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Tattoos are an integral part of the rock universe. A true rockstar often sports skin covered in ink. Tattoos are an essential part of rock culture and take on multiple meanings.

In this article, you’ll discover the 10 most iconic rockstar tattoos. You’ll see just how deeply rooted ink on the skin is in rock culture. And we’ll explain how, as a rock fan, you can safely get a tattoo.


Here we go! 🤘

Tattoos have long been part of the music scene. While every celebrity now seems to sport tattoos, the ink was once more commonly associated with rebel rock. 🎸 In fact, some of the best tattoos ever can be found on the skin of famous punk rockers.

So here’s our selection of the ten best rockstar tattoos of all time! 🤟

10) Pete Wentz Tattoos

This Illinois-born bassist is best known for his role in pop-punk band Fall Out Boy. Wentz admits that some of his artistic body work isn’t finished yet. In fact, he hates getting tattoos. His Nightmare Before Christmas tattoo is quite iconic and perfect for representing the gothic, emotional phase during which Fall Out Boy had its glory days. He also sports a unique Japanese design on his left forearm dedicated to his son, as well as the quote “Stay Gold” on his right wrist, in reference to the classic 80s teen movie The Outsiders, as a reminder to always be yourself. 🤙
Top 10 Best Rock Star Tattoos

9) Tommy Lee Tattoos

Since their association in 1981, Tommy Lee has been the long-time drummer of classic rock band Mötley Crüe. With his long career in rock music, it’s no surprise that this old-school glam rocker has amassed a large collection of ink over the years. ✍️
Both his arms are covered in color, including a dragon on his right arm, a Japanese fish on his left, stars on his hands and a leopard motif to tie them all together. Lee also has a tattoo on his stomach referencing the rap-metal group Methods of Mayhem, which he formed in 1999.

Top 10 Best Rock Star Tattoos

8) Billie Joe Armstrong Tattoos

Having begun his musical career on the East Bay punk scene thirty years ago, the Green Day frontman is known for his punk-rock style. ☠️ Usually dressed in black with spiky hair and dark eyeliner, Armstrong also has a multitude of tattoos!
He sports “All Ages” on his right bicep, in tribute to the music club that served as a springboard for his band’s early career. He also has a tattoo of his wife Adrienne, a tattoo of Jesus on the back of his arm, in reference to one of his songs. Not forgetting a drawing of Baby Herman smoking, from the 1988 film Who Framed Roger Rabbit. His two forearms are dedicated to his children. 👶

Top 10 Best Rock Star Tattoos

7) Dave Navarro’s Tattoos

Dave Navarro is the lead guitarist of Jane’s Addiction, as well as the host and judge of the American tattoo show, Ink Master. He sports a skull and crossbones, bats on his shoulders, a large sacred heart in the center of his chest surrounded by a crown of thorns… Dave is tattooed on almost every part of his body. 💉
He also has some more sentimental tattoos. As well as a portrait of his late mother, he has a tattoo dedicated to a Holocaust survivor he met on a plane flight. She showed him her only tattoo: a number engraved on her arm in Auschwitz when she was a child. Moved by her story, Navarro had the quote “I have one, but not by choice” inscribed at the top of his right arm, accompanied by a rose representing the woman’s name. 🌹

Top 10 Best Rock Star Tattoos

6) Brandon Boyd’s Tattoos

As well as being the lead singer of Incubus, Brandon Boyd is also a successful artist. He sports a series of tattoos, including an eye in a pyramid on his shoulders, a peacock on his left arm inspired by his favorite artwork, and a magnificent mandala covering much of his back.
However, his most remarkable tattoo is his Buddhist mantra in red ink on his right forearm. The mantra “Om Mani Padme Hum” evokes growth and compassion, and refers to qualities such as generosity, wisdom and patience. Despite its profound meaning, this tattoo was created by a friend (not a tattoo artist) in accordance with the rules of a rockstar’s art… but not in a tattoo parlour! 🤘

