#1year.

When my editor told me about this article I wasn’t so sure it was actually worth it. I mean, who would want to actually go interview someone who’s name made you immediately think of some sort of STD? not to mention, he was a tattoo artist in THE CITY, god only knew what kind of chaos would unfold if I were to actually sit down with this man. But despite my protests, and constant bribes I had given in and ventured my way into the big city. Nerves had pulsed through my veins like mad as I approached Lucille’s Parlor, from the outside it was everything one would expect a tattoo parlor to look at. The ground was nicely swept, and the lighting and signs weren’t so flashy, but something that had stood out were the curtains in front of the large bay windows. Of course this only spiked my curiosity as I pushed through the door and heard that usual chirp. The scent of cannabis and cologne had filled my nostrils as the sound of buzzing needles filled my ears. There was no doubt about it, I was in a tattoo parlor. As I walked up to the counter I was greeted by a woman who had a sour look on her face. Lips curled into a permanent frown. There was no hello, just a demanding “we don’t take walk ins.” Of course, this made me uncomfortable and for the first time since I entered the shop, I wasn’t feeling all that welcome. But before I could even respond the curtain behind the counter had been drawn, and I had laid eyes on the man behind the parlor for the first time. The moment I laid eyes on him I had immediately changed my opinion on coming. He had this almost calming energy about him, and once I explained my story he immediately took me into the back of the parlor, being sure to give me the tour along the way before promising to make this as fast as possible, seeing as though he could sense my anxiety in a way. Before I started with the questions that not only my manager had set up for me, but the questions we received from his fan base, I had an inquiry of my own. But it took a few minutes to really get warmed up to him. It wasn’t entirely him that was hard to connect with, but he hadn’t been fitting my expectations at all. When you think of a tattoo artist in New York City, you imagine someone who is probably dirty, or even frustrating or stand offish. But he was far from that, the man towering over me resembled an almost friendly giant, and a definite story behind those eyes.  He was interesting, and almost intimidating with how kind he was. It was evident he didn’t want to hurt me but I had this feeling in the pit of my stomach that if I got too close, he’d wind up doing something. So I couldn’t stop myself from asking three words he’d use to describe himself. He genuinely had to take a few minutes to answer my question, but soon he had responded with “tall, destructive and misunderstood.” Now I must warn you, what unfolded during the interview can be seen as raunchy, and even disturbing so I ask if you’re weak hearted, you do not go further.

     Q. You probably get this a lot, but I think this is the best place to start, why do you go by the name lip instead of something like, phil, or just phillip?

     A. haha, it’s funny that I knew you were going to ask that. yeah, I get it sometimes. I get sh*t on it for a lot too, but I don’t know. When I was younger, no one called me Lip. It was always Phil or Phillip but then I moved out here and my mentor actually started with the whole “Lip” concept. He sort of created Lip and now when people ask it’s sort of like, that kid before isn’t me not anymore that’s some f*cked up kid from California, and that’s not me. We’re not the same, not anymore. I definitely like it, though. despite how much sh*t I get for it.       Q. Speaking of you when you were a kid, I’ve done some research and is it true your father is Chip Hawthorne, and your oldest brother is Ethan Hawthorne, the one who worked the Bronson case?

     A. Done your research? Cute. But, yeah.

     Q. What made you go in the direction you went, when your brothers and father clearly went in an entirely different direction? Did it cause any problems at home?

     A. I guess I just always had this in me. It’s not that I saw my family going down this path and I was like f*ck that, I’m doing this. It wasn’t like that at all. I actually didn’t ever think I’d be running a parlor one day. All my life my dad wanted me to be just like him. Follow his guidance and be a perfect little soldier. I was actually going to college to become a doctor, but I gave that all up when I finally found my true passion.      Q. That actually brings me to my next question, what would you be doing if you weren’t a tattoo artist?

     A. I’ve thought about this all my life, honestly. I think I would have become a doctor for kids with terminal illness. I always felt the most connected to children, and I always felt the worst for them and feel like they need the most attention, you know? I mean, working in the pediatric unit would probably be the hardest but at the same time, those kids are so full of light man.

     Q. Do you have any children or do you want any?

     A. I thought you did your research -- yes, I do have a daughter, her name’s Quinn. She’s my entire world, and I’d f*cking love to have another in the future.

From this point on, I had told him we actually received some messages from a few of his fans, it was obvious he was nervous at this point -- and he had every reason to be. ONCE MORE i’d like to state that what is going to follow is NOT SAFE FOR WORK content, and do not read further if you’re not ready.

     Q. To my surprise, when we first posted about the interview we received a lot of questions but the number one question asked, was well, do you eat ass?

