What is the legal name listed on your birth certificate?
John Michael Smiley Pinkham

Is Smiley your real name or your nickname?
It is my middle name and nickname. My friends call me Smiley and so does my Grandmother.

Where did you grow up?
I’m a valley boy, San Fernando Valley baby!  My folks moved out of the valley when I was 16 to try and keep me out of trouble, somehow I found it in Ventura and Huntington Beach!  When I moved to Long Beach I think is when I slowed it down a bit, got married and grew up a little.

Was art always a part of your life growing up?
I started doing cholo letters in 7th grade and got into graffiti in the early 80’s.  I learned how to draw skulls and shit from peoples folders at continuation. Some of the best are ever.  If somebody had copies of those old folders they could do a killer book!