Dave Navarro to Host New Spike Tattoo Series

NEW YORK: Jane’s Addiction guitarist Dave Navarro is set to host the new Spike TV original InkMaster, a tattoo competition series, to air in January 2012.

On InkMaster, tattoo artists will compete to be crowned the best in the country for a $100,000 cash prize and a feature in Inked magazine. The series, comprised of eight one-hour episodes, sees the artists facing off in various tattoo challenges that test their technical skills and creativity. They will be judged by a panel that includes Navarro, tattoo artists and experts Chris Nunez (Miami Ink) and Oliver Peck (Elm Street Tattoo), but also by the clients they’ve tattooed.

InkMaster is produced by Original Media with founder and CEO Charlie Corwin executive producing. Original Media, a subsidiary of Endemol USA, currently has 13 series on air, including NY Ink, Miami Ink, LA Ink, The Rachel Zoe Project, Swamp People, Storm Chasers and BBQ Pitmasters.

"Dave Navarro is known worldwide for his musical talents, but he’s also well-known within in the tattoo community for his incredible body art," said Sharon Levy, the executive VP of original series and animation at Spike TV. "Dave’s ultimate respect for the art and culture of tattooing makes him perfect for this series."