Elayne Angel's downstairs neighbors, Louie's Juke Joint cringe at the thought of piercing. They do say though that Angel is the sweetest, most professional lady they've every met, and that her studio is like an unusually clean doctor's office... with black paint, neon, and scary nurses. Elayne Angel is one of America's very first piercers, and it cannot be denied that with her early role at Gauntlet she helped define what piercing is today. You can find Elayne at her New Orleans studio Rings Of Desire.
What made you change your identity from "Elaine" to "Angel"?

I haven't changed my identity. My legal name is now Elayne Angel and has been for years. When I got divorced from Mr. Binnie, rather than take back my old name, I thought as long as I was going through the trouble of a new license, credit cards, etc. I might as well have a name I liked. Most people in New Orleans had taken to calling me Angel. It is easy to remember when you see the wings.... So, I just went with Elayne Angel. I use the names interchangeably. "Miss Angel"-"Angel"-"Elayne" I use 'em all.

Actually, that's not quite what I meant -- In the distant past, you must have at one point been "just Elayne". At some point you changed your name and had the wings tattooed. I'm asking more about the motivations and drives behind that transformation...?

I'm not sure I've exactly ever been "just Elayne" in a sense. I was an unusual kid -- bookworm/oddball/nerd/freak/good-girl/sexpot. I was very into fashion and was accustomed to receiving a fair amount of attention from dressing in unique styles of my own creation. Many of the folks I've run into as an adult who hadn't seen me since childhood say I haven't really changed, or that I seem the same somehow. (Which is kind of remarkable given the tremendous alterations to myself with many piercings, much tattoo work, and my copious curly hair shaved off.) I've had deep internal imperatives to adorn and alter my body. I don't know where they came from, but they've been there as long as I can remember.

It wasn't so much of a transformation as an evolution. It was very organic. I didn't have a goal to have a certain per cent of my body tattooed within a period of time, or any such thing. I've just been livin' and doin' what comes naturally. I had the angel wings tattoo, and no other tattoos for a long time. It was over 5 years before I had any other tattoo work done. People just started to call me Angel because it was easy to remember once they saw the wings. I didn't object, and ultimately embraced it.

I think, if anything, the transformation was more internal than external. There is a strange kind of moral/ethical responsibility that comes with bearing angel wings. You can't feel good about wearing them, and also be a crumb. (At least I can't.) "Being an angel" is something to try to live up to, and I perceive that it has been a very positive guiding influence on me.

How do you feel about your photo being used for a major HMV advertising campaign?
That was a shock. I'm really upset because the woman who took the photo (years ago) begged me to allow her to shoot me and I said "no" many times because I'd already experienced people using my image without permission. She SWORE she would only use one image of me for an art show, IF I approved. So, she knew she did not have permission to use the image. It is all over NY subways, and I saw the HMV on 5th ave in NY. It gave me vertigo, looking up at a (pink!) 10 foot high photo of my back. Eeee! At least they could have used purple! I am talking to an attorney about it.

As a part of the original heart of Gauntlet, what motivated you to leave, and how do you feel about the demise of Gauntlet?

I feel very, very saddened by Gauntlet's demise. It is the end of an era. I was very happy to be there doing what I was doing. I would have stayed indefinitely. But, basically, there were upper management problems wherein I couldn't do my job properly and satisfy my customers. It was embarrassing to me. I couldn't get jewelry inventory in the shop in a reasonable period of time, and that sort of thing. I am still staying in touch with Jim Ward, and that feels good. I really love that man a lot.

What does having the first Gauntlet "Master Piercer" Certificate mean to you?

Well, the primary reason it is so meaningful is that Jim gave it to me after I had given notice that I was leaving Gauntlet. So, he didn't really need to do that for me. It made me feel he truly appreciated my contributions to the field. When I started at Gauntlet it was just one branch-Los Angeles, and that wasn't doing well and was actually about to close. Jim had already moved to SF but Gauntlet wasn't doing well enough to allow him to open a shop in SF. He said, "Well I have nothing to lose, so I'll give you a try." When I left there were 6 branches.

Why does urban legend place you as the person responsible for the popularity of the tongue piercing?

For the first decade or so Gauntlet was primarily doing male genital and nipple piercings on gay leather men. That was the population Jim came from, and those were the folks that were exploring the possibilities of their bodies back then. Gauntlet was founded in 1975. So, when I came along in the '80's and put a friendly, sunny female face on body piercing it brought several different population groups (and different focal points of the body for piercings) into the sphere of body art as consumers.

Jim had done very few tongue piercings before mine, and I believe he said he didn't know anyone who kept theirs in permanently/long term. I did a second one, and he had never heard of that. Two was more than twice the fun of one, so I ended up with the 5 I still wear. (I did 4 of them myself) They have been there for YEARS. Just got back from the dentist last week and he said, "You have very nice teeth." So far, so good! (I LOVE them!)

