Doug Malloy 1978 (Patreon)

I sometimes wonder if people into piercing today have any deep appreciation of the tremendous impact Doug Malloy has had on their lives. Certainly he had predecessors and contemporaries equally as passionate about piercing as he, but what was it that made him the center from which the whole modern piercing movement sprang? - Jim Ward. (1)

If you've ever heard the story of Prince Albert having a dressing ring, of Roman Centurions attaching their capes to pierced nipples, or of navel piercings signifying royalty in the courts of the Ancient Egyptians- you have Doug Malloy to thank.

It's true that it's not true- Prince Albert having a dressing ring, Roman Centurions attaching their capes to pierced nipples, and navel piercing signifying royalty in the courts of the Ancient Egyptians- but the stories, gently fabricated by Doug, added historical legitimacy to body piercing at a time where it was starting to hit the public eye. 

Doug's contribution to the history of the body piercing-  the dubious Adventures of a Piercing Freak and Body & Genital Piercing in Brief, mentoring Jim Ward, connecting the nascent piercing community via his T&P group- is immeasurable, if not often overlooked by piercers who were born decades after he passed away. You can read more about him in the link in the footnotes below. 

Here we have Doug photographing a client of Alan Oversby's in London, March 1978. 

1. Who Was Doug Malloy? - Running the Gauntlet March 15th 2004, Jim Ward.