A London club band seemingly obsessed with Americana, the TATTOOED LOVE BOYS' most established band member was ex-PRAYING MANTIS drummer Mick Ransome. Post PRAYING MANTIS Ransome allied himself with American female vocalist Electra Macleod, previously with Progressive Rock act TWELFTH NIGHT and LONE WOLF guitarist Paul Ward in the short lived RICH BITCH. Ward later joined DIANNO in 1984. Ransome turned up again with ex-DESTROYA and TRANZZAM guitarist Paul Jax in a band titled TEXAS. Ransome then formed JOKERS WILD.

Debuting in 1988 with the 'Why Waltz When You Can Rock n' Roll' 12", the group would release their debut album the following year, entitled 'Bleeding Hearts And Needle Marks'. The group's initial line up comprised of Mielle, Ransome, guitarist C.J. (Chris Jaghdar) and bassist Dee Zee (Darayus) Kaye but by August 1989 C.J. departed, eventually to team up with THE WILDHEARTS before moving on to form HONEYCRACK and then THE JELLYS. He was replaced by two axemen, Mark Ama Chan, ex-GIN SLING, and Adam Godzikowski, although Chan would quickly join ex-TIGERTAILZ vocalist Steevi Jaimz's ST. JAIMZ for as tour of duty.

A new band line-up recorded the second album, the TATTOOED LOVE BOYS now joined by bassist Dean Marshall and the guitar duo of ex-CRYWOLF man Nick Singleton with Chris Danby. This line-up recorded the second album, but were unable to tour promoting it due to vocalist Gary Mielle having throat problems. Securing the European support slot to LOVE/HATE in April 1992 the band opted to sack Mielle in favour of Matti Appleby in order to complete the tour. However, a week into the tour LOVE/HATE cancelled the remaining dates due to an injury. TATTOOED LOVE BOYS returned home and promptly split.

In 1992 ex-bassist Darayus Kaye joined THE UNLOVED. In 1993 Ransome and Singleton formed FIREBYRDS with erstwhile CRYWOLF guitarist Chris Gyngell. Later recruits into this band would be RED DOGS guitarist Paul Guerin and ex-WRAITH bassist Steven 'Rimmo' Rimmington, although by 1995 Ransome had formed THE GANG SHOW with ex-DOGS D'AMOUR vocalist Tyla and former MOTȪRHEAD guitarist WURZEL.

2004 found Darayus Kaye, having spent time with PAUL DIANNO's KILLERS, joining veteran Brit Glam band TIGERTAILZ.