Grandpa Groovy & Crazy Ace Era
In the Beginning...
Years before the Richmond Tattoo Convention's debut, the Koger Center served as a gathering place for tattoo artists and collectors worldwide. It was there that they traded tips, shared stories, and tattooed one another. As the culture gained momentum, it evolved into a full-scale convention in 1988, marking the beginning of the Richmond Tattoo Convention’s first era.
Grandpa Groovy & Crazy Ace Era
In the Beginning...
Years before the Richmond Tattoo Convention's debut, the Koger Center served as a gathering place for tattoo artists and collectors worldwide. It was there that they traded tips, shared stories, and tattooed one another. As the culture gained momentum, it evolved into a full-scale convention in 1988, marking the beginning of the Richmond Tattoo Convention’s first era.
1988
Grandpa Groovy
Robert G. MacMahan, widely known as Grandpa Groovy, became a pivotal advocate for tattooing when the industry was still stigmatized and often legally restricted. He sought to pull the craft out of the shadows by founding the International Tattoo Artists Guild (ITAG), implementing safety regulations and a professional code of ethics that would help legitimize tattooing in the eyes of Richmond officials.
Leveraging his position as Commanding General of 'The Tattoo Club of the Confederacy,' MacMahan drew upon a deep network of East Coast artists to launch a full-scale convention in 1988.
Taking place at the Holiday Inn Koger Center, the event was one of the first of its kind, taking place during a time when fewer than 25 such conventions had ever occurred within the United States. The convention quickly became a landmark moment for the tattoo industry, gathering legends like Lyle Tuttle, Sailor Moses, Jack Rudy, Randy Adams, Jack Yount, and Gil Montie. It was also defined by a sombering milestone: the final year that the legendary Paul Rogers, an icon for both his tattoos and his machine building skills, ever actively tattooed.
Convention Poster Artwork by Patty Kelley. T-shirts Artwork by Jack Rudy & JD Crowe.
1989
Crazy Ace
Following the success of the 1988 convention, Grandpa Groovy handed the organizational reins to David “Crazy Ace” Daniels. A larger-than-life figure, Crazy Ace was a renowned tattooer, flash artist, and promoter, celebrated for his vibrant hand-painted flash sheets and his “Way Cool Tattoo” shop chain across the U.S. and Canada.
Operating out of Creative Designs Tattoo Studio (formerly “Richmond Tattoo Studio”), Daniels maintained the event’s momentum at the Holiday Inn Koger Center. A defining moment of the 1989 convention was his booking of the local band called GWAR
which just so happened to coincide with the group’s rise to mainstream fame following the release of their debut album, “Scumdogs of the Universe.”
The 1989 event served as a turning point for Richmond’s tattoo scene, firmly establishing the city as a premier destination for the culture. Daniels’ contributions not only elevated the local scene but also played a significant role in shaping the trajectory of convention culture throughout the early 90s.
The convention artwork was created by Mike “Rollo” Malone and Jack Rudy, with official t-shirts produced by JD Crowe’s Official Tattoo Brand.
Got History?
We want to hear from you!
This timeline is meant to be a living document of this event’s rich history in Richmond, Virginia. It has been made possible with the help of many of you. If you have any additional info, stories, photos, memorabilia to add, we’d love to hear from you! Please contact us at eventcoordinator@richmondtattooconvention.com
1988
Grandpa Groovy
Robert G. MacMahan, widely known as Grandpa Groovy, became a pivotal advocate for tattooing when the industry was still stigmatized and often legally restricted. He sought to pull the craft out of the shadows by founding the International Tattoo Artists Guild (ITAG), implementing safety regulations and a professional code of ethics that would help legitimize tattooing in the eyes of Richmond officials.
Leveraging his position as Commanding General of 'The Tattoo Club of the Confederacy,' MacMahan drew upon a deep network of East Coast artists to launch a full-scale convention in 1988.
Taking place at the Holiday Inn Koger Center, the event was one of the first of its kind, taking place during a time when fewer than 25 such conventions had ever occurred within the United States. The convention quickly became a landmark moment for the tattoo industry, gathering legends like Lyle Tuttle, Sailor Moses, Jack Rudy, Randy Adams, Jack Yount, and Gil Montie. It was also defined by a sombering milestone: the final year that the legendary Paul Rogers, an icon for both his tattoos and his machine building skills, ever actively tattooed.
