Check Out Rafael Sanchez’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Rafael Sanchez.

Hi Rafael, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I came from Mexico City 30 years ago. I’m meet some friends in a punk rock show…one of them do tattoos in his house… with a home Mada machine, that my first contact whit tattoos… time goes by and I was really interested in tattoos… lil by lil start practicing… but in Mexico because I just to go back and forth… later on I buy a professional machine… and I started practicing on me…and friends…I don’t have any direction in that time… so I’m started getting a lil better… because in Mexico back then… nobody knows anything about techniques… do I move back to Los Angeles… and I started looking for direction to learn more… I start tattooing in a few shops in LA… small shops… even in the swap meet un Pico Rivera..in that time I meet some guy a really great tattoo artist… and now he’s my mentor… paco excel. He teaches me everything about tattoo painting techniques… tattooing everything… so I started doing. Y out think… I mixed the American traditional tattoo whit my heritage and I call that Mexican traditional…unique style… is a lot of raza in LA that they like my style… people from Europe and Japan…I started my shop in Hollywood Blvd… like 13 years ago… a seven year’s ago I changed my location to downtown Los Angeles… I love downtown… me Rockabilly Ray, vicious, tes, eso, jason, Pantera y miguel… at the shop we’re ready to do any style of tattoos. We’re in the heart of Los Angeles… I been tattooing a lot of punk rock bands, psycho Billy bands for Europe and USA… and I just tattoo the singer bad bunny. I’m in his latest video. Doing his tattoo… I just wanted to thank God!!! For making this happen!!!

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
That’s not easy for me… because I was an addict… alcoholic…one time I lost everything for my addiction… but God find me a restored my life… and my career 🙏 Now I’m ten years sober. Now the shop and my artist are really strong… focus… and ready to do tattoos all day!!!!

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
Mixed the American traditional tattoo whit my Mexican heritage… Bright colors bold lines is unique. My nickname is ROCKABILLY RAY.

Is there anyone you’d like to thank or give credit to?
My wife all her support. In good times and bad times… my daughter. That is my inspiration… and my son Max R.I.P… he was a really tattoo artist.. he learned from me… but he passed away almost a year ago… And of course The King of kings JESUS CHRIST. I’M NOTHING WHITEOUT HIM, he deserves all the honor and all the glory.

Contact Info:

• Email: tintarebelde@gmail.com
• Website: www.Tintarebelde.com
• Instagram: Rockabillyraymerlin
• Facebook: Ray Merlin