March 20, 2000 – Slipknot, Sevendust and Coal Chamber have joined with top tattoo and body artists to bring fans the first-ever rock-and-ink traveling festival, known as Tattoo the Earth. Slated for 30 dates beginning mid-summer, it will feature a body-art festival village complete with tattoo artists, body piercers, body painters, henna artists, temporary tattoo artists, and plenty of alternative vendors.

"Nothing represents the counter youth culture like music and body art. It is a statement of purpose and a passport to another way of living. We're simply creating a venue where it can be expressed," says Scott Alderman, the festival's creator, whose New York-based company, BeatCo, is one of the producers of the event. "When the kids catch the vibe between the musical artists and the body artists, they are going to get off in a big way."

According to Dave Kirby of the Agency Group, the exclusive booking agent for Tattoo the Earth, "The bands are very excited about – and inspired by – this concept. Some of the biggest bands in the world have inquired about this tour."

Tattoo the Earth will keep the music pumping all day long with artists on the main stage and on an emerging artist stage. An array of other bands – joining Slipknot, Sevendust, and Coal Chamber – will be announced in the coming weeks.

Some of the most critically acclaimed tattoo artists in the world will be on hand at the festival village, including Paul Booth, Hanky Panky and Sean Vasquez. These guys have tattooed just about every band and many fans wait up to two years for an appointment.

"I've been doing festival tours for 25 years," explains festival producer Paul Zukoski, "and this is the best concept tour I've ever seen." Zukoski's company, Front Row Productions, produces over 150 shows each year including the B.B. King Blues Festival, now in its 10th year. "Everything about this tour is new and fresh," Zukoski noted. He added that plans are already underway for European and Australian versions of the tour. "This tour concept transcends geography and genre," says Zukoski. "Our goal is to tattoo the earth... the whole earth."

The artistic direction for the festival is under the macabre thumb of Paul Booth, one of the world's leading tattoo artists. Based in New York at his Last Rites Creeporium, Booth creates tattoo designs and illustrations that have caused many to dub him "the American Giger."

The tour dates for Tattoo the Earth will soon be announced.