About Brian
Brian Keith Thompson is the proprietor and Chief Piercing Officer of The World Famous Body Electric Tattoo, a Hollywood landmark situated on Melrose Avenue that stands as a Los Angeles institution and must-see destination for international travelers. Brian and Body Electric provide services to a long list of Hollywood A-listers, and have been featured on such television shows as 2 Broke Girls, Vanderpump Rules, Basketball Wives, Hollywood Exes, and Chrisley Knows Best – to name a few.
Thompson was born to run Body Electric. His father, a hard-working and firm-yet-lovable figure, served in part to inspire Thompson’s would-be work ethic. The remainder came from his inherently dynamic constitution and the many years spent in the US Marine Corps as a corporal and assault amphibious crewman.
After returning from a tour in Okinawa, Thompson embarked on his tattoo journey with an unusual introduction: at the hand of a recently released inmate. It was a chest tattoo – and it affected him significantly. To him, “It was electrical – literally.” And from that moment, he was hooked.
In 2001, a friend told Thompson about Body Electric Tattoo. And although he was at the time climbing the corporate ladder of a top multinational telecommunications company, the notion nevertheless took root. Five years later – before the stock market crash of 2008 and against the emphatic advice of his account – Thompson cashed out his 401k and bought the treasured staple of the city.
Since then, Thompson has been engaged in revolutionizing the tattoo and piercing world. In an industry rife with not-so-personable practitioners and seedy establishments, Thompson and his Marine-Corps mentality have brought about a brand-new experience for his patrons with a clean, modern, non-threatening environment where customer service is the number-one priority.
Body Electric is a passionate provider of specialized tattoo designs and piercing services with veteran artists who possess over 100 years combined experience. And it’s Thompson intention that the local landmark serve as his legacy long after he is gone.
