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A staggering 36% of Americans have at least one tattoo. They are a way of representing our personality or paying tribute to something that we respect. Many people get a tattoo to show that they are part of a gang, tribe or a nation. It’s also common for people to get the names of their loved ones tattooed. One thing is for sure with body art — it goes hand-in-hand with rock music. A rockstar tattoo can be simple, like Ozzy Osbourne’s “Ozzy” knuckle letters, or completely elaborate, like the sprawling body art canvas that is Metallica’s James Hetfield. Many rockstar’s tattoos are works of art in their own right. Like the music, a rockstar’s tattoo should be memorable, unique and indelible on our souls forever.
Henry Rollins
Actor, rocker and all-round awesome guy, Henry Rollins has one of the most iconic tattoos in rock history. Across his back in large scale is a giant sun demon with a terrifying face — it’s certainly not a timid tattoo. Above the sun is written the words “Search and Destroy.” This striking image is extremely reminiscent of some of the symbolic paintings by William Blake. Rollins obviously has an obsession with inking his body, it is true that getting tattooed has been found to be an addictive hobby. In fact, studies have actually shown that having a good tattoo boosts confidence and self esteem — no wonder Rollins is such a good frontman! Other designs that adorn his body include a Misfits skull logo, a black flag on his left bicep and a very large spider.
Tim Commerford
Tim Commerford from Rage Against the Machine has taken the warrior tattoo to a whole new level — it is modern body art at its best. Historically, the ink used for tattoos was simply charred carbon or even bone. Amongst ancient tribes across the world, blackwork tattoos, like Commerford’s were a normal sight. This is why this style is often known as a tribal tattoo. Commerford’s extensive blackwork tattoo would have taken many hundreds of hours in the chair to complete, which stretches across his shoulders right down to his buttocks.
Axl Rose
Axl Rose’s iconic Appetite For Destruction tattoo is a good example of why you should consider your tattoo design extremely carefully before you get it done. Back in the 2000s, this cross adorned with skeletal portraits of the band, was clean, black lines. In the years that followed, Axl had the design re-inked in full-color glory. Roll on twenty years and the once-detailed tattoo looks a bit of a mess. The tattoo (just like the album) was a work of art, but sadly, it has been extremely difficult to preserve on the ageing skin of Axl Rose.
Having a good tattoo doesn’t make you a rockstar, but getting a real work of inked art is definitely part of the image. Rockstars’ tattoos are not only part of their personal history, they are stunning creations that are worth artistic respect.
