CONVERSATION WITH STEVEN HUIE
[FLYRITE TATTOO]
[FLYRITE TATTOO]
29 MAY, 2025
Steven Huie is an owner of the legendary Flyrite Tattoo studio and tattoo artist and whose work is known far beyond the tattoo industry. Since the early 90's he has been an important part of the New York Hardcore community, creating iconic logos and graphic design for Madball, Sick Of It All, Cro-Mags, Murphy's Law and Crown Of Thornz. Since the 2000s, Steven has become a character voice actor for some of Rockstar Games' most famous video games, including the GRAND THEFT AUTO series and L.A. Noire. Design work for games such as ROCKBAND.
Steven has also received make-up credit for tattoo design work for the HBO series, THE SOPRANOS. Recently, he has been collaborating in producing designs for the clothing brand PITCHFORK NY HARDWEAR devoted to the NYHC community as well as the working class. Also collaborating with the GxBxTx Brand for the upcoming streetwear season. There will be an exciting new collaboration with artist Mick Lambrou from Australia for an new band based in Arizona. There will be a new album art upcoming for a band based in Richmond, Virginia and also exciting news for a new design for a band I am very familiar with and will be an evil release coming this summer.
Steven's journey is the story of a man embraced by a passion for art and the constant pursuit of self-expression in a variety of fields. We asked Steven to talk about how tattooing became legal in New York City, his first steps in the craft and his friendship with NYHC heroes, as well as the challenges and successes of one of New York City's most famous tattoo studio.
Steven has also received make-up credit for tattoo design work for the HBO series, THE SOPRANOS. Recently, he has been collaborating in producing designs for the clothing brand PITCHFORK NY HARDWEAR devoted to the NYHC community as well as the working class. Also collaborating with the GxBxTx Brand for the upcoming streetwear season. There will be an exciting new collaboration with artist Mick Lambrou from Australia for an new band based in Arizona. There will be a new album art upcoming for a band based in Richmond, Virginia and also exciting news for a new design for a band I am very familiar with and will be an evil release coming this summer.
Steven's journey is the story of a man embraced by a passion for art and the constant pursuit of self-expression in a variety of fields. We asked Steven to talk about how tattooing became legal in New York City, his first steps in the craft and his friendship with NYHC heroes, as well as the challenges and successes of one of New York City's most famous tattoo studio.
In Williamsburg, Brooklyn. One sunny afternoon, early 1990's. The neighborhood was a bit run down. Crime was common.
Pre-1996. Probably 1994. The location on Metropolitan Ave between Union and Rodney across the street from the Brooklyn Queens Expressway. There was a small step down with a door and two small windows indicating a studio at 500A Metropolitan Ave. This was called Crooklyn's Cave. A small tattoo studio run by a man named Storenzo.
Pre-1996. Probably 1994. The location on Metropolitan Ave between Union and Rodney across the street from the Brooklyn Queens Expressway. There was a small step down with a door and two small windows indicating a studio at 500A Metropolitan Ave. This was called Crooklyn's Cave. A small tattoo studio run by a man named Storenzo.
Elio Espana and his brother Alex lived in the neighborhood. When Elio broke his wrist he would come down to the "Cave" and hang out. A year later he would take over the place and rename it "Fly Rite Studios". This was named after a Nat King Cole song called "Straighten up and Fly Right."
Elio was known in tattooing for his solid, clean work. Elio was well versed in all styles of art. He can tattoo anything. Traditional, Japanese, portraits, color, black and grey, tribal, lettering, you name it. He has earned global respect.
Elio was known in tattooing for his solid, clean work. Elio was well versed in all styles of art. He can tattoo anything. Traditional, Japanese, portraits, color, black and grey, tribal, lettering, you name it. He has earned global respect.
Elio Espana and Steven Huie
He began in the NYC punk and hardcore scene when he moved here from England. He was the first person to ever own Dr. Marten's in NYC. Seriously. It sounds hard to believe but it's true. He drew fliers for hardcore bands and he started tattooing out of Vinnie Stigma's apartment. He was notably the man who tattooed Agnostic Fronts' frontman Roger Mirets' famous chest of the crucified skin and the words Agnostic Front.
