Dave Grohl’s tattoos trace the music and friendships that shaped him, from early punk influences to later tributes. The Ace of Spades tattoo, for example, came after Lemmy Kilmister’s death. The collection reflects decades of changing musical loyalties rather than one matching set.

In interviews, Grohl has said he made his Black Flag tattoo himself and described an arm tattoo he connected to John Bonham. Photos help show where the later designs sit, including the Motörhead tribute.

Grohl’s early tattoos include Black Flag and a pentagram

An archived interview recounts a pentagram Grohl got as a teenager. The surviving photo is too soft to show the design clearly, so this image gives a sense of his early arm tattoos rather than a close look at the symbol. The story places the tattoo in the music culture around him; it is separate from the Black Flag piece.

A pentagram can carry different associations, but Grohl’s interview does not tie his to a particular belief or ritual. Its appearance alone is not a reason to assign one.

The Black Flag bars are bold and direct, while the pentagram leaves more room for interpretation. Together, they show a young musician drawing on the subcultures around him, rather than following one set of symbols.

Grohl’s tattoo stories move through punk, metal and his admiration for drummers like John Bonham. The designs came from different times, but they are closely tied to the music and people he valued.

The Foo Fighters tattoo on Grohl’s neck brings his own band into the picture alongside the artists he admired.

The Black Flag bars remain the clearest link to his early music. They read at a glance, though a distant stage photo can blur the lines.

Other pieces reflect music, friendship and personal memory. Larger tattoos stand out at a glance; smaller designs on the forearm, shoulder or hand take a closer look.

His collection has changed over decades. Old symbols sit beside newer lettering, and some ink has faded. A dated photo helps place a design in time instead of making its changing appearance look like a new tattoo.

Band symbols and memorial designs have their own histories, but one tattoo’s meaning does not