Band Tattoos

Heather and I went to a local water park yesterday. She got too much sun and my eyes are still running from chlorine but it was all worthwhile. During one of the many trips around the lazy river we talked about tattoos. This is a normal conversation and we both want a tattoo...except we're afraid of the lifetime commitment. Or at least that's my problem.

I actually want two tattoos - (and right now, my mom is reading this and freaking out. Hi mom!) - one on my wrist and another somewhere else, but not on the small of my back and not one of my ankles. I don't want a tribal symbol or a rose or a heart or a unicorn. Nope, I want band logos specifically Motley Crue and Avenged Sevenfold.

I want the A7X deathbat on my wrist and some sort of Motley tattoo somewhere that makes sense. It all depends on the design. Anyway, as I was floating around the lazy river I got to thinking about band tattoos and wondered how many of my regular readers are branded  by Glam?

I think tattoos of a band name or logo is about as diehard as you can get. It's one thing to travel around the world to see a band perform ...but when you give a piece of your body to someone else's craft, that's adoration.

A lot of people had band tattoos on the Motley Cruise. Some of the body art was small and others had giant pieces that probably cost thousands and looked awfully  painful.

I know some people say "why would you tattoo someone else's band on your body?" but I say why not if that music has brought you a lifetime of happiness. The real quest is to design a completely original tattoo encompassing the band name or logo. Then you've got your creative side plus the music you love, all in one piece of art. As you can tell, I'm not close to making that commitment just yet. We'll say I'm stuck in the "dreaming" phase.

Do you have any band tattoos?

Comments

[don]

i haven't found anything important enough so far in life to make me want to get branded. a band name or logo wouldn't even come close. i can't see trying to explain to my grandchildren (if i have any) about why grandpa has some garish tattoo all over him and why i thought it was a good idea at the time. i know i am by far not the norm on this subject but hey, it takes all kinds right?

[Marie Braden]

I have several band tattoos: the Union logo on my right bicep, a star on my breast that is my "brother's" logo, a rose like Richie Sambora's on my right ankle, and on my left ankle, a blackjack hand that has an Ace of Spades (MOTORHEAD!) that incorporates the Faster Pussycat logo.

[Joe]

Allyson...I agree with you...If a band has brought you that much happiness in your life..why not?..I just have a rose tattoo (YES, A ROSE LOL)....with my intials on the ribbon thats around the stem...But i might get more =)

[Randy]

I have had a Nikki Sixx portrait on my right bicep since 2000, and an Allister Fiend on my left inside forearm since 2003.My dedication to the Crue has always been rock solid, so it makes sense to me.

[Vicky]

I'm with you Randy! I've been a Motley fan since Too Fast For Love. Even thru some of their stinky albums.

I have the Theatre of Pain masks on my leg, and I have the cover of American Idiot on my back. (It doesn't say Green Day, it's just the hand holding the bomb. It's not very big.)

I'm getting an old school tattoo of Nikki Sixx on my other leg. It's a portrait of him from Shout at the Devil era. (I'm covered on other tats, but these are my only band ones.)

[Vicky]

I meant to say "I'm covered IN other tats." Too early. Haven't had my coffee yet.

[Cinnamon]

I don't have any band tattoos, but I've thought about it. At a stretch I could claim that the rose (its got embedded thorns weaving in and out of the skin) on my ankle is GNR related. I have been contemplating having some of the lyrics from 'Life is Beautiful' added somewhere, the only difficulty I have over going for text is the longevity of the meaning to me. In any case, tattoo number seven is still a work in progress so I'm trying not to think about new ones at the moment!

[Kenny Ozz]

Its a HUGE honor for a band to get their name and/or logo permanently inked to your body. My buddy Mike recently got a Drugstore Valentine tattoo. Thats amazing!

[aXe mAn]

Well, I am kind of in the same stage as you Allyson.
I have thought about getting tattoo before...and might get one someday.

[John]

im getting the poison logo as soon as im old enough ( less than a year)

[KillemAllChris]

hey metal heads and alyson, i got a tatto of a bullet chain around my upper right leg with megadeth written in the middle. i consider myself a metal head now, since i had just seen my 200 th concert,to my most from my first, dokken to my most recent rush. see ya all at rocklahoma. peace!

[ALEXX]

YES I HAVE THE ALBUM COVER OF DANGEROUS TOYS "HELLEACIOUS ACRES" ON MY RIGTH ARM AND IWANT THE NEW YORK DOLLS LOGO TOO

[Gary]

No band ink, but I do have Yosemite Sam on my right bi cep,and Grumpy from the Seven Dwarfs on my left bi cep.

[Valentine]

My arms are covered. The closest I got was when myself and 2 other members of TYR - Tonight You Rock got "Rock and Roll" done in chinese on our right biceps... The 2nd guitar player had is changed to "Country Rock and Roll" when he got booted out of the band and decided to be Hank Williams...

I do, however, have my stage name tattooed on my own arm... Does that count?

And some of my work was done by the guy that did some of GNR's and Motley's work...

God, I'm so old school I should have blackboard instead of a monitor...

[Valentine]

edited to say "HIS" and "A" blackboard...

I'm so old school I'm starting to forget words and letters...

[gerry gittelson]

axtually, i know of several folks from back in the daze who have BIG BANG BABIES tats -- always the infamous baby logo -- and that's not band for a local band that was never signed. Among the proud loyalists is former top local-rock journalist Sonya Van Lier, who has the BBB logo on her back shoulder (don't ask me how I know, it's not like that!).

[Rhodeislandrock, Heavy Metal Addiction]

My wife has some tattoos but I have none. Now that I think about it, most of my family in the 21-35 range has a tatty and I'm the lone holdout! If I ever go to get one, I have two ideas:

1. The KISS logo -- and obvious choice for a diehard

2. A black star with an eye in the middle -- a simplistic tribute to Paul Stanley

Steve
Heavy Metal Addiction
http://hardrockheavymetal.wordpress.com/

[Elizabeth]

I am supposed to be getting a wrist tattoo with the A7X logo on the top part of my wrist and there will be music notes in the letters

[Erica]

Kudos to you of wanting an Avenged Sevenfold tattoo.

I have two tattoos of Avenged Sevenfold. I have 2 deathbats, one deathbat behind each of my ears. And one on my back, right below my neck in between my shoulders of the VII roman numeral. <3

Have you gotten the tattoo yet? It's been quite a few months since you wrote this. =]

[Ben]

I am nineteen and full sleeves... I also have about 40% of my chest. My entire right arm consists of Avenged Sevenfold, with my left arm being dedicated to film. My ribs have been taken over by Dorian Gray and the Headless Horseman and I have a shoulder to shoulder DeathBat in the works now. Safe to say I have a couple of tattoos and I would recommend getting one if you are okay with things being permanent.