Frequently Asked Questions
How do you prefer to be addressed?
Lizardman, Lizardman, Lizardman. Ultimately, I don't think it matters that much but It's just easier, and in most contexts more appropriate, to refer to me as Lizardman. Friendly abreviations like Lizard or even Liz may also be acceptable.
Where do you live?
Austin, Texas USA
How old are you?
I was born June 12, 1972
Where did you grow up?
I grew up primarily in upstate NY (Ellenburg, Clinton County).
Do you have any siblings?
I have a younger sister (3 years) named Erin
Are you married?
Yes. I married my wife Meghan on November 19th, 2003.
Do you have any children?
No. I do not and will not have children thanks to my vasectomy.
Do you have any pets?
Meghan and I currently have three ferrets: Nibbler, Quokka, & Ranger. We have had a total of seventeen ferrets thus far beginning with Meghan's first ferret Dervish that she got in 1998. Our business's past members: Dervish, Eris, Fozzie, Ginsu, Houdini, Illoigor, Jezebel, Kabuki, Luna, Mojo, Molotov, Nilbog, Oso, and Pooka. I also previously kept north american rough green snakes for use in my show as Cricket the Wonder Snake but since 2004 I have used borrowed local snakes when performing this act rather than trying to keep them on the road.
What is your educational background?
I was a national merit scholar finalist, attended Hartwick College (Oneonta, NY) on an academic scholarship and received a BA with Honors in Philosophy in 1994. In 1996 I began doctoral studies in philosophy at the University at Albany (Albany, NY). I left my doctoral work in 1999 in order to pursue career opportunities as a performance artist full time - this became a common hook for early media coverage of my work.
What do you do for a living?
I am an artist and an entertainer. I make my living performing around the world. My show typically consists of a mix of stand-up and sideshow stunts. I'm also the front man for the band Lizard Skynard. Covid has, of course, put a serious dent in this (read: complete stop) So, in the meantime I have been focused on home projects and doing more online. As gigs return, live events will be posted on the main page and social media.
What does your family think?
My family has always been nothing but loving and supportive. I probably would not have managed to do this without them. While it may seem hard for people looking in to understand what I do, my family has seen me develop and grow over the course of my life and they can see it as part of an overall whole.
Why have you transformed yourself via various body modification processes?
My physical appearance is part of a transformation project I began as an undergraduate working in body based performance art.
What is the transformation project?
While in college I hit upon the idea of using body modification procedures (initially tattooing) for a body based art piece that would explore the idea of what it means to be human from a linguistic standpoint. I was working with philosophy of language and it occurred to me that some of the principles put forth by Wittgenstein in his later works offered an interesting potential for exploration in relation to the transformation ideas I had been working with in art. Broken down it goes something like this: (1) Wittgenstein suggested that one way in which we are able to apply one term to many different objects is because they share a sort of "family resemblance" (2) Focusing on how this principle related to the use of terms like 'human being', 'person', etc in the sense that people identify others as humans more based on observation of surface physical characteristics and behaviors I decided to modify those aspects of myself in manner which would significantly differentiate me from other 'human beings' (3) In order to achieve this differentiation I chose to use permanent body modification procedures because I felt that a permanent commitment to the artistic statement was preferable if not necessary.
Why a reptilian theme?
I felt I should choose something that would work well for a total body theme (fit all areas, age well, etc) and, even more importantly, something I would like for the rest of my life. After considering several options (mazes, stories, spots, stripes, & more) I settled on the reptilian theme because I liked the look and it made a good fit with other ideas I had for the future at the time; like my split tongue and teeth, which did come to pass.
What about the non-reptilian elements like the earlobes and 'freak' tattoo on your chest?
The nature of the project is not wholly restrictive to purely reptilian aspects. My body is still mine and I have chosen to incorporate other elements I find desirable. If you really need to nitpick then think of it as a lizard-man with stretched earlobes and tattoos on his chest and arms.
When did you start work on the project?
I began contemplating and designing aspects of it as early as 1990. The first real work I had done (my first tattoo sessions) came 4 years later in 1994 after much consideration and design work.
What body modifications have you had done?
I have undergone an estimated 650-700 hours of tattooing over the course of 25 years which covers my entire body with the exception of the palms of my hands, the soles of my feet, and portions of my genitals.
I have had several piercings, of which I currently retain and wear jewelry only in my half-inch septum and my one inch earlobes. Due to a severe reaction I stopped wearing jewelry in my earlobes in February 2009 at which time they were unofficially the strongest pierced lobes in the world having successfully pulled cars on several occasions. In 2012 I began working on building up my ears for lifting and pulling stunts once again. By 2014 my ears were stronger than before and I was awarded a Guinness World Record for the heaviest weight lifted and spun by pierced earlobes for my signature keg spinning act.
I have had five Teflon horns subdermally implanted above each of my eyes to form horned ridges.
Four of my teeth have been filed into sharp fangs via dental drill.
My tongue was been bifurcated using an argon biopsy laser in 1997
Who performed the procedures?
