Sadly, Mike Malone was found in his Chicago home on Wednesday, April 18th, dead from a gunshot wound that was apparently self-inflicted. He was 64. Police found a suicide note that said, “Time to check out.”
Michael Corcoran, a personal friend of Malone’s from Austin, Texas, had this to say in his very touching eulogy: “When Margaret told me Wednesday that Rollo had shot himself, I started thinking about what was going through his mind at the time. It never dawned on me that he was depressed. It was just ‘time to check out,’ as he stated [in] his suicide note. We all have to die sometime, and Rollo was not going to let anything else pick his date. He was a man about it. Margaret told me he had been in a lot of physical pain, with the effects of diabetes ravaging his body.”
Mike Malone had been working at Taylor Street Tattoo in Chicago, Illinois. They also have a MySpace page if you would like to send a message of condolence to the crew. My heart goes out to all of his family, friends and admirers. I hope Rollo is finding peace wherever he is now.
Comments
Peace to you, Rollo. Your machines speak for themselves. It was a pleasure to know you over these years. Show St. Peter the secret to those ‘Rollo Matics’ !! God bless you for the gifts you shared with other tattooers.
God bless you and keep you safe in heaven. My heart goes out to your family for their untimely loss. I would like to shed some light as to I have always wanted to get tattooed by you and your gone now…but at least you have inspired me and many like me with your work and style in the tattoo field. Thank you and may God keep you safe.
I met Mike when He was a Barber in Sausalito. We worked together in Light shows in NYC. He got in touch many months ago after decades of separate paths.I’m glad he shared his gift. I get to remember him young.
R.I.P. Rollo.
King of Pirates!!!
Oh Mike, you were my first love. We went to Jr. College together, you taught me to drive a stick shift…so many memories. My 18th birthday – orchids, wonderful times. I have been ill myself lately and just heard what happened. You were so funny, so talented, such a dear. I wish you could have stayed with us longer.
Michele