The Musicians With The Most Eyebrow Raising Pieces Of Body Art
posted in: Music News • Pop • Rock • Urban
Many musicians have talents and creative energy that require outlets music just can’t provide. Some are writers, penning books of turgid prose to match their affected prosody. Some act, and can be seen on both big or small screens with a bit part here or a cameo role there. Then there are those that feel the need to express themselves through the static visual medium of paint. And what greater canvas is there than that of the living canvas, the human body?
Yes, it seems like every musician is getting inked up these days. Hell, 45 million Americans of all walks of life now have some form of permanent body art on their person. But, as any fateful walk on along the beach these days will tell you, not every tattoo is a winner. It’s hard to say that any work of art is bad, per se since taste is subjective. One man’s Rothko on his pec can be another woman’s velvet Elvis on her wrist.
In this spirit, join us as we chronicle some of the most, um, “eyebrow raising” pieces of body art on some of our favorite musical acts.
Jamie Foxx is a creative renaissance man. An actor, singer, and dancer, he can sometimes be seen doing all three at once if you’re watching the right music video. Suffice it to say, he’s a bad ass. But bad ass enough to sport some antler-like pieces on the back of his head? It’s unclear why exactly Foxx had got the tattoos in the first place. Some more speculative gossip sites claim that the horn pieces were part of Foxx’s celebration for his 40th birthday. Other sources point to the more likely explanation that the tattoos were for Foxx’s role in 2011 film Horrible Bosses. While it’s unclear whether the tats are permanent or temporary, they still prompt a bit of head scratching.
Limp Bizkit front man Fred Durst is a proud purveyor of low art. The cover of his last record, Gold Cobra, was a rather loving send up of schlocky movie poster design. And lest we forget, he plays in a rap-metal band. Shudder. But Durst’s forays into questionable culture clashes still don’t quite provide explanation for his chest piece of Elvis and Cobain side by side. Durst says that he connects with Cobain, hence the Nirvana frontman’s permanent place on Durst left pectoral. Jury’s still out on what Elvis is doing there.
The boys in Good Charlotte are pretty tatted up as a unit. That’s a lot of pieces to go wrong with but once you get into full sleeve territory, like brothers Benji and Joel Madden have, it’s pretty hard for anything to really have a negative impact. However, the boys did make an appearance on Mark Hoppus’ talk show A Different Spin and they dished on some of their pieces that they were less than thrilled about. While Joel had a dragon that looks suspiciously seahorse-like, Benji took the day with his knuckle tats. While the inspiration for the design was pretty heartwarming”the words Made Man representing the success that allowed the brothers Madden to provide for their family”the last minute addition to the Benji’s left pinky, a horseshoe, was questionable to say the least. What does say a lot is that Benji wears a pinky ring on that hand.
Who is the richest rapper that doesn’t really rap all that frequently who isn’t Diddy? Answer: Birdman. The Cash Money exec, born Bryan Williams, is an investor of note who can brag of lucrative income streams that are generally outside the purview of most entrants of the rap game. Oh, you’re an emcee with your own clothing line? OK, sure. Birdman has an oil well. To commemorate his investment in the exploitation of the world’s favorite finite resource, Williams did the natural thing and slapped a tat of an oil derrick onto the top of his noggin. Now originally we were going to rag on Williams’ head derrick but it’s impossible. How can you not celebrate in grand fashion when you’re getting oil money? Swag like that is unimpeachable.
Boy George is responsible for some of the U.K.’s best musical exports. Here is a picture of the tattoos on the back of his head, presented without comment.
Shudder.
Cheryl Cole is a major pop star across the pond”cranking out hit singles, judging on the X Factor, earning a reputation for sartorial flair and all. Not only that, but she sounds like a pretty nice lady by most accounts. But even fashion conscious sweethearts can slip on occasion. Or maybe not. Thing is, it’s hard to form an opinion on Cheryl’s back tat because it’s hard to tell what it is. The butterfly is nice! The rest of it, is, well, I don’t know! Is that a feather? Are there letters in there?
And we had to save the best for last. As we’ve seen with Birdman and Jamie Foxx’s works above, it takes a lot to have one of your tattoos stand out if you’re a rapper or R&B artist. But Gucci Mane put everyone to shame in 2011 with what must be the greatest face tattoo since Mike Tyson’s tribal masterstroke; a triple scoop ice cream cone on his right cheek. With thunder bolts. But it’s not as though Mane randomly decided to permanently cover his face with ice cream. No, this one was for the fans and it was on brand to boot. According to Gucci’s team, the tattoo is a reminder to his fans on how he lives his life, cool as ice. As in, ‘I’m so icy, I’ll make ya say Brrr.’
Brrr indeed, Gucci. Brrr indeed.
Any other tattoos that made you do a double take that we didn’t include here? Let us know in the replies!
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