Welcome to the first installment of Why That Tat?, in which we bring you the origin stories of the best/strangest/most hilarious/bizarre tattoos we encounter.

Michael Ian Cummings shows off his arm at a Whigs concert at Brooklyn Bowl. (Photo: Allyson Shiffman)

Michael Ian Cummings shows off his arm at a Whigs concert at Brooklyn Bowl. (Photo: Allyson Shiffman)

This week’s tattoo lives on all three members of beloved New York-based band SKATERS. It depicts two things we are very fond of: laid-back vibes and pizza! We asked SKATERS’ frontman Michael Ian Cummings, an East Village fixture, for some background:

It’s always funny to me how much people respond to this tattoo. I only did it because the rest of the band was getting them. Not trying to prove I like pizza more than you or anything (but I probably do). Lele from 8BallZines gave them to us while we were trying to finish the last song on the record at Electric Lady Studios. It was more distracting than I thought, but no problemo man.


And while we’re on the subject, check out the band’s stellar new video for their tune Miss Teen Massachusetts, off their forthcoming debut album Manhattan, the release of which will be celebrated with a show at Bowery Ballroom on Feb. 24.