     A. ( after a string of various profanities and uncontrollable laughter, he finally collected himself and was able to answer the question ) NO, I don’t eat ass. I don’t at all. This is so stupid and I KNEW someone was going to ask that.       Q. when you love someone, do you put your all into them?      A. Bit of a loaded question, don’t you think? I mean, it depends on where I am or who they are. When I’m in love with them I’ll do anything and everything for them. But if I just love them, then I mean... I don’t know, I don’t think i’ve just platonically loved anyone in a while.      Q.  would you date an alien?      A. ( with a look of surprise, he begins to nervously laugh. ) Uh, I don’t know, would you date an alien? i mean. if they have like weird faces or something that actually scares the shit out of me, then nah. But I mean, what the hell is this question?      Q. if you were given a chance to change anything about your life, would you take it?      A. Yes.      Q. everybody has an inspiration/role-model or at least something close, who do you consider to be yours? do you have more than one?       A. My biggest role model has to be my mentor, Chad. Props to him, because through everything he saw me as something bigger than what I was, you know? he was a good dude, and taught me a lot.       Q. what is your earliest memory of your mother? what about your father?      A. Uh, my mother? Probably my fifth birthday, I remember I woke up to my room filled with gifts and balloons. I remember I overslept, and that had to be the first time I had actually slept later than ten. I remember... pancakes, and bacon. I remember laughing, and getting my first sketchbook... and my father? no comment.      Q. who was your first love? what was he/she like?      A. ( he sang justin bieber’s baby’s chorus maybe three times before finally answering. ) Ah, okay I’m here. Okay, well, it really depends on when you’re talking about, or what kind of love. My first real crush was on a girl who had blonde hair. I don’t remember her name, I just remember she was the first person to actually give a shit about me. We didn’t amount to much, though. She moved away the following summer but she was the first person to really make me feel something... But when it comes to real, raw love -- that has to go to a man who had taken me by storm when I moved to New York. I was working in my mentor’s parlor, and he was a boxer. It was definitely... something, he made me feel different than any other partner I’ve ever had. It was real love, that. He was someone who really made me feel safe for the first time, and gave me the strength to fight any battle I faced.      Q. you have three wishes, what are they? why?      A. Nice, okay well first off I wish my daughter would have nothing but happiness for all her life, because that’s all a parent really wants for their child. I just want her to know life is good, and only get the best. Next I’d wish for my mother’s sanity (*), because she is so strong and deserves much better than that. And lastly, I’d wish for my own life to sort itself out, simply because this roller coaster life isn’t doing it for me.         Q. when did you lose your virginity? what was it like?       A. Fifteen, -- forced.       Q. can you recall your nightmares/dreams upon waking up? if so, what's your most memorable nightmare? what about dream?       A. Depends on how I went to bed. If I don’t take my medication, there’s a strong chance i’ll have a nightmare and it will be remembered. It’s not like there are various dreams and they’re easily forgotten, though. As for my most memorable nightmare there are a few that stand out, but one more than the other’s... It’s a bit personal, so I’d prefer not to share the entire story but over all it’s me, running from someone who is going to hurt me after finding out I had lost someone important to me. Dreams, though, are something I have not been able to capture and remember. Most nights it’s just black, until I wake up.      Q. if you can go back in time to a decade before your birth, which one would you choose? why?      A. Oh man, I’d probably go back to the 60′s, just because i’d be able to do my thing. but i’d want to skip the 80′s and 90′s and get back to today. just wanna visit the 60′s you feel?      Q. what is your biggest goal in life? do you feel like you'll be successful in accomplishing that goal?      A. No comment on what the goal is, but I know I’ll never be able to properly receive it. (*)      Q. why do you cheat?      A. Uh, well, I don’t know how to answer this question, because I don’t know. It just... happens, something I don’t know I’m doing until after it’s over and it’s almost scary. I don’t think, I just act.      Q. what subject did you excel the most at in school?      A. English, honestly. Sure I did well in art class but that was a pass fail course, no real grades... But in english I was able to excel, I would write a lot when I wasn’t able to paint, and I could grasp a literature’s meaning relatively well.      Q. lip, if you were a disney princess then what disney princess would you be?!      A. I’m not a goddamn princess, I’m the queen, Elsa... No, but my daughter does say I’m the perfect Prince Kristoff so.      Q. would you kill someone for a million dollars?      A. No.      Q. what are your favorite tattoos?      A. Hahaha, I was hoping someone would ask this. My favorite tattoo is definitely my Lisa Simpson tat on my foot, I relate to her a lot, even though I’m the real life Homer Simpson.