dilara Findikoglu, the singer found herself gloriously drenched from head to toe in faux tattoos that peeked out beneath a sheer floor-length gown. This iconic look became arguably the most discussed appearance of the night, with Doja Cat garnering immediate praise for her boldness and individuality, further highlighting her fearless approach to self-expression. The highly decorated star continues to push boundaries and challenge the status quo, on and off the runway.
In 2024, Doja Cat shows no signs of slowing down. Recently treating fans to two electrifying singles: “n.h.i.e.” with British rapper 21 Savage and a feature on “Jeezu” with the multi-faceted artist Jeymes “The Bullitts” Samuel. Lending her production capabilities to the latter, “Jeezu” was featured in Samuel’s most recent cinematic foray, “The Book of Clarence” released in January 2024. These collaborations underscore her versatility as an artist and her unwavering commitment to pushing the boundaries of her craft.
Perhaps the most exciting news is the recent announcement of the U.K. and European dates for the Scarlet Tour 2024. Kicking off in June, Doja will grace the stages of iconic venues in cities such as London, Paris, and Amsterdam. And before embarking on her European adventure, she’ll captivate audiences at Coachella in April, solidifying her standing as one of the most sought-after performers in the world.
As Doja Cat prepares for this new chapter of her journey, her dedication to her craft and her fearless approach to self-expression continue to inspire fans and fellow artists alike. With each step, she reaffirms her status as a true visionary in the world of music, leaving a scarlet mark on the hearts and minds of all who have the pleasure of experiencing her artistry firsthand.
We’re all looking for somewhere to belong. It’s human nature: we need connection, community, and belonging to maintain our well-being. In a world where authenticity can sometimes feel elusive, Ashley McBryde is the lighthouse we’re all searching for. Through her vocals, raw storytelling, and direct actions, she champions the importance of belonging and community, fostering connections that transcend beyond the music industry.
McBryde is one of the most acclaimed country artists to emerge within the past few years. She received six Grammy Awards nominations with one win, one Country Music Awards (CMA) trophy, three Academy of Country Music (ACM) awards, and one nomination for a Daytime Emmy. With success like that, it’s easy to enter a self-obsessed bubble. But McBryde is still badass and a true girl’s girl. She sets the record straight: “I know it can seem like women in country music are catty. We are not. We want you here. We party together. Come on over.”
Growing up as the youngest of six kids, music was always part of McBryde’s life. “I’ve been singing since I was old enough to know that they were throwing shoes at me trying to get me to shut up,” she jokes. With influences like Dolly Parton, Patty Loveless, and Trisha Yearwood, McBryde was surrounded by powerhouse female artists who shaped her musical journey.
McBryde found belonging in music, in storytelling, and with audiences. “I remember when I was little, I was really shy and I didn’t want to talk to people, but I could sing to them,” she reflects. Music has served as a gateway to human connection for McBryde. Before embarking on her world tour, McBryde spent some of 2023 touring with Jelly Roll, CMA’s New Artist of the Year. “When we got on tour, he said to me, ‘You’ll never feel more at home anywhere than you will on my tour.’ This rang true for his audience, especially being someone who’s covered in tattoos in country music, where being tall and blond and pristine is standard. And I’m short and brunette and covered in tattoos.”
McBryde wants to return that sense of belonging to her audience — to every person. “I want people in active addiction in my crowd. I want people in recovery in my crowd. These are the people that will stick to the devil they know. These are the guys and girls going nowhere. They’ve been told this. They’ve been told they’re pieces of shit by their teachers, their coworkers, their spouses in some cases, and their parents. That’s who I want to sing to.”
When talking about performing her song “6th of October,” McBryde says, “When we sing, ‘Reckless hearts, the tattered and bruised ones, the slightly confused ones, the ones holding stools down in bars, will show up and find us and gently remind us to not be afraid of our scars and who we are.’ That is my favorite thing to watch. When the audience closes their eyes and turn their head to the side and sing ‘slightly confused ones,’ they are in that moment admitting that’s them or recognizing that’s somebody close to them. And that’s a gift that we can’t just give on our own. That’s only through the power of song and live performance that we can offer them just a couple milliseconds of peace.”