Top 10 Best Rock Star Tattoos

5) Frank Carter’s Tattoos

Frank Carter is the lead singer of British punk band Frank Carter & The Rattlesnakes, formed in 2015. Known for his red hair and striking tattoos, Carter is a tattoo artist himself, drawing inspiration for his work from classic 1950s tattoo designs. Among his most notable designs are the coiled snake on the back of his head, the towering double-headed eagle on his chest, and his mother’s name “Bernadette” written in traditional cursive letters. 👀
Top 10 Best Rock Star Tattoos

4) Jacoby Shaddix Tattoos

Since his first appearance with Papa Roach in 1993, singer Jacoby Shaddix’s appearance has evolved considerably. In his first music video, he wore virtually no tattoos at all. Today, he’s intensely tattooed. In an interview with Beyond Ink, Shaddix explains that commitment is important to him, and his tattoos are just an extension of that commitment. That’s why his first tattoo was his wife’s name.
His biggest piece is a colored tattoo on his chest depicting a queen surrounded by water and a king supported by flames, symbolizing 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 Clash fan, he also wears the words “Love” and “Hate” across his fingers. 🤞

Top 10 Best Rock Star Tattoos

3) James Hetfield Tattoos

Co-founder of heavy metal band Metallica, James Hetfield is known for his powerful voice and unique rhythm guitar technique. His rock star tattoos are in black and gray. They tell the story of his eventful musical career. On his left bicep are four playing cards representing his birth year, set against a background of flames, with the phrase “Carpe Diem Baby” inscribed in a banner. It’s a reminder to make the most of life, following a pyrotechnic accident in which he was engulfed in flames during a concert in Montreal in 1992. 🔥
He also bears the names of his children on his chest, “RIFF LIFE” across his knuckles, as well as several tattoos of a Christian nature. Perhaps his most significant tattoo is the angel on his left forearm, depicted passing a musical note to a pair of hands modeled on his own, symbolizing how music has helped him overcome many problems, including addiction. 🎼

Top 10 Best Rock Star Tattoos

2) Travis Barker’s Tattoos

Travis Barker came to prominence as the drummer for Blink 182, after the pop-punk band achieved success in 1999. He too is intensely tattooed. The only part of his body that remains untouched is a spot on his thigh, where he lets his children draw. His tattoos include a large boombox on his belly in reference to his childhood love of breakdancing, and the inscription “Can I Say” on his chest in homage to one of his favorite songs. Following a plane crash in 2008, of which he was the only survivor, Barker had to redo the tattoos on his legs, as his skin was badly burned.
He also printed several portraits of his family on his back, as well as a striking drawing of the Virgin Mary on his head, as he believes he was saved by a higher power that day. ✝️ Speaking of his tattoos, he explains, “for me, it’s documenting a part of my life, people, things, moments in my life.” A concept with which many of us can identify.

Top 10 Best Rock Star Tattoos

1) Ozzy Osbourne’s Tattoos

Born in Birmingham in 1948, Ozzy Osbourne, aka the Prince of Darkness, has enjoyed an incredible fifty-year career in music. Considered by many to be the godfather of heavy metal, Osbourne made his name as lead singer of Black Sabbath in the 1970s, then went on to pursue a successful solo career. He is a member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. ⭐️
Although his tattoos are not of astonishing quality, they are nonetheless legendary. On his chest are a Chinese dragon and a vampire skull, often visible at his concerts in the 80s. He also sports a gargoyle on his shoulder and a dagger on his forearm. His most famous tattoo is undoubtedly the word “OZZY” written on the knuckles of his left hand. This tattoo, done at the age of 16 at home, has remained intact over time and is now one of the most iconic rock star tattoos in history!

Top 10 Best Rock Star Tattoos

Young Rock Star, Join the Tattooed!

So we’ve reviewed the most iconic tattoos in the rock world. By now, you’re well acquainted with the stories behind each of the most famous designs on the skin of rock stars. And you know just how ubiquitous ink is at rock concerts. 🤘


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