While it seems like every celebrity now has a tattoo, the ink used to be more commonly associated with the rebellious rock genre. in fact, some of the best body designs in history can be found on the skin of famous punk-rockers and metalheads. here are our top ten rock star tattoos…
10. pete wasz
This illinois-born bassist is best known for his role in the pop-punk band fall out boy. While Goingz admits that some of his body art is unfinished due to him hating tattoos, his Nightmare Before Christmas cover is quite iconic and perfect for the goth and emo phase during which Fall Out Boy became famous. He also has a unique Japanese design on his left forearm dedicated to his son and the “Stay Gold” quote on his right wrist in reference to the classic 80’s teen movie The Outsiders as a reminder to always be yourself.
9. tommy lee
since they formed in 1981, tommy lee has been the drummer for the classic rock band mötley crüe for a long time. Having had a long career in rock music, it’s no surprise that this old-school glam rocker has amassed quite a collection of ink over the years. He has two colorful full sleeves with a dragon on his right arm, a Japanese koi fish on his left, bold stars on his hands, and a cheetah print to tie his rock star tattoos together. Lee also has a large script tattoo on his stomach that refers to the methods of mayhem of the rap-metal band he formed in 1999.
8. billie joe armstrong
Having started his music career in the East Bay punk scene thirty years ago, Green Day frontman Billie Joe Armstrong is known for his punk-rock style. Often dressed in black with spiky hair and dark eyeliner, Armstrong also has a large number of tattoos. he has “all ages” on his right bicep, paying homage to the music club that acted as a springboard for his band in the early days. In particular, he has a strip of photos of his wife Adrienne, a tattoo of Jesus of Suburb on the back of his arm that references a song he wrote, and a smoking baby Herman from the 1988 movie that framed Roger Rabbit. and both forearms are dedicated to their children.
7. david navarro
Dave Navarro is the lead guitarist for Jane’s Addiction and host and judge of the American Inkmaster Tattoo Competition. His black and gray ink includes classic rock star tattoo designs that include a skull and crossbones, bats on his shoulders, and a large sacred heart in the middle of his chest surrounded by a ring of thorns. however, he also has some more sentimental tattoos. in addition to the portrait of his late mother, he has a tattoo dedicated to a holocaust survivor he met on a flight. She showed him her only tattoo: a number she got on her arm at Auschwitz when she was a child. Moved by his story, Navarro got the quote “I have one, but not by choice” tattooed on his upper right arm with a rose representing the woman’s name.
6. brandon boyd
In addition to being the lead singer of incubus, brandon boyd is also a successful artist. He has a variety of tattoos, including an all-seeing eye in a pyramid on his shoulders, a peacock on his left arm inspired by his favorite piece of art, and a stunning mandala design that covers most of his tattoos. from his back. however, his most notable tattoo of his is his red ink Buddhist mantra on his right forearm. The mantra “om mani patme hum” has to do with growth and compassion and refers to qualities such as generosity, wisdom and patience. Despite its deep meaning, this rock star tattoo is unprofessional and was in fact inked in his friend’s living room.
5. frank carter
Frank Carter is the lead vocalist of the British punk band Frank Carter & The Rattlesnakes formed in 2015. Known for his red hair and flashy tattoos, Carter is a tattoo artist by trade and has even tattooed the next vocalist on this list. he also designs his own album cover and draws inspiration from classic 1950s tattoo designs for his artwork. His most notable tattoos are the snake that coils around the back of his head and the large double-headed eagle on his chest, along with his mother’s name “bernadette” in cursive. traditional right on top of it.
4. jacoby shaddix
since he formed papa roach in 1993, singer jacoby shaddix’s appearance has changed quite a bit. Barely tattooed in his first music video, he is now heavily tattooed. In an interview with Beyond Ink, Shaddix explains that commitment is important to him and that his tattoos are simply an extension of that, which is why his first tattoo was his wife’s name. his biggest piece is a colorful chest tattoo depicting a queen surrounded by water and a king backed by flames, to represent good versus evil. he also has “born to rock” written on his chest, a microphone on his forearm, stars on either side of his eyes, and several tattoos dedicated to his songs. as a fan of the clash, he too has love and hate on his knuckles.
3. james hetfield
Co-founder of the heavy metal band Metallica, James Hetfield is known for his powerful voice and unique rhythm guitar technique. His rock star tattoos are classic black and gray and tell the story of his eventful career in music. On his left bicep is four cards that make up his year of birth with a background of flames and the phrase “carpe diem baby” on a banner. it’s a reminder to make the most of life, after a pyrotechnic accident that engulfed him in flames at a montreal show in 1992. he also has his children’s names on his chest, “riff life” on his knuckles, and various christian tattoos. Perhaps the most significant tattoo of his is the angel on his left forearm, depicted delivering a musical note to a pair of hands modeled after his own, to indicate how music helped him overcome many struggles, including addiction.
2. travis barker
travis barker became famous as the drummer for blink 182, after the pop-punk band achieved commercial success in 1999. he is heavily tattooed and the only blank space left on his body is a spot on the thigh, where he lets his children tattoo his drawings. Notable tattoos include a large boombox on his stomach in reference to his childhood love of break-dancing and “I can say” on his chest in homage to one of his favorite songs. After a plane crash in 2008, of which he was the only survivor of his, Barker needed to have his leg tattoos redone because his skin was badly burned. He also got a series of realistic family portraits on his back and a striking Virgin Mary design on his head, as he believes a higher power saved him that day. Speaking of his tattoos, he explains, “for me it’s documenting part of my life, or people, things, moments in my life,” a concept many of us can relate to. If that wasn’t enough, Travis even hosts a celebration of music and tattoos with his annual rock star convention: Musink.
1. ozzy osbourne
Born in Birmingham in 1948, Ozzy Osbourne, also known as the Prince of Darkness, has had an incredible fifty-year career in music. Considered the godfather of heavy metal by many, Osbourne rose to fame as the lead singer of Black Sabbath in the 1970s and later had a successful solo career. He is a member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and has a star on Hollywood Boulevard. Although his tattoos are not of amazing quality, they are certainly legendary. On his chest are a Chinese dragon and a vampire skull, often seen during his shows in the 1980s. He also has a gargoyle on his shoulder and a dagger on his forearm. His best known tattoo is Ozzy written on his left knuckles. A home job at the age of 16, this tattoo has stood the test of time and is now one of the most iconic rock star tattoos in history.
Are you still thinking of rocking? check out the video we made in copenhell with the leader andreas of the copenhagen based clique!