McBryde doesn’t just sing to her audience — she commits to deeply connecting with them, even if they cannot hear her voice. She recently began signing lyrics and phrases on stage. After surgery on her vocal cords, she couldn’t speak for weeks, so McBryde learned enough American Sign Language for necessities, like water and food. “I’m still learning, and sometimes slowly,” she says. “But it just became more and more apparent to me that one: I needed to learn more. And then I remembered we’ve got interpreters. And I thought it would be even cooler if I could thank the interpreters myself. And even better, can I thank my non-hearing and hard-of-hearing crowd? Because they’re there, or there wouldn’t be an interpreter. I want to thank them myself and say things like, ‘We see you, we’re happy you’re here, it’s nice to meet you, welcome to my show.’”
She was right — they were there. “The first reaction that really moved me was a lady at a show who said, ‘My sister is 62 years old and has been deaf her entire life and has been invisible her entire life. And you make me feel like she can be seen right now.’” It’s clear McBryde is committed to creating a community of inclusivity and belonging, and this is just one example.
On the inside of her left elbow is a tattoo of a devil staring into a rearview mirror, inspired by her latest album “The Devil I Know.” The album is filled with tender emotions, tough revelations, and the message of staying true to yourself, even when it’s not so pretty. “That’s the devil I know for sure,” she says. “And this really reminds me of my song ‘Blackout Betty,’ and one of the lines that is ‘I’m a real piece of shit sometimes.’ That’s not necessarily gorgeous, but it is true. And it doesn’t have to be pretty to be true. So, I know that bitch is still in the back seat, and she is ready to take over at any time.”
That fiendish passenger may still be in the back seat, but McBryde wouldn’t change a thing. “If I could go back and make it easier on younger me, her skin wouldn’t be as thick, and she wouldn’t be as strong as I get to be now.” It’s that mix of tough exterior, authenticity, and deep connection with audiences that keeps fans returning to the main stage.
SUBSCRIBE to Truly: http://bit.ly/Oc61Hj DEZZY RENEE went viral in 2021 for her resemblance to the American Rapper Cardi B.
Source from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=50b705bzOuk
By Si Si Penaloza
David Yarrow is recognized as one of the best-selling fine art photographers in the world. David’s evocative and immersive photography of life on earth is most distinctive and has earned him an ever growing following amongst art collectors. His limited edition works regularly sell at high prices at Sotheby’s and other auction houses. Since 2018, David’s work has raised over $6m for philanthropic and conservation organizations including charitable collaborations with Cindy Crawford, Cara Delevingne and Chris Hemsworth. His position in the industry has been rewarded with a wide range of advisory and ambassadorial roles. Our intrepid interview dives deep into what drives David Yarrow to such dizzying photographic feats, and the meaningful causes he has literally gone to the ends of the earth for.
In South Sudan, where you photographed the Dinka people engulfed in cattle, dust and shadows on the career-defining shoot of Mankind, describe the visceral feeling that remains with you to this day, the rush or adrenaline of capturing civilization in this sense.
DY: I had a preconception of the image that I wanted to return home with – something that conveyed the raw enormity of a Dinka cattle camp in an elemental and biblical setting. Something timeless and vast. Like a Rembrandt, I wanted people to be able to look at the picture for hours and find new stories each time. I think at that moment in time I had three emotions. Firstly, I knew that our research had paid off. Secondly, I was worried about walking across the Nile in the dark with crocodiles, and thirdly, I wanted to go home and get some much needed sleep!
A major economic preoccupation in the 19th and early 20th century American West, the cattle drive has been glorified in mythology and culture as an eternal symbol of the American spirit. The Thundering Herd gives us an unflinching, atmospheric sense of the scale and intensity of the drive. How did observing and engaging with Texas wranglers Craig Carter and Ryon Marshall inform your photographic captures of the complexities beyond our collective cowboy mythology?