Elio soon began to tattoo everyone as well as travel. He worked in San Francisco at Primal Urge.
Elio lived in California from 1993-1996. It was when he returned that he opened Fly Rite Studios.
Elio soon began to tattoo everyone as well as travel. He worked in San Francisco at Primal Urge.
Elio lived in California from 1993-1996. It was when he returned that he opened Fly Rite Studios.
Elio Espana for AGNOSTIC FRONT
The tattoo scene was very raw and still underground. Tattooing in New York City was still banned and outlawed. I guess technically, you can have a "studio" but not a store. It wasn't until May of 1997 that tattooing became legal to open a storefront and have signage in New York City.
Fly Rite Studios became well known right away. Being the first tattooing establishment to be a store in Williamsburg. There were a few other tattoo spots in the neighborhood. But Fly Rite was the first to be a legitimate storefront.
There were many artists that came through there. Seasoned New Yorkers Bee Cortes, Matthew Payne from Demonspeed and Squid from the band The Lunachicks were among the first crew. Chops joined the roster as well as Kelly Krantz. I've known Bee and Matthew from working with them at Rising Dragon in Manhattan. We all worked together at some point before we started at Fly Rite.
There were many artists that came through there. Seasoned New Yorkers Bee Cortes, Matthew Payne from Demonspeed and Squid from the band The Lunachicks were among the first crew. Chops joined the roster as well as Kelly Krantz. I've known Bee and Matthew from working with them at Rising Dragon in Manhattan. We all worked together at some point before we started at Fly Rite.
I started at Fly Rite in spring 1999 for one day a week. At the time I started, I've already had the privilege of already growing up in the NYHC scene and getting to do the tshirt and logo designs for bands like Madball, Sick Of It All, Murphy's Law, Crown Of Thornz and the Cro-Mags among others. There were many shops opening in New York City and there were a ton of tattoo artists going from shop to shop. I was already tattooing a few years since 1994. I was friends with and was getting tattooed by artist Chris Garver and we talked a lot about tattooing while getting tattooed. We traded sketchbooks and mostly focused on the drawings and making sure it was done right.
Steven Huie for MADBALL
Steven Huie for SICK OF IT ALL
MADBALL's "SET IT OFF" RELEASE RECORD, 1994
I got my first tattoo shop gig in Hicksville, Long Island at Body Designs, owned by Michael and Lynn Fenn in 1995. I learned a lot about talking and dealing with customers and basically working with people.
I was offered a tattoo artist position at Rising Dragon at 5th Ave. and 19th St. from the owner Darren Rosa. I jumped at the chance and I really got to learn about the technical side of tattooing. Tattoo history was a big part of working there and everyone was excited, young and hungry. I got to work with Matthew Payne, Jeff Ortega, Scott Bruns, Willham Paredes and Bee Cortes.
Rising Dragon opened up a second store under the Hotel Chelsea and I moved there to work. At this time I also worked two days at Murder Ink in Bayside, Queens. I also did a day at JK5 Productions in Pleasantville, NY. I worked at all these shops mainly to learn more about tattooing from all the people that worked there.
So basically, Tuesday(JK5), Wednesday and Thursday at Murder Ink, Friday at Fly Rite, Saturday at Rising Dragon. This went on for about a year or two. Eventually going down to two shops Fly Rite and Murder Ink, then ultimately to just Fly Rite for all my appointments.
I was offered a tattoo artist position at Rising Dragon at 5th Ave. and 19th St. from the owner Darren Rosa. I jumped at the chance and I really got to learn about the technical side of tattooing. Tattoo history was a big part of working there and everyone was excited, young and hungry. I got to work with Matthew Payne, Jeff Ortega, Scott Bruns, Willham Paredes and Bee Cortes.