Convention Poster Artwork by Patty Kelley. T-shirts Artwork by Jack Rudy & JD Crowe.
1989
Crazy Ace
Following the success of the 1988 convention, Grandpa Groovy handed the organizational reins to David “Crazy Ace” Daniels. A larger-than-life figure, Crazy Ace was a renowned tattooer, flash artist, and promoter, celebrated for his vibrant hand-painted flash sheets and his “Way Cool Tattoo” shop chain across the U.S. and Canada.
Operating out of Creative Designs Tattoo Studio (formerly “Richmond Tattoo Studio”), Daniels maintained the event’s momentum at the Holiday Inn Koger Center. A defining moment of the 1989 convention was his booking of the local band called GWAR
which just so happened to coincide with the group’s rise to mainstream fame following the release of their debut album, “Scumdogs of the Universe.”
The 1989 event served as a turning point for Richmond’s tattoo scene, firmly establishing the city as a premier destination for the culture. Daniels’ contributions not only elevated the local scene but also played a significant role in shaping the trajectory of convention culture throughout the early 90s.
The convention artwork was created by Mike “Rollo” Malone and Jack Rudy, with official t-shirts produced by JD Crowe’s Official Tattoo Brand.
Got History?
We want to hear from you!
This timeline is meant to be a living document of this event’s rich history in Richmond, Virginia. It has been made possible with the help of many of you. If you have any additional info, stories, photos, memorabilia to add, we’d love to hear from you! Please contact us at eventcoordinator@richmondtattooconvention.com
1988
Grandpa Groovy
Robert G. MacMahan, widely known as Grandpa Groovy, became a pivotal advocate for tattooing when the industry was still stigmatized and often legally restricted. He sought to pull the craft out of the shadows by founding the International Tattoo Artists Guild (ITAG), implementing safety regulations and a professional code of ethics that would help legitimize tattooing in the eyes of Richmond officials.
Leveraging his position as Commanding General of 'The Tattoo Club of the Confederacy,' MacMahan drew upon a deep network of East Coast artists to launch a full-scale convention in 1988.
Taking place at the Holiday Inn Koger Center, the event was one of the first of its kind, taking place during a time when fewer than 25 such conventions had ever occurred within the United States. The convention quickly became a landmark moment for the tattoo industry, gathering legends like Lyle Tuttle, Sailor Moses, Jack Rudy, Randy Adams, Jack Yount, and Gil Montie. It was also defined by a sombering milestone: the final year that the legendary Paul Rogers, an icon for both his tattoos and his machine building skills, ever actively tattooed.
Convention Poster Artwork by Patty Kelley. T-shirts Artwork by Jack Rudy & JD Crowe.
1989
Crazy Ace
Following the success of the 1988 convention, Grandpa Groovy handed the organizational reins to David “Crazy Ace” Daniels. A larger-than-life figure, Crazy Ace was a renowned tattooer, flash artist, and promoter, celebrated for his vibrant hand-painted flash sheets and his “Way Cool Tattoo” shop chain across the U.S. and Canada.
Operating out of Creative Designs Tattoo Studio (formerly “Richmond Tattoo Studio”), Daniels maintained the event’s momentum at the Holiday Inn Koger Center. A defining moment of the 1989 convention was his booking of the local band called GWAR
which just so happened to coincide with the group’s rise to mainstream fame following the release of their debut album, “Scumdogs of the Universe.”
The 1989 event served as a turning point for Richmond’s tattoo scene, firmly establishing the city as a premier destination for the culture. Daniels’ contributions not only elevated the local scene but also played a significant role in shaping the trajectory of convention culture throughout the early 90s.
The convention artwork was created by Mike “Rollo” Malone and Jack Rudy, with official t-shirts produced by JD Crowe’s Official Tattoo Brand.
Got History?
We want to hear from you!
This timeline is meant to be a living document of this event’s rich history in Richmond, Virginia. It has been made possible with the help of many of you. If you have any additional info, stories, photos, memorabilia to add, we’d love to hear from you! Please contact us at eventcoordinator@richmondtattooconvention.com