DY: First, the whole thing played to my purism in its conception. This is cowboy country in its purest sense. They are working cowboys, and to me, it is crucial to do cowboy culture justice as I have massive respect for it. Whilst I can’t say I identify with cowboy culture, I highly respect their work ethic, decency and manners.
Cara Delevingne has said that she loves working with you because you are the epitome of an artist, going above and beyond to capture a moment in its true essence. She says, “he makes me feel safe and inspired whilst always producing a visual feast.” How has your ability to establish rapport with human subjects evolved over the years?
DY: It’s all about trust. If you are working with extraordinary people whose time is an opportunity cost, you can’t let them down. You have to make sure that their days working with you are happy, good and memorable. If you can combine the removal of stress with art creation, there’s more chance of them coming back to work with you. And like most things in life, I think you get better as you get older because you learn from what he didn’t do quite right before.
What is it about Cara’s particular ethos or acumen that makes her a chameleon capable of collaborations that may capsize a lesser model?
DY: She’s unique, authentic, and in many respects, in a league of her own. I am humbled to have worked with her over the years. The problem of working with the likes of Cara is that it is hard to exceed the product of any other collaboration.
Hitchcock inspired one of my all-time most consciousness-expanding moments as a young art writer standing in a gallery. Douglas Gordon’s, 24 Hour Psycho. Your 2020 work, The Birds, also influenced by the late auteur, has me itching to see the genuine article. In the age of Google Image Search, where I can access a considerable body of your work as 2 inch expandable thumbnails, a contemporary condition that can leave us feeling freakishly phenomenal and absurdly empty all at once. I perhaps naively hope that the viewing experience will always matter, no matter how much the analog world becomes extinct or passé. Given this, what hotel or private entity has presented your work most interestingly or impressively to your eyes?
DY: The Thompson in Dallas, which is as close to a six-star hotel there is anywhere in Dallas. They have 50 of my works on show. But I guess the piece that gets the most referrals, because it gets so much footfall, is the Cindy Crawford piece in Sass Cafe in Monaco.
With your visually arresting images literally raising monumentally significant sums for conservation, you have emerged as one of the most relevant photographers of your generation. In what sense have you enjoyed wielding this positive influence most? What communities are you proudest for supporting and assisting with your charitable giving?
DY: My proudest contribution is towards the paediatric Cancer Care Hospital in Wisconsin, a collaboration with Cindy Crawford, where we’ve now raised over a million dollars. Helping any charity is a privilege, but given Cindy’s personal connection – this cause was of significant importance.
Your accomplishment at staged storytelling has set the gold standard very high. I find a chilling cinematic syntax to your still images that evokes the moods of Stan Douglas, Christian Marclay, Richard Prince. What were some of the narrative art house or mainstream feature films that stirred your young imagination?
DY: My heroes are Steven Spielberg, Martin Scorsese, Ridley Scott and Clint Eastwood. They all have many things in common. That’s work ethic, making screen sweat, but most of all, emotional engagement. I have a lot to learn as a storyteller, and I still am gripped by their every scene.
I found your tribute to Peter Beard via Instagram so deeply soulful and stirring. Incinerating the rule book was his play book. You have that same irreverent streak. Who do you see on the horizon, say under the age of 30, that excites you as much as the epiphany you felt being in Peter’s gallery in your 20s?
DY: As a father of two kids under the age of 21, I would encourage them to look to Emerald Fennell, who won the Oscar for Best Original Screenplay for her film, A Promising Young Woman. I know her dad well. I can’t think of a dad more proud of a daughter than Emerald’s. Her chosen star in the film has got to be the most promising and talented British actress of her generation, Cary Mulligan. The two together are an example for everyone who is growing up and wishing to get involved in the arts.
