Erik Sprague
Encyclopedia
Erik Sprague better known as The Lizardman, is a freak show
and sideshow
performer, best known for his body modification
, including his sharpened teeth, full-body tattoo
of green scales, bifurcated tongue, subdermal implant
s and recently, green-inked lips. There have been rumors of him hoping to get a tail transplant, however those have been debunked because according to Erik himself, it would be impossible.
The Lizardman makes his living as a freak
, performing before audiences all over the world. He also makes numerous paid television and public appearances. He has mastered and regularly performs many classic sideshow
acts such as the human blockhead
, fire eating and breathing
, gavage, sword swallowing
, the bed of nails
, the Human Dartboard
, and the insectivore
. He also participates in many public and private flesh hook suspension groups and events, and is highly involved in the body modification
community. He also writes articles on the Body Modification E-zine
. His rock band, LIZARD SKYNYRD, will release a self-titled album in late 2010.
The Lizardman was a Ph.D.
candidate at the University at Albany
before beginning his transformation. He holds a Bachelor of Arts
degree in Philosophy
from Hartwick College
in Oneonta, New York
.
The Lizardman also hosts the Jägermeister Music Tour
, with bands including Disturbed, Slayer
, and Slipknot
.
The Lizardman lives in Austin, Texas
, with his wife Meghan and their pet ferrets.
.
On July 24, 2008, the Lizardman was a guest on The Tyra Banks Show
.
Freak show
A freak show is an exhibition of biological rarities, referred to as "freaks of nature". Typical features would be physically unusual humans, such as those uncommonly large or small, those with both male and female secondary sexual characteristics, people with other extraordinary diseases and...
and sideshow
Sideshow
In America, a sideshow is an extra, secondary production associated with a circus, carnival, fair or other such attraction.- Types of attractions :There are four main types of classic sideshow attractions:...
performer, best known for his body modification
Body modification
Body modification is the deliberate altering of the human body for any non-medical reason, such as aesthetics, sexual enhancement, a rite of passage, religious reasons, to display group membership or affiliation, to create body art, shock value, or self expression...
, including his sharpened teeth, full-body tattoo
Tattoo
A tattoo is made by inserting indelible ink into the dermis layer of the skin to change the pigment. Tattoos on humans are a type of body modification, and tattoos on other animals are most commonly used for identification purposes...
of green scales, bifurcated tongue, subdermal implant
Subdermal implant
A subdermal implant refers to a kind of body jewelry that is placed underneath the skin, therefore allowing the body to heal over the implant and creating a raised design. These kinds of implants fall under the broad category of body modification. Many people who have these implants use them in...
s and recently, green-inked lips. There have been rumors of him hoping to get a tail transplant, however those have been debunked because according to Erik himself, it would be impossible.
The Lizardman makes his living as a freak
Freak
In current usage, the word "freak" is commonly used to refer to a person with something unusual about their appearance or behaviour. This usage dates from the so-called freak scene of the 1960s and 1970s. "Freak" in this sense may be used either as a pejorative, a term of admiration, or a...
, performing before audiences all over the world. He also makes numerous paid television and public appearances. He has mastered and regularly performs many classic sideshow
Sideshow
In America, a sideshow is an extra, secondary production associated with a circus, carnival, fair or other such attraction.- Types of attractions :There are four main types of classic sideshow attractions:...
acts such as the human blockhead
Human blockhead
A human blockhead is a carnival or sideshow performer who hammers a nail or other implement into his nasal cavity via the nostril. The stunt is often shocking to audiences, who believe that the nail is being hammered into the skull itself...
, fire eating and breathing
Fire breathing
Fire breathing is the act of creating a fireball by breathing a fine mist of fuel over an open flame. Proper technique and the correct fuel create the illusion of danger to enhance the novelty of fire breathing, while reducing the risk to health and safety...
, gavage, sword swallowing
Sword swallowing
Sword swallowing is an ancient performance art in which the performer passes a sword through the mouth and down the esophagus towards the stomach...
, the bed of nails
Bed of nails
A bed of nails is an oblong piece of wood the size of a bed with nails pointing upwards out of it. It appears to the spectator that anyone lying on this "bed" would be injured by the nails, but this is not so...
, the Human Dartboard
Human Dartboard
The human dartboard is a contemporary sideshow act in which one person throws darts at another person. Usually the thrower is the target's assistant or a member of the audience. This act was popularized by the Jim Rose Circus, where it was performed by Jim, in the role of the target, and his wife...
, and the insectivore
Insectivore
An insectivore is a type of carnivore with a diet that consists chiefly of insects and similar small creatures. An alternate term is entomophage, which also refers to the human practice of eating insects....
