[Side view with tusk]
When Jack Yount was nine years old, he saw something that would effect his entire life. While at the circus he saw a tattooed man lift an anvil with his pierced nipples. The man, Rasmus Nielsen, was a tattooed strongman / weight lifter, who had unusually large nipple and throat piercings. Jack never forgot that day at the circus.

[Hanging]
When he was a college student a boy from a rival school had gotten his ear pierced, which made the local papers. A friend who had pierced ears in the Navy decided that they couldn't let their rival get all of the attention, so Jack and a dozen or so friends all got their ears pierced. Common today, but rather shocking in the 1950's.

[Stretched Nipple]
Several months went by and Jack thought that if the ear didn't hurt that bad than the nipples probably wouldn't either. He used a darning needle and alcohol to pierce both nipples. Earrings were inserted in the fresh holes. Time went by and friends started asking Jack to pierce them,too. By the mid 1980's Jack (know then as Mr.Jay) was a piercer with 30 years experience and a devoted clientele. He had a successful piercing enterprise in Washington D.C., and made frequent trips to tattoo conventions worldwide. He also made frequent trips to see his friend in Florida, the legendary Sailor Sid Diller.

[Full body]
Around the time of his first ear and nipple piercings Jack also began getting tattooed. He started with simple pieces, a little one here and there, and continued to do it a little at a time over the next three decades. Juli Moon, Gail and Dennis Watkins, Henning Jorgenson, Shotsie Gorman, Sailor Sid and several others all did some of his smaller work, but his big work began after he moved to Florida and met Bud Pierson of Ancient Art Tattoo in Orlando. Bud started with a piece on Jack's stomach, and eventually sleeved both of Jack's legs, both sides of his rib cage, and reworking on part of his back piece.

[Modified genitals]
Jack was also interested in more unique modifications, some only available through surgery. If you would like to see or hear more about Jack's unusual modifications, I recommend seeing Charles Gatewood's "Erotic Tattooing and Body Piercing #5", in which Jack gives an interesting show and tell that is most enlightening.

[Side view]
Over the last five years Jack has been a friend, mentor, and piercer to myself and many others. He tirelessly promoted body modification in all of it's forms. Two years ago he accepted the position of vice president of BRAVO! Body Jewelry, a company started by his protege, Mike Natali. He had an international clientele, some travelling from all over the world just to get a piercing and visit. Jack would always show them his latest tattoo, piercing or plant, and always with a smile.

[Leg tattoo]
Master Piercer Jack Yount passed away on July 15th, 1995 while on vacation in Denmark. He was an inspiration to all who knew him and will be dearly missed.

Shawn Porter
[email protected]


In my talks with Shawn about Jack, and seeing his photos, I must say that while I did not know him, I am very impressed and truly have to respect someone with such a great love for body modifications, and the dedication and clarity to carry them out.

Shannon Larratt, editor, BME.

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