You write so eloquently on Peter in the Instagram caption: “Peter was a photographer who had contempt for photography; a diarist whose densely adorned volumes have influenced artists and writers as disparate as Andy Warhol, Francis Bacon and Truman Capote. Above all, he was unique – a sacred word.” As such a gifted writer, give us a few opening lines on Tom Brady if you had to return the favor. Speaking of which, is there an interesting backstory for how Tom Brady and Cindy Crawford came to write the Foreword and Afterword to your latest book?
DY: No, but I’m very flattered that they have. They’re both successful people who have always seen the benefits of collaboration. It’s nice to be dragged up by people rather than dragged down, and they set a high bar of commitment to excellence.
When you consult logistics experts or production coordinators on your more monumental, grand scale shoots, what considerations go into that decision and what qualities are you looking for?
DY: Tolerance and an awareness of the pressure I am under and the financial risks I have. Also, an understanding that we’re not in a studio, so things won’t always go to plan.
As you have explored some of the most dangerous environments on earth, what is the one bit of kit or gear that you would feel vulnerable without?
DY: My mobile phone, because if I need help, I can call someone and ask for it.
Your relentless pursuit of excellence is near pathological. Where do you think this stems from? It obviously serves you well; yet is there a personal cost for such monomaniacal and monastic professional discipline?
DY: I think it stems from my mother, an artist who went bankrupt because she didn’t work on the commercial side enough. She was a brilliant artist, though. I’m trying to balance the rest of my life, especially my work and my children. My daughter was head girl of her school and is at Oxford university doing history, so that part of it I guess we got right.
A thoroughbred’s imposing proportions — a sublime orchestration of sinewy muscles and brawny bones — are much easier to admire without the distortions of a heated race. As you “freeze” animals associated with speed – horses, lions and wolves – does this play into your sense of composition? Surreal and so effective to see wolves riding shotgun.
DY: As a still photographer, I have no choice but to freeze motion. The only thing I have control over is where I freeze the motion. That decision will be taken with regard to emotion but also to the glorification of the animal. I am a romanticist before I am anything else.
Arguably, you are as much a phenom in your arena as Tom Brady is in his. Any interesting shoot day superstitions or routines?
DY: I think it’s always important to back yourself and be positive, and believe you’re going to get the shot. But no superstitions. Though I will always leave a note to myself in my hotel room saying ‘Do your best’. I haven’t told anyone that before.
Over the years, have you developed a sixth sense when it comes to location scouting? Who or what has been the most useful tool or resource when it comes to this?
DY: I don’t know whether it’s a sixth sense, but we will not settle on a location until we know it’s absolutely right. In many ways, I’m guided by filmmakers like the Coen brothers, who want to make sure that the backdrop is an additive, not an afterthought. If you stage a shot, you have all the cards in your hand, so it would be a crime to ever settle for something that’s not perfect.
SUBSCRIBE to Truly: http://bit.ly/Oc61Hj ARE YOU Zendaya? This is the question Whitney gets daily because of her uncanny …
Source from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nz-l6QSFR6U
It’s been one hell of a ride and it’s far from over. Paul Teutul Sr. has spent over 50 years building bikes and bending metal. He started building bikes in his senior year of high school and never really stopped. Paul came from an extremely abusive household where you’d catch a beating because you looked like you might do something. Worse than getting beat was watching your little sister get dragged across the floor, knowing you couldn’t help. Bikes and animals were the two things that brought him comfort in that life of hell.
Paul got out the first chance he could and joined the Merchant Marines, delivering ammunition overseas. Once he returned, he got married and started a family. It was then he knew that he had to find another way to take care of the people he loved. He bought an old truck and a welder and started Paul’s Welding. He took any and every job he could. Most of the time, he worked seven days a week building his company. As time passed, the hard work paid off and the company grew. Paul knew he needed a bigger name, so he started Orange County Iron Works, which is now owned and operated by his son Dan.
As hard as he worked, Paul still found time to build a bike here and there. But unfortunately, with the increased pressure came increased drinking. Senior would like to share those stories, but there are not enough pages to tell them all. After losing his business partner, his uncle and his best friend to alcoholism, he knew he wouldn’t be far behind if things didn’t change. He made a decision to live.
On January 7th, 1985, Paul decided not to drink, just for a day. That day became every day for the last 38 years. When he became sober, he had a one-year-old daughter and three sons, aged 9, 6 and 4. Paul is grateful to have been able to take his kids fishing, snowmobiling and to play their favorite family game, tennis. Paul knows one thing for sure—if he had not stopped drinking, he would not be alive today. “I would have missed out on watching my kids grow up and become the amazing people they are today,” he says.
Life got really crazy when a call came in from a producer that saw one of Paul’s bikes on the cover of a magazine along with a picture of Paul that fit the archetype they were looking for. The producer asked Paul if he would do a pilot episode for a reality TV show. They were looking for an East Coast personality similar to West Coast Choppers’ Jesse James.
He hung up not having a clue what this meant. As a 54-year-old blue collar guy running a steel shop, being on TV was not something that ever crossed his mind. He only had a little bike shop in the basement of his steel shop. What would people think? What if he sounded stupid? Would it affect his business? The rest, as they say, is history. After the first episode of American Chopper aired, he thought for sure he was ruined, but the ratings said otherwise. The offers to do more shows came in, and the public could not get enough.
While there were many great times during their 20 years of filming, there was also heartache. It meant filming 240 hours for each episode, only to find out that the final cut did not always paint him in the most flattering light. Imagine a camera following you for 240 hours of your everyday life and taking your worst moments and stringing them together in any order that sells. “Now let’s be clear,” Paul says, “I am by no means an angel. I gave them plenty of content. I was and still am an old school guy that knows how to get a job done, but when it came to communication, that toolbox was pretty empty.”
Paul still considers it a privilege to have had such an amazing opportunity and is grateful to Discovery for all they did over the years. Everyone asks, “What is Paul Teutul Sr. doing now?” His answer is simple, “building bikes.” He also wanted to keep OCC as a fun and exciting brand. A few years back, he met his business partner Keith Overton. Together, they have taken all of the bikes and memorabilia collected over 30 years and created a museum, restaurant and entertainment space all in one.
Paul is very proud of the OCC Roadhouse & Museum in St. Petersburg/Clearwater, Florida. It is the final resting place for 14 of his most iconic bikes that were actually built on American Chopper. OCC Roadhouse is now home to his personal memorabilia, most of which has never been seen before because it wasn’t featured on the show. The restaurant is more than just your ordinary bar and restaurant, although the food is amazing. Paul knows because he eats there a couple of times a week, and when it comes to food, he is a hard guy to please.
The OCC Roadhouse has over 11-thousand square feet of indoor restaurant space. It is attached to a 25-thousand square foot, open-air pavilion that hosts events every night of the week, including some of the best bands in Florida, the largest weekly cornhole tournament in the state, family night and karaoke, and country line dancing with a live band. However, Paul’s favorite aspect of the OCC Roadhouse is that they are the largest pet-friendly venue in all of Florida.
OCC Roadhouse shares a 10-acre campus with Bert’s Barracuda Harley Davidson Dealership, one of the largest Harley stores in Florida. Behind the Harley dealership is Paul’s newest shop where he’s always building 4-5 bikes at a time and loving it. No drama, just builds. The OCC brand is still alive and well, and while he is supposed to be enjoying semi-retirement, he can’t stop building bikes. When you love what you do,, it’s not work.
Despite his semi-retirement, Paul says that his life is still a crazy ride, and that he is just going to hold on and enjoy it. He loves Florida and plans on continuing the growth of the Orange County Choppers brand there.
One thing that has stayed constant in Paul’s life is his love of animals. Paul and his wife Joannie have a rescue farm that includes cows, horses, pigs, dogs and cats. They also continue to run the Hudson Valley SPCA in New Windsor, New York.
Celebrity tattoo artist, Josh Lord, shares some of his dos and don’ts when it comes to tattooing, and getting tattooed. #Inked …
Source from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yeePjEBqI-Y
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