A little tab will do you. (Patreon)

On October 19th, 2020, the Coca-Cola company officially discontinued producing Tab; the company's first diet soft drink was released in 1963 and while it's popularity declined in the 50 odd years since it's release, the Coca-Cola company credits Tab for inspiring Diet Coke. 

Knowing that adds very little context to this photo of piercing pioneer Jim Ward, taken in the late 1970s, but what can you do?

Jim Ward's interest in piercing pre-dated his introduction to piercing patron Doug Malloy, but with Doug as a mentor he would open the world's first body piercing studio. 

From Jim's memoir:
The grand opening was scheduled for November 17, Gauntlet’s third anniversary. There was a whirlwind of activity in preparation. Refreshments had to be purchased, champagne iced, everything put in order. A local photographer named Charlie Airwaves was hired to take photographs. It was one of the biggest days of my life.

Jim's memoir - Running the Gauntlet- is a must have for anyone interested in the early years of the body piercing industry, and can be ordered directly from Jim here: https://www.runningthegauntlet-book.com