YMA: Tell the readers who are new to this, a little about yourself? Erik: My name is Erik Sprague but I am mainly known by my stage name: The Lizardman. I am a heavily modified performance artist & entertainer that has had a number of procedures done to make my appearance more reptilian. YMA: At what age did you first start thinking about being modified? Erik: I was very play oriented at a young age. I was into body painting before I even knew tattoos existed and as a small child I would play with needles and try out rituals. Permanent modification really entered into my world around junior high when I thought about getting my ears pierced - but I ended up waiting till I was 18 to have it done permanently.

Erik's various modifications*

YMA: Did the thoughts of being modified at a young age show in or around you? For instance, some people color in their arms at a young age before actually getting tattooed later in life and some people put objects up their nose to get a large septum like effect.

Erik: They showed a lot in my behavior but I didn't always make that behavior known - I was very big on coloring on myself and playing with push pins and sewing needles.

YMA: Did the thoughts of being modified at a young age transpire as you progressed through life or was it something that came along naturally?

Erik: I think it was fairly natural.

YMA: Was the feelings of wanting to be modified at a young age dramatic, in a sense, that it was something you needed in life to make you complete or was it as simple as seeing it as something that you took an interest in and found it?

Erik: It was a very basic drive for me but it was also playful - I don't take anything so seriously really. If I had been completely denied it, it would have been detrimental but it was also something I kept in perspective. Not unlike any of my other favorite activities at the time.

YMA: Your tongue split, Erik, is obviously one of your most popular and well known mods to people, I would even go as far as to credit you with bringing it to the for front as well as helping others in getting it. How does this make you feel to carry such a reputation? Erik: It's an honor more than anything else. Through basically dumb luck and persistence I was able to get something that up until that time was nearly just a myth, and almost completely undocumented. Within six months of having it done, I had documented it and sent that info to BME - as well as personally helping at least a half dozen people come have the surgery done in Albany (where I lived at the time). YMA: Erik, Tell me about your tongue split, how was it done step by step? Erik: The surgical procedure is incredibly simple. I had a shot of Novocain and then an argon laser was used to burn through the tongue creating the split. The interior of the split were then sutured and it was over.

Erik crossing the two halves of his tongue*

YMA: How does the method you did differ from the methods that practitioners and people at home do, aesthetic wise, procedure wise, etc?

Erik: The main difference is quickness and comfort as compared with the tie - off method. Compared to a scalpel there is much less blood since the laser cauterizes as it works - the only blood is from the sutures. In terms of how it looks; the result for the laser and the scalpel differ depending on if sutures are used - if they are, the interior will be more rounded. Sutures also seem to help reduce regrowth along with proper aftercare.

YMA: Having had this done by a surgeon, What is the most essential thing the surgeon did besides making the incision; That has either made the split look better or heal differently then other splits done by practitioners or people who perform this themselves?

Erik: A big part of having it done by a surgeon was being able to have anesthetic and being a professional operating environment. While many practitioners do maintain the proper environment this is much harder to ascertain and control for outside of licensed medical professionals (albeit some of them are not up to snuff either). The suturing has made the biggest difference in the look of it.

YMA: Erik, there are young modders out there who want their tongue split and because they're underage and cannot acquire the services of someone professional, they tend to take on other harsh methods. Such as monofilament, being the most common. How does this make you feel and is there anything you want to say to them?

Erik: Personally, I waited awhile before any mods - I was 18 when I pierced my ears, 21 before I got tattooed, and 25 when I got my tongue split, etc. I understand the desire to have something now and I even kind of wish I had started sooner but I also think that it's not unreasonable to wait. All of these things are serious and if they really mean something to you, you can wait - fad and trends fade but real desire will hold out through the wait.

YMA: Erik, How exactly did you become involved into the side show performance arts?

Erik: I loved fire as a kid, so I taught myself fire manipulation by researching physics and watching a lot of performers - and just being lucky enough not to get killed when I went for it. I also learned a lot through body play and ritual that can be translated into stage acts - like the pincushion. I about 90% self taught via research but since I began actively performing on a full time basis I have been able to meet other professionals and exchange ideas and knowledge.

YMA: Was the desire to be a "freak" something you thought of since childhood or something you came to realize later in life?

Erik: I was always the freak in my peer group - my ideas and behavior are generally a great deal more outlandish and freakish than my appearance now. Being modified the way I am simply makes my appearance as freakish to others as my ideas and actions did before.

YMA: Obviously, this is very dangerous work, Have you suffered any accidents and if so, how severe of an injury or injuries? Erik: I've been hurt, a few times would even qualify as severely by most standards. Mainly I have been burned and cut. YMA: A lot of people come to your shows, they see you and get inspired and then they too want to be a side show performer. How does one go about doing that exactly? Erik: First, you learn how and physically condition yourself to do the act(s). Second, and more importantly, you figure out a way to present the act - your pitch. Third, start busting your ass on the street corners, in local clubs, etc. and hope that your act is good enough and well liked enough that people buy tickets to see it and you can pull together a career. It's the sort of thing you only do if you love it - you can make more money and work less hours being a fry cook.

Erik with a running power drill inside his nasal cavity*

YMA: I know, some young modders who read this may also desire to be a side show star, is there any other advice you want to offer to them?

Erik: Do it everyday (audience or not) and be persistent.

YMA: How do you personally feel about younger modified people approaching heavier modifications such as tongue splitting, dermal punching, large gauge stretching etc.?

Erik: The same I feel about anyone approaching them - if it's done with research and understanding then it's a good thing.

YMA: Do you think parents should be more involved with their kids' desires for being modified, even encourage it or does it differ?

Erik: I think parents should be involved with their kids - doesn't matter what the subject is. They should be there to help with research and to promote a sane and rationale approach.

YMA: How does your family feel about you pursuing your desire to be a lizard by means of involving heavy body modification?

Erik: My family is very supportive; they have seen how my current work is simply the natural evolution of me as an artist and a person

YMA: Have you fell victim to any type of discrimination because of your appearance, if so, what was the worst case?

Erik: The worst I have ever had is being turned away from bars, but its not a big deal - if the staff turned me away its very likely that people inside wouldn't have been very friendly and thus they likely spared me some grief. I get rude comments now and again - but for the most part people are really polite. I think it's mainly due to the fact that I try to be polite myself, I am very low key in everyday life and people give a lot more leeway and respect to someone who doesn't jump in their face waving their split tongue or whatever at them.

YMA: What other mods do you plan to receive to complete your lizard appearance? Erik: I'll have my tattooing finished and then that's pretty much it - unless some thing new comes along. YMA: Are you touring now, doing shows or if not, when will you? Erik: I am always working in some fashion - you can see what's currently going at www.thelizardman.com.

Some of Erik's unfilled scales*