Erik was born and raised in California. At the young age of 17 he started dabbling in the art of tattooing. While trying to figure out his future, he enlisted in the Army where he was assigned to 82nd airborne division. After his enlistment, he was offered and opportunity to tattoo professionally at a local shop in Fayettville North Carolina. After a few years he decided to move to south Florida, where he has been a staple of the local tattoo community since 2005.