Music

Do's and Don'ts of the Band Tattoo

by Barry Taylor

Some people like to take things to the next level. Extreme athletes love the next level. So do guys who add boom tubes to their Civics. Same with the Cake Boss.

What about music fans? After the Band T-Shirt blog was posted I received an email from an AUX fan named Catt. She was curious where the Band Tattoo fell in terms of dos and don’ts. Her inquiry may be the most stunning example of next-level-shit that’s ever graced a computer screen…for two reasons:

1. A band tattoo is clearly next level
2. The actual email, took the band t-shirt blog…to the next level

We all know there’s is no greater sign of dedication than a tattoo. It’s a full-time commitment. What if you want to dedicate a piece of your body’s canvas to a band? There are three forms the band tattoo can come in:

1. A Lyric From A Band’s Song

Easily the safest option. A lyric is specific. It’s difficult to misinterpret the meaning behind the art.

2. The Band Name or Symbol

A bold move. A band name/symbol is all encompassing.  Every song that band releases, every movement or product that band endorses could be associated with that tattoo.

3. The Album Cover

That better be one good fucking album. Maybe listen to the album, and nothing but the album, for a week straight. Take a week off. Listen to the album, and nothing but the album, for another week straight.

If you still think it’s a good idea after those three weeks, get tatted up. Even if you hate the album at some point in your life, you can still tell the story of how you listened to it for a week straight on two separate occasions.

No matter the form, a band tattoo is some next level shit. What must go through someone’s mind right before they’re about to take it to the next level? Prior to getting a band tattoo you’d probably want to consider the following things:

#1 Location

Obviously the face and sexual organs are out. Imagine knowing someone with a band tattoo on their face? You wouldn’t be able to focus on a conversation because you’d have a song in your head the whole time. Not to mention the fact you’d be thinking, “Why did this person get a band tattoo on their face?”

And what kind of sick freak would get a band tattoo on their genitals? Unless it was KISS. That joke would never get old.

#2 How Many Albums Has the Band Released

Probably gonna want to have a minimum of three on this one. You generally know what you’re getting from a band after album number three.  At that point, if the band were a girlfriend or boyfriend, you’d be comfortable farting in front of them.

#3 Is the Band From Your Generation

The email from Catt was originally about the Clash tattoo. The Clash tattoo is quickly becoming the next-level-Ramone t-shirt. Unless you actually grew up with the band it’s tough to justify being a genuine next level fan.

**An exception can be made for someone raised by a very cool parent or much  older sibling but these are tough to come by

#4 Have You Seen the Band Live Before

Live performances generally make or break fan connections to bands. To get a band tattoo before seeing them actually perform is the same logic that justifies arranged marriages: just do it and you’ll learn to love them.

#5 Are You Sober

Seriously. Had this question been asked every time a band tattoo was created there’s be far less people with Rolling Stone lips on their bodies.

#6 Do You Share the Band With Anyone Else

Some couples have songs. When that couple breaks up that song instantly becomes a shitty reminder of how someone you care about doesn’t want to be with you. Or, if you broke up with them, it could remind you of the reasons you dumped their ass in the fist place. Either way you don’t want that memory, fuck them.

# 7 Do You Have Any Other Tattoos

Making your first tattoo a band tattoo is either incredibly cool or incredibly lame. There’s no in-between. If things go well it could be the beginning of a great sleeve. If they don’t, it could be the beginning of a life filled with bad decisions.

#8 Are You In the Band

If you’re in your band tattoo’s band you’re money. Go big or go home. But just as a precaution, you should check in with the band before hand, just to make sure everyone’s on the same page.

#9 Are You Sure Your Admiration Couldn’t Be Represented By a T-Shirt

Do you really want to make this band, and everything that comes with it, part of your life? Removing it would be painful and expensive, much like it was to get in the first place. A shirt is cheaper and doesn’t require lasers to take off.

Getting a band tattoo is a big gamble. A move this big could potentially do more damage than good in the long-term. But that’s the risk of taking a shot at the next level, sometimes you miss and fall further down than you were before. You truly live a death or glory lifestyle. Maybe that Clash tattoo wasn’t such a bad idea after all.

Na, it’d still be lame.