Musicians and Music Note Tattoos
Butterfly Tattoos
Skull Tattoos
Angel Tattoos
Perhaps it’s because of the constantly regenerative inclinations of the performer, or maybe their independent attitude, but they have long been seen with some of the most finely drawn and often shocking tattoos you will see..
Representatiions of their instrument and music note tattoos are favorite subjects for this sub-group. Perhaps these images might relate to one of their most noteworthy events or performances, or maybe to a particular piece which could be their “theme,” but whatever it is you can bet they will likely be one of the most unusual and bold images you are likely to find on skin, anywhere.
In general, you will find that musicians tend to choose tattoos that relate most closely to the particular style to which they are accepted This means that a lot of black, skulls and other cutting-edge symbolism is usually found on the hard rockers and that the hip-hop crowd tends toward highly decorataive letteringand other characteristic symbols of urban culture.
Wanting to display their tattoos to the max, most musicians will undoubtedly wear them on the parts of their bodies most visble while performing. For those who play instruments, this usually means the arms. As crowds are naturally drawn toward watching the body movements of a performer, this is generally a very logical place to locate one’s most significant artwork and a good way to show off those tattoos, and not only music note tattoos, of which one is the most proud. Of course, some performers are notable for wearing less clothing than others and this certainly allows for more displaying of one’s artwork.
As musicians are artistic individuals, they tend toward very ornate designs or adaptations of popular themes which they make all their own. Tribal tattooing, the long, elegant black lines which intertwine around one another, has been very popular with musicians, particularly with the heavy metal and rock crowd.
Besides the music note tattoos,some musicians sport passages from their favorite songs or stanzas from poems with which they strongly identify. Oftentimes, a musician’s music note tattoos serve the same purpose as many other people’s tattoos: They act as an emblem, a sort of private badge which shows that this person is a member of a special group and who has certain skills and abilities which allows them to wear this symbol.
Music note tattoos have always been popular. One need not, however, restrict one’s tattoos in this vein to the common forms of notation most frequently seen today. {There have been various systems used throughout the ages and, oftentimes, these systems present an elegant alternative to the norm. Over the centuries that music has been notated, many different systems have arisen and disappeared, but many are still known and are quite graphically striking, offering very unusual alternatives of style}.
The notation used in early western music, for instance, evokes the ancient cathedrals where monks practiced Gregorian chant and can be transformed into a work of art that communicates a great deal about the individual who bears it. And then, of course, there are the non-Western systems which are a totally different visual, some of which are graphically perfect for body art.
Musicians will likely always be among the most tattooed individuals in society. Their occupation allows them almost complete freedom in this regard and while the tattoos musicians bear have evolved from simple India ink line tattoos to very detailed and colorful works of art, the association of the ancient practices of tattoo art and music will likely always be intertwined in some way.
Wherever a musician may choose to display their tattoos, one thing is for ceertain: it is likely to be unusual, creative, noticable and unique.