Rianne Phillips of Golden Goat Tattooing has been my tattoo artist since 2016 and has now probably done more square footage of my body than any other artist. In January 2019 (25 years to the month from my first tattoo session) Rianne filled in the last three empty scales on my body onstage at the Star of Texas Tattoo Art Revival in Austin, TX. Other artists who have worked on me include Adam Walsh (Triple Crown, Austin, TX), Mike Tidwell (Obscurities, Dallas, TX), Mad Pup (Mad Pup Tattooing, Plattsburgh, NY), Uncle Bill (Mad Pup Tattooing, Plattsburgh, NY). My eyelids were tattooed by Jessica (Forbidden Fruit, Austin, TX) and My lips were tattooed by Miss Vicke at the 2004 AMJAM Tattoo Expo in Syracuse, NY. In May 2015 Kaiwefaust tattooed a dot in my ear by hand at the Copenhagen Tattoo Expo. I pierced and stretched my own earlobes. Keith Alexander pierced my septum and then I stretched it. My implants were performed by Steve Haworth of Phoenix, AZ. My teeth were filed by Dr. Harvey Winter in Albany, NY who I was referred to by Dr. Lawrence Busino who split my tongue.
How much did all of this cost?
I have not kept an accurate record of the cost, as I don't think that cost is a good measure of art. I have been fortunate in that much of the work has been done at 'friend rates' or even free. An estimated value for all of the work done at full price could exceed $250,000.
How long has it taken to get it all done?
I have been actively getting work done since 1994, in 2019 I filled the last empty scales reaching some sort of completion. However, I still have ideas, additions, and fixes in mind and will be continuing to get tattooed or otherwise modified as I like but work and travel (and now covid) greatly restricts how much time I can spend getting procedures and healing.
Are you finished? Will you ever be finished?
I won't say that I will ever be finished as new technology and ideas may arise that I can incorporate into my work.
Does it hurt?
Yes. It all hurts and if someone says it doesn't then they likely have a problem with their nervous system or they are trying to sound tough. The very nature of what is done during these procedures (needles in skin et al) means they should hurt but pain is no reason not to do something. Lots of things hurt but they are worth it - childbirth for instance, or so I am told anyway.
What about when you are older? What if you regret it?
My work has been done by some of the best and the design has good potential for aging. Given the risks I take professionally I will be more than happy to live long enough to become a wrinkled and faded old Lizardman. Regret is always a possibility for everyone, you could say the same to someone joining the army or going to law school. I have done my best to consider and plan for the eventualities that could cause me to regret my decisions - further, in fact, than many people I know went in considering far larger decisions like having children or marriage. I do not think that I will regret this; if I did I would not have done it. My question is; as I approach 50 years old and after 25 years when will people stop asking me about when I'm older?
What acts/stunts do you perform in your show?
I choose from a variety of acts I have learned since starting with fire manipulation around 1990, my full repertoire consists of dozens of acts with many variations of each. I am also constantly inventing, researching, and training in order to expand my repertoire.
Do you perform suspensions?
I have performed several suspensions in the past but it's been well over a decade since the last time I took hooks. From 1998 I worked with Allen Falkner, T.S.D., & C.o.R.E. and other groups around the world and I was a contributing author to the original BME Suspension F.A.Q.
How long have you been performing?
I have been performing sideshow professionally since 1996. Previous to this, I was actively involved in more traditional theatre and other forms of performance art.
Does performing the stunts hurt? Are they dangerous?
Many of the stunts and acts involve some pain or discomfort even when done correctly and almost all of them are dangerous if not potentially fatal. No one should attempt to mimic or otherwise perform such feats without proper training and instruction.
Where did you learn the stunts you perform?
Through careful research and training I was able to teach myself the majority of the acts I perform today. The rest were shared with me by other performers.
Will you teach me? Where can I learn?
I do occasionally do small seminars and workshops for performance or theatre groups but for the most part I do not teach acts or stunts. Those wishing to learn should seriously consider the danger and seek out qualified professional training (it would have saved me many years and scars). The sideshow school at Coney Island is an excellent start.
Where have you performed and with whom?
I have performed all over the world and toured the US nationally several times. From 2003-2008 I was the host of the Jagermeister Music Tour. Besides working as a solo act I have appeared with The Jim Rose Circus, Sideshows by the Seashore (Coney Island), Todd Robbins Carnival Knowledge, Brothers Grim, Hellzapoppin, The Monsters of Schlock, Sideshow Wonderland, Psycho Circus, Deja Voodoo. Some of the bands I have toured and performed with include Godsmack, Staind, Breaking Benjamin, Hinder, Hatebreed, Type O Negative, 3 Inches of Blood, Hed (PE), Saliva, Chimaira, Fear Factory, Slipknot, Mastodon, Killswitch Engage, Corrosion of Conformity, Disturbed & Slayer.
How can I see you perform?
Show announcements are usually made via social media and upcoming events are listed on the main page.
How can I book a performance?
Contact me with the details and we'll work from there.
Have you been on TV?
I have appeared on hundreds of television programs worldwide.
Have you ever been in a movie?
I am interviewed in the movie Modify and I have small roles in Boxboarders (2007) and Song to Song (2017).
Are there any books about you?
I am mentioned, discussed, and/or referenced in several books including the annual scholastic press Ripley's books and some college level textbooks.
Have you written any books?
Yes: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08M4CBSVX
What is Lizard Skynard?
Lizard Skynard is a musical project that I started with my friend Mossy. In March 2010 we recorded at Electrical Audio in Chicago and in October 2010 we released our first album.
Are you religious or spiritual?
No. I do not adhere to or believe in any faith or supernatural views of reality and I would rather not hear about yours, thank you.