When we opened the SF branch Jim invited me up there. I was feeling very enthused about my tongue piercings and said to him, "I want to pierce San Francisco's tongue!" or something of the sort. And, I pretty much did...or at least got a start on it. So, with my help, the tongue piercing went from being virtually unheard of, to one of the most popular placements on the body.

You guess that you've done 30,000 piercings? Are you tired of it yet? At what number will you quit?

Even more than that by now. No! I'm not tired of it! I adore my daily life and that my work day centers around piercing. I love to pierce, still. I keep learning, growing, and improving professionally. Human bodies and the people they house are infinitely unique and fascinating to me. I have declined a lot of business opportunities that might make me more money, but they wouldn't make me happier because I'd be more of an administrator, and less of a piercer. I don't want to open other shops, get involved in jewelry production, etc. because that would take me away from being with customers and what I like to do best: piercing.

I don't have any number of piercings I ultimately plan to aim for at all. But I am a bit of a statistics freak, and I like to keep track of stuff like that for my own nerdly edification. It isn't a contest with anyone or any goal I have set for myself.

I have no idea when I'll quit. I don't really think about that. I am extremely content and feel like the most fortunate person I know. So many people are passionless. They don't even have a hobby that excites and stimulates them. I get to live my bliss and do what thrills me daily! Lucky me!

As a pioneer in the field, what do you feel were your most valuable contributions?

I think one of the most important things I did was to just make it OKAY to get pierced and be pierced. Back then it was pretty much only fringe-type folks who were involved. There were certain types of freaks (I use the word fondly) and S/M folks. So, in 1981 when my dad found out that my nipples were pierced (via a tattletale former gynecologist of mine) he freaked! He was so disturbed that HE went to a therapist about it! Body piercing was not something people had heard about. Now it has been on every news channel, sitcom, on commercials, in print media advertising; it is ubiquitous. But piercing wasn't an industry back then. It was one funny little shop and the general public didn't even know it was possible to pierce a nipple or a penis.

Many people felt VERY uncomfortable with their desires to pierce their bodies in those days. They didn't know it was okay. I believe that my supportive, joyous, positive attitude helped a lot of people to get through that and feel comfortable about their desires. They were then able to take that step and get pierced. Naturally, as the popularity and visibility grew, that ceased to be much of an issue.

You may consider it to be "urban legend" but I feel comfortable taking a lot of credit for the popularity of the tongue piercing. Since it is one of my personal favorites, and a delight to many who have them (and their partners) that makes me feel it is a valuable contribution.

Also, not just entirely in the piercing arena, but as a result of my own body art overall, and my visibility, I believe I have helped to make it easier for women to be heavily adorned and to be more accepted and to feel good about it.

Why are rings for above the neck piercings cheaper than rings for below the neck piercings?

The rings for above the neck start at 18 gauge which are $15.00 and up. We don't use jewelry that thin for below the neck piercings, so 14 gauge jewelry starts at $20.00 and up. It is just that the cost is based on the jewelry sizes.

Tell me about Chi-wa-wa Ga-ga? What made you open this shop? How has the reaction been?

I was pondering what to do with a small retail space in the back of the building where ROD is located. I had sub-let it to a few different folks and nothing had worked out. I thought I'd do something. This epiphany hit me and I knew just what to do. I partly did it because of Justine, my biz partner. She is the wife of my piercer, Pat. They are a great couple. It was kind of a perk for him to have her near here. They have a Chihuahua that is my dog, Angelo's little brother. Both Justine and I had bought little "leather" jackets for our dogs, and couldn't find enough sweaters to keep the lil' guys warm for the winter. Lots of people around here have small dogs. It all just fit.

It has been a hit! New Orleans is such a festive place. It is the perfect environment for putting your dog in an outfit or costume. For many folks their pets are like their children. We do lots of holiday business and get special inventory for each holiday event. We have a web site up and get great feedback and orders for merchandise. People are really into it! We have lots of regular local customers that come often for new outfits. There area also a great many tourists that pass through, and a number of them get excited about it when they have small pets.

I also get to use my early background in fashion design. I design dog clothes and costumes, too, which is a blast! We make little camo military outfits, faux fur coats, and so on. Angelo is definitely one of the best dressed dogs around.

Which of the two businesses do you enjoy more? Are they linked?

Now that Chi-wa-wa Ga-ga is up and running I'm more like a consultant. Justine eats, breathes and sleeps that place. It has really given her purpose in life. That is one of my greatest rewards in establishing CGG. I am far more involved in Rings of Desire, but the lil' doggie store is right down stairs.

Some people have complained recently about the presence of dogs in the piercing studio? Why do you allow this, and why is it not a problem?

