Former footballer Paul Gascoigne has
been feeding his new obsession to tattoos after visiting a parlour five
days in a row as he continues his battle with alcohol.
The
46-year-old footballing legend has become a regular at Bournemouth Ink
studio in his adopted home town, where he has been given new tattoos to
add to his array of body art.
The
parlour has become so used to seeing him it considers him 'part of the
family' and he has even taken to playing his harmonica when he visits
the studio.
Paul Gascoigne plays the harmonica as he visits the Bournemouth Ink studio where he has become a regular
He knocked out a string
of tunes with the mouth organ for staff at the tattoo studio while he
received his latest body art including his ex-wife Sheryl's name.
He
performed his own renditions of Ray Charles' Hit the Road Jack as well
as songs by Phil Collins and Van Morrison while sat on a reclining
chair.
It's not the first
time Gascoigne has made a foray into music after he reached number two
in the UK Top 40 in 1990 with a collaborative cover of Fog On The Tyne
with Lindisfarne.
Other
tattoos Gascoigne has had done at the studio include a robin in a
heart-shaped locket inked on to his back and a heart with wings on his
left forearm to show he wears his heart on his sleeve.
The former England star recently said he had turned to tattoos as a way of battling his alcohol addiction.
And
staff at Bournemouth Ink have said it waives the costs of his tattoos
as they see it as a way of keeping him out of the local pubs and
off-licences.
Robbie Matthews is one of only two tattooists at the studio that Gazza allows to carry out the work.
Robbie Matthews tattooed the image of his
daughter Bianca on his back (left) as well as the heart with wings on
his left forearm (right) which shows he wears his heart on his sleeve
Gascoigne knocked out a string of tunes with the
mouth organ for staff at the tattoo studio while he received his latest
body art including his ex-wife Sheryl's name
The 37-year-old from
Newcastle, who has been working at the studio for nine weeks, said:
'Gazza has been in five days in a row now but he doesn't get tattoos
done every day - sometimes he comes in to look at art work or just for a
chat.
'He's even started playing the harmonica - it's hardly ever out of his mouth.
'He's only been learning for four days and he's not as good as he thinks he is.
'He loves Van Morrison and Phil Collins so he tries to play along to the songs while he's getting his tattoos done.
The tattoo of Bianca on Gascoigne's back which was done by Bournemouth Ink tattoo artist Robbie Matthews
Gascogine shows off his new tattoo of a heart
with wings on his left forearm (left) which was done by tattoo artist Mr
Matthews (right)
'It was funny when Gazza
walked into the studio the first time because I'd actually met him a few
times back home. He recognised me and I've been doing his tattoos ever
since.
'I did the picture of Bianca on his back and I've just finished a robin in a heart-shaped locket on his back.
'Gazza wanted the robin because he said every time he sees a robin it reminds him of his dad.
'It was my idea to do the heart on his forearm because it's symbolic of Gascoigne - he wears his heart on his sleeve.
Tattoo artist Mr Matthews (left) said the parlour does not charge Gascoigne (right) for his tattoos
'Gazza says he has started to get tattoos done as a way of coping with his demons.
'We don't charge him for the tattoos - we'd rather he was with us than down the boozer.'
Gascoigne has visited Bournemouth Ink so many times in recent months the staff there now consider him a close friend.
Studio manager Jay Austin said: 'He's become a part of the Bournemouth Ink family.
'For me he's now a personal friend and he often brings in presents and signed stuff.
'He's very happy at the moment, he's really enjoying himself.'
Written by Unknown
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