Rising Dragon opened up a second store under the Hotel Chelsea and I moved there to work. At this time I also worked two days at Murder Ink in Bayside, Queens. I also did a day at JK5 Productions in Pleasantville, NY. I worked at all these shops mainly to learn more about tattooing from all the people that worked there.
So basically, Tuesday(JK5), Wednesday and Thursday at Murder Ink, Friday at Fly Rite, Saturday at Rising Dragon. This went on for about a year or two. Eventually going down to two shops Fly Rite and Murder Ink, then ultimately to just Fly Rite for all my appointments.
Fly Rite Studios entered the new and exciting times of the internet. Having computers in the shop, having a website made, to using tools on the computer to make things easier and faster. Image references and lettering stencils became easier to find. This was just before cell phones were becoming the norm.
In the spring of 2008, Fly Rite Studios moved two doors down into a spacious, new storefront at 492 Metropolitan Ave. This was also a time where the neighborhood was going through a huge change. Gentrification was in its’ beginnings and there were a lot of new people and new construction happening.
In the spring of 2008, Fly Rite Studios moved two doors down into a spacious, new storefront at 492 Metropolitan Ave. This was also a time where the neighborhood was going through a huge change. Gentrification was in its’ beginnings and there were a lot of new people and new construction happening.
Times were changing and Elio decided to let us know that he was interested in passing the reigns over and moving upstate New York where he bought property and was looking to slow it down and enjoy the North Country. Being that I had seniority at Fly Rite and that I also agreed to accept the responsibility of taking over the shop, I became the new owner of the shop in September of 2010.
I changed the name slightly to officially be Flyrite Tattoo. I was nervous and excited and a bit overwhelmed as I had never owned a business before. This took a long time to get adjusted to. To be responsible for the business side of things as well as taking care of my own tattooing art projects and my clients. It had to be done. And I had the support of all my friends and crew at the shop to help me. I am confident that our communication and trust goes a long way to keeping Flyrite as successful and a mainstay in our community as well as the city.
Our tattoo crew line up has changed and condensed a bit over the last few years.
I changed the name slightly to officially be Flyrite Tattoo. I was nervous and excited and a bit overwhelmed as I had never owned a business before. This took a long time to get adjusted to. To be responsible for the business side of things as well as taking care of my own tattooing art projects and my clients. It had to be done. And I had the support of all my friends and crew at the shop to help me. I am confident that our communication and trust goes a long way to keeping Flyrite as successful and a mainstay in our community as well as the city.
Our tattoo crew line up has changed and condensed a bit over the last few years.
During the time I was tattooing, I also ventured out and did some projects that interested me. I had the opportunity to do some voice-over work on various video games such as various Grand Theft Auto series, L.A. Noire and a few other games. I worked on several designs for the ROCKBAND game that came out a few years ago. The opportunity happened to come to me and I enjoyed working on them.
Opportunities also came up where I was asked to design tattoo images for THE SOPRANOS television series for HBO. This was used for Steve Buscemi’s character on season 5. I even got make-up credit for it.
Opportunities also came up where I was asked to design tattoo images for THE SOPRANOS television series for HBO. This was used for Steve Buscemi’s character on season 5. I even got make-up credit for it.
Steven Huie for Grand Theft Auto 2 cover
With the NYHC music scene, I grew up with many of the members of the bands that came out of that scene. They knew I was into art and asked if I can draw up some design to be used as t-shirt merchandise and logos for their bands. I am very happy to have been a part of the imagery the bands became known for.
I keep most of my original art for these designs and have them displayed in the shop.
I keep most of my original art for these designs and have them displayed in the shop.
I hope people still want genuine art, whether it be for their bands, or for their tattoos or whatever they want it for.
I enjoy that people still want me to create something fun and cool. The imagination that people have is what I love to collaborate with. Exchanging ideas and having fun with creating them.
I enjoy that people still want me to create something fun and cool. The imagination that people have is what I love to collaborate with. Exchanging ideas and having fun with creating them.
CONVERSATION WITH STEVEN HUIE [FLYRITE TATTOO]
29 Мay, 2025
29 Мay, 2025