NEW YORK, NY — Dave Navarro has signed on to host Spike TV's "InkMaster," the first-ever tattoo competition series. The eight one-hour episode series, produced by Charlie Corwin's Original Media with Charlie Corwin and Jay Peterson serving as executive producers, will premiere on Spike in January 2012.

"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," says Sharon Levy, Spike TV's executive vice president, original series and animation. "Dave's ultimate respect for the art and culture of tattooing makes him perfect for this series."



An estimated 40 million Americans have at least one tattoo somewhere on their body. So who is the country's preeminent tattoo artist? "InkMaster" is the first-ever tattoo competition series featuring some of the nation's top tattoo artists on a quest to determine who is the best at their craft and who will win a huge cash prize. Throughout the competition, the artists battle it out in various tattoo challenges that test the artists' technical skills and on-the-spot creativity, where they must create and execute an original tattoo on command and be judged by a panel including Navarro, tattoo artists and experts Chris Nunez ("Miami Ink") and Oliver Peck (Elm Street Tattoo).

The tension and stakes are high in "InkMaster" as the artists not only face the judges, but also the opinions of their 'human canvases.' The artists will have a wide variety of clients to deal with, ranging from tattoo virgins to connoisseurs with a full sleeve of body art to those who want to cover-up a prior tattoo misstep. The masterpieces created on these 'human canvases' will last a lifetime, but so will the mistakes. Satisfying the individual whose skin now bears the artists' handiwork will be a major element in determining the victor.  

The winner of "InkMaster" will win a $100,000 cash prize and a feature in "Inked" magazine, the preeminent magazine covering tattoo culture, art, music and fashion.

With his six-string skills best described as a merger between heavy metal, psychedelia, and modern rock, Navarro is one of alternative rock's first true guitar heroes. Best known as the guitarist for Jane's Addiction, the band recently released the new single "Irresistible Force" off their highly anticipated album "The Great Escape Artist" that debuts worldwide on September 27.

"InkMaster" is produced by Original Media and Charlie Corwin is executive producer of the series. Original Media currently has thirteen television series on air including the hit shows "NY Ink," "Miami Ink," "LA Ink," "The Rachel Zoe Project," "Swamp People," "Storm Chasers," and "BBQ Pitmasters." Headquartered in New York, Original Media is a subsidiary of Endemol USA. Sharon Levy is Spike TV's executive vice president, original series and animation, Chris Rantamaki is vice president of original programming for Spike TV.