Slipknot guitarist Mick Thomson’s tattoos are easiest to see in photos where his arms are uncovered. In a fan Q&A, he said the Japanese character on his arm means “hate.” The number 7 is also visible in photographs and connects to his role as #7 in the band.
Masks, gloves and stage clothes hide much of the rest, and many older photos are grainy. The clearest record is Thomson’s answer about the character, the number tied to his band identity and other dark ink whose details remain unclear.
The Japanese character on his arm
A fan asked Thomson about the character on his arm, and he answered that it means “hate” in Japanese. It is the clearest first-hand explanation of one of his tattoos.
The mark appears in older photos of Thomson playing guitar. His answer gives its translation, without adding a broader explanation.
The number seven
The number 7 is tied to Thomson’s place in Slipknot, where he is known as #7. Photos show the number among his arm tattoos.
The tattoo links back to the number fans know him by in Slipknot.
How the ink works with his masked image
Thomson’s mask, long sleeves and stage clothing hide much of his body. A wrist or forearm may come into view as he moves, while a guitar or strap covers other areas.
The photographs show the tattoos in fragments. The character and number offer two clear reference points; the other dark work is harder to map from concert images alone.
Older photographs and the limits of identification
Some older photographs show more dark designs on Thomson’s arms. Their quality varies: low light can merge several lines into one shape, and clothing can obscure the edges.
Those pictures support the presence of additional ink, but they don’t give every piece a reliable name or meaning.
The meaning of hate in context
Thomson gave the translation “hate” in response to a direct question about one character. That answer explains the design; it isn’t a general statement about how he sees himself.
The number seven as a band identity
Slipknot’s members are associated with numbers as well as masks. The number helps distinguish Thomson as #7 within the group, and it appears in photographs of his tattoos.
What the photos can and cannot prove
Photos show where the ink sits on Thomson’s arm, but they don’t always make clear whether nearby marks are one design or several. They also can’t supply a meaning without an interview or another reliable source.
The Japanese character has a first-hand explanation. The number connects to #7. Smaller details should be described only as far as the images allow.
A concise inventory of Mick Thomson’s tattoos
The documented inventory includes the Japanese character on Thomson’s arm that he said means hate, the number 7 tied to his Slipknot identity and additional dark arm work visible in photographs. The names and meanings of smaller pieces aren’t consistently documented.
The tattoo’s place in Slipknot history
Slipknot’s masks create a shared stage identity, while the member numbers help fans tell the musicians apart. For Thomson, #7 links the tattoo to his place in the band.
The Japanese character adds a separate reference with a meaning he has explained himself. Together, the two details show how his tattoos sit alongside the band’s visual history.
Why the arm mark stands out in photographs
Thomson’s arms are visible when he plays, but the view changes as he moves. A guitar strap, sleeve or glove can cover a tattoo in one frame and reveal it in another.
A close-up makes the character or number easier to see; a live shot shows how they appear with his instrument and stage clothing.
The number seven and fan tributes
Fans have used the number 7 in tattoos, clothing and artwork to show their connection to Slipknot. Their versions are tributes; they aren’t necessarily copies of Thomson’s own tattoo.
For him, the number identifies his role in the band. For fans, it can point to years of albums, tours and memories tied to Slipknot.
What remains undocumented
Photographs suggest Thomson has more ink than the two best-known references, but the sources don’t identify every piece consistently. Some designs disappear beneath sleeves or gloves, and older pictures vary in quality.
No other design has a comparable first-hand explanation in the available sources.
Watch Mick Thomson answer fan questions
In this interview clip, Thomson answers questions about his tattoos and his Slipknot identity.