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Rock 'n Roll (and Tattoos) Never Forget

Posted Wed Oct 29, 2008 6:01am PDT by Shawn Amos in GetBack

There’s this Matt Groening Life In Hell cartoon from way back that shows two old dudes who look like prunes and are covered in tattoos. One says to the other (I'm paraphrasing), "Oh, I see you were an idiot in the '90s too."


Andre 3000 is a long way from the old folks’ home, but he told the press last week that, "I had six silly tattoos done when I was young, and I bitterly regret them."  He's thinking about having them removed but is wondering if the scars would look even sillier.

 

 

 

 

We're probably the most tattooed generation ever. More than 40 million people in America have at least one tattoo. Musicians rarely stop at one. That's too bad, because a whole bunch of those guys are eventually going to look really dumb playing bingo with their fellow senior citizens. The only thing worse than an old rocker is an old, tattooed rocker.


Here's my cautionary list of musicians who’ve made the biggest tattoo mistakes. Keep this blog post with you when you're drunk some Saturday night and headed for the studio to get inked.


JON BON JOVI - THE CORPORATE TATTOO
Jon reminds me of the Office Space-type dude who hides his Superman tattoo underneath his suit to remind him he's a rebel deep down inside. You know that guy. He listens to Bon Jovi records.

 

 

 

 

 


JOHN MAYER - PREP SCHOOL GUY TATTOO
One day John Mayer will wake up and remember that he's a middle class white guy from Connecticut whose mom was a teacher and dad was a high school principal. He'll look at his full-sleeve body art and wonder what made him pretend he was Henry Rollins’ half-brother.

 

 

 

 

 

OZZY OSBOURNE - SENILE OLD GUY TATTOO
No one wants to see their grandpa muttering to himself in the back yard, turning up his hearing aid, trying to rub the "O-Z-Z-Y" off his knuckles.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TOMMY LEE - "I USED TO BE RIPPED" TATTOO
"Mayhem" looks cool on your stomach when you’re in your '30s and cut. When 60 hits and you've got a big-ol’ beer belly? That just says, "Sad Old Man."

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

DAVE NAVARRO - "WHY DOES THAT WOMAN HAVE TATTOOS?" TATTOO
Here's the problem with Jane's Addiction's Dave Navarro: He looks more like his ex Carmen Electra each year, which makes the body art seem even more out of place. Ten years from now, he'll look like one of the Gucci-wearing, Rodeo Drive trophy wives with ink all over. It won't go down well at the country club.


See our picks for the most outrageous celebrity tattoos in our FlipBook.

 

Drop by GetBack.com for your daily dose of pop culture pleasure -- music, movies, games, and more.

3163 Comments

161. Jennifer -
apparently several of u and the author have never been to a legitimate tat studio, because u can't be drunk or stoned or anything to get a tattoo. and since when do we diss on freedom of expression????

162. Yahoo! Music User -
LMAO re: the dude who said he tattooed a cigarette on his cheek!

163. Burt R -
Ozzy has had ink since the 60's. He didn't exactly go out and get them done 5 years ago. Legitimate rockers like Tommy Lee and Ozzy don't need to explain their ink 20 years after their heyday. John Mayer on the other hand sings songs for chicks, so he just looks like a poser.

164. TimmyJ -
I got four and I definately plan for more. They are just a way to express yourself or remind you of good times... Plus they make great stories later on as long as they mean something to ya. Some people just dont understand. I don't blame them, I just call them old fogies...

165. elvin -
I think people get tattoos to hide the fact that they really think they are tough or cool
but yeah John Mayer enough said

166. AaronR -
For those who don't understand it, tattoos are a symbol for a lot of people... Would you make fun of the lady who had the left side of her chest tattooed with pink roses after having a breast removed from cancer? I think not... If tattoos aren't your thing, DON'T GET THEM... But just like anything else, if you don't understand it or agree with it, don't make an attempt to influence those who do.

167. Allison H -
Trivia: A very famous musician has the words "Exit Only" tatooted on his butt (one word per cheek). Do you know who it is?

168. Yahoo! Music User -
I'm a 53 yr old female and just got my FIRST tat ! I love it ! Already thinking up my design for my 2nd. If you don't like tats - don't get one !

169. __A_YAHOO_USER__ -
Tattoos are now so everyday! Educated people have tattoos. I have one. I'm getting my master's. And they are more socially acceptable. I am a minister actually and no one has said anythng except cover it up so the kids don't beg there moms for one. I do think too many people get cliche things. I have a very original one of an elephant holding a Korean flag...long story.

170. Yahoo! Music User -
For the person who said only idiots get tattoos. No one in this world has made all of the right decisions in life, inculding yourself. You are an idiot, and a pea brain for judging everyone who does have tattoos. Obviously you don't always make good decisions, because your decision to post that sort of comment was very childish and you should be embarassed for yourself.

171. Wouldn'tULike2Know -
I love tattoos. I have three so far myself. I do have the typical tramp stamp, but it doesn't go across the whole lower back. It's fairly small. I have one on my right shoulder, and one on the top of my right foot. That one hurt like hell. But anyway...

Leave Tommy Lee alone. I think his "Mayhem" tat still looks good! Tommy Lee is still hot for a man his age!

172. Yahoo! Music User -
who cares

173. dizzy daisy -
I think tattoos are for the person who gets them, most are to mark somthing special in their lives. And who says they won't still love them when they're old, besides if they cared what other people thought about them they wouldn't get them. Wow what a white bread world that would be.

174. Jen -
okay, richard mcArthur, you said: Only Idiots have tatoos.... Look at the guys here.. Nuff said...

Don't forget the idiots who can't spell. uh, "nuff said"

175. Joey -
so what if they have tatoos??

176. dennis b -
washed up, dried up old farts, all of um

177. Jesse -
honestly people have tattoos b.c they do it for themselves. They dont care about what others think... like you with all the negativity and whoever wrote this. But whatever makes all of your pethetic lifes more enjoyable... do what ya gotta do. why us with tatts laugh at you and go on with our lifes without taking time out of our schedules to try to down on others that we have no clue of their lifes.

178. Yahoo! Music User -
You only live once so if you want a couple tats go get some. When your old your not walking around with your shirt off as much so no one will see them anyways...going for number 10 here!

179. Jillian -
wow, I thought in todays time people had learned not to judge a book by it's cover, but reading some of the other comments on here, I guess the world has no shortage of judgemental idiots. I am a female tattoo artist who has lots of tattoos, non-tattooed people don't get it... it's a personal choice that has meaning to the wearer. And I know that when I'm 70 and living in the nursing home I'm going to have other things on my mind other than the superficial way my tattoos look, just like I won't care that my hair is thining and grey, or the fact that I'll have paper thin skin, or the fact that my boobs will be sagging. I feel sorry for people who are so obsessed with what others look like that they aren't listening to what coming out of their mouths.

180. Yahoo! Music User -
Only a total douche bag would waste space writing about other people's "ill-fated" decisions. Tatoos are not only on "idiots", well educated people sport tats also. Someone here truly needs to get a life. If you're going to talk about anything, at least educate yourself on the subject. Oh, by the way, I do have tats and if that makes me a idiot, I hate to see what you are.
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