. He also participates in many public and private flesh hook suspension groups and events, and is highly involved in the body modification
Body modification
Body modification is the deliberate altering of the human body for any non-medical reason, such as aesthetics, sexual enhancement, a rite of passage, religious reasons, to display group membership or affiliation, to create body art, shock value, or self expression...
community. He also writes articles on the Body Modification E-zine
BME (website)
Body Modification Ezine is an online magazine devoted to body modification, noted for its coverage of the extreme and fringes of body modification and erotic body play....
. His rock band, LIZARD SKYNYRD, will release a self-titled album in late 2010.
The Lizardman was a Ph.D.
Doctor of Philosophy
Doctor of Philosophy, abbreviated as Ph.D., PhD, D.Phil., or DPhil , in English-speaking countries, is a postgraduate academic degree awarded by universities...
candidate at the University at Albany
University at Albany, The State University of New York
The State University of New York at Albany, also known as University at Albany, State University of New York, SUNY Albany or simply UAlbany, is a public university located in Albany, Guilderland, and East Greenbush, New York, United States; is the senior campus of the State University of New York ...
before beginning his transformation. He holds a Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
degree in Philosophy
Philosophy
Philosophy is the study of general and fundamental problems, such as those connected with existence, knowledge, values, reason, mind, and language. Philosophy is distinguished from other ways of addressing such problems by its critical, generally systematic approach and its reliance on rational...
from Hartwick College
Hartwick College
Hartwick College is a non-denominational, private, four-year liberal arts and sciences college located in Oneonta, New York, in the United States. The institution was founded as Hartwick Seminary in 1797 through the will of John Christopher Hartwick, and is now known as Hartwick College...
in Oneonta, New York
Oneonta, New York
Oneonta is a city in southern Otsego County, New York, USA. As of the 2010 U.S. Census, had a population of 13,901. Its nickname is "City of the Hills." While the word "oneonta" is of undetermined origin, it is popularly believed to mean "place of open rocks" in the Iroquois language...
.
The Lizardman also hosts the Jägermeister Music Tour
Jägermeister Music Tour
The Jägermeister Music Tour is a hard rock, hardcore punk, and heavy metal music tour that has been held twice a year in the United States since 2002. It is owned by the American importer of Jägermeister, Sidney Frank Importing.-History:...
, with bands including Disturbed, Slayer
Slayer
Slayer is an American thrash metal band formed in Huntington Park, California, in 1981 by guitarists Jeff Hanneman and Kerry King. Slayer rose to fame with their 1986 release, Reign in Blood, and is credited as one of the "Big Four" thrash metal acts, along with Metallica, Megadeth and...
, and Slipknot
Slipknot (band)
Slipknot is an American heavy metal band from Des Moines, Iowa. Formed in 1995, the group was founded by percussionist Shawn Crahan and bassist Paul Gray...
.
The Lizardman lives in Austin, Texas
Austin, Texas
Austin is the capital city of the U.S. state of :Texas and the seat of Travis County. Located in Central Texas on the eastern edge of the American Southwest, it is the fourth-largest city in Texas and the 14th most populous city in the United States. It was the third-fastest-growing large city in...
, with his wife Meghan and their pet ferrets.
Other appearances
The Lizardman had a small part in the 2007 independent mockumentary comedy film Boxboarders!Boxboarders!
Boxboarders! is a 2007 independent comedy film written and directed by Rob Hedden and starring, among others, Marieh Delfino, Melora Hardin, Dale Midkiff, Michelle Pierce and The Lizardman....
.
On July 24, 2008, the Lizardman was a guest on The Tyra Banks Show
The Tyra Banks Show
The Tyra Banks Show, also known as and shortened to Tyra or The Tyra Show, is an American talk show hosted by Tyra Banks. The last new episode aired on Friday, May 28, 2010.-2005-2009: Syndication:...
.
See also
- Stalking CatStalking CatDennis Avner of Tonopah, Nevada, United States, is widely known as "Cat Man," though he prefers his Native American name, Stalking Cat. Avner has spent considerable resources to surgically modify his body to resemble that of a tiger...
- Katzen
- Lucky Diamond RichLucky Diamond RichLucky Diamond Rich is "the world's most tattooed person" , and has tattoos covering his entire body, including the inside of his foreskin, mouth and ears...
- The Enigma
- Tom LeppardTom LeppardTom Leppard , more widely known as Leopard Man or the Leopard Man of Skye, was formerly considered by the Guinness Book of World Records to be the world's most tattooed man. Leppard fled society years ago after spending £5,500 to have his body covered in leopard-like spots. He lived in a small...