It is not a problem because I DON'T allow it. I used to live in an apartment in the back of the shop. In fact, for the first 2 1/2 years in N. O. I lived there. That was my home (it was part of that dream I had about the building, too*). So that is where my pets were. I finally moved out but the cat stayed, and the dog came back and forth. Nobody ever said anything. The pets did NOT have free reign, and absolutely stayed out of the piercing areas. (It is a pretty sizable shop.) So, one day someone finally says something. The next day the pets were out of the studio. That's that! Angelo still hangs out downstairs in Chi-wa-wa Ga-ga a lot. Sometimes he is in the office (my former apartment. That area is separated from the piercing studio by 3 different doors and is about 65 feet from the enclosed piercing rooms.) He no longer hangs out in the waiting room and hasn't for a LONG time!

You've pierced and lived all over the country -- why did you decide to settle down in New Orleans?

New Orleans kind of picked me. It was my theoretical first choice before I even set out from Los Angeles, and I never really developed a second choice.

I wanted to live where I could be myself, and it wouldn't be a big deal to have a lot of body art, be a bald girl, or look different. I wanted to live where it doesn't snow; I loathe cold weather. And I wanted to be far away from any Gauntlet (out of respect for Jim) and to be where they needed piercing services-which was just about anywhere at that time. New Orleans fit.

I felt totally at home here, right from the start. Before I even moved here, when I was visiting, I was walking down the street and the carriage drivers started pointing me out and drawling, "Theeere's the tattoo'd lady o' the French Quarters," and I would smile and wave. People are very warm and friendly in the South. I didn't really have any close contacts in town and I had lived in Los Angeles my whole life. But I felt comfortable to move here. Friends that I know from other areas say they will come to visit, and they actually do! I love that.

I had a dream before I came to New Orleans of looking at and kind of touring a building. It was quite detailed, realistic, and memorable. Then when I got here and saw this building where Rings of Desire is, I realized it was the place I saw in the dream! I ended up getting to put the shop here and it was all pretty wild. My existence here has been VERY charmed. I feel like I have an angel watching out for me....

Is it difficult being a woman in what seems to be a largely male profession?

I sort of failed to notice. When I started, it wasn't a recognized "profession" per se. I was just so thrilled to be able to pierce. Basically, I just do what I do and didn't think about it on those terms. I'm a very determined individual when I set my mind to something. I feel that ultimately people respect and trust me based on my own merits and not on my gender or other extraneous factors.

What does this mean that you do? What is your role in the APP?

I am involved in several different aspects of outreach with the APP. This is the Job Description I wrote for the position:

APP Outreach Coordinator
Primary Functions:

Liaison between APP and piercers, would-be piercers, medical, dental, and health care professionals and the public.

Promote and foster image of professionalism in piercing within the piercing community and to the public at large.

Respond to inquiries for information about the organization.

Duties:

Generate and distribute educational, health, and safety information regarding piercing to the public, piercers, and health care professionals.

Reply to calls, mail, email, from interested or affected parties. Send printed materials including membership applications.

Educational public speaking at hospitals, schools, conferences, etc., to provide information and promote awareness of professionalism, safety and hygiene in body piercing.

Contact piercers to provide information on the organization and encourage membership.

Respond to inquiries from members and offer support for piercing education in their communities.

In real terms it means a lot of talking, educating, and sharing information. I came up with a proposal for a set of APP approved after care instructions for piercing. I have been in touch with the American Association of Blood Banks, various Hospitals and medical and dental facilities. I speak with piercers and encourage their involvement and interest. I'm kind of the official-unofficial "staff writer" for the group. I do a lot of writing and plenty of email correspondence educating all kinds of folks from media to concerned parents to piercers and medical professionals.

There have been a lot of changes and growth within the organization and I feel really great about the direction things are taking. I would encourage piercers who care about what they are doing and want to do it as best they can and desire to have the most updated information to look into the organization. We are having a big conference in Las Vegas in April.

What do you see yourself doing in twenty years?

Wow, this one really tripped me out, because it made me think of how old I'd be in 20 years. Oh, scary. I just kind of hope our Mother Earth is still turnin' by then, and that there are still human beings around, and that we are able to live on her. I pretty much live in the present with an eye cast towards the future, but I surely don't dwell there.

I don't have any age set when I'd plan to retire. Honestly, I see myself working at least part time, doing piercing! I've done quite a few different things in my life, and this is surely my life's passion. Even though I enjoy traveling a lot, most of my travel has been on business, because I am not all that big on LEISURE, per se. I prefer to work. I'm not one to sit around and do nothing; I'm definitely a doer. I don't have a television. I love to go to the gym, and I actually read or crochet while I'm on the stair stepper! (No I'm not joking; I dig crocheting! I'm currently working on a nice big blanket.)

I'd like to stay active and have fantasized about doing some adventure travel like white water rafting and/or mountain climbing in the future.

I'm totally in love and having an extremely fulfilling, healthy, harmonious adult relationship like I've never experienced before. When I think about 20 years into the future, I mostly think about me and my bald little head (still with a bunch o' jewelry in it) and my girl, with her hair all gray...living happily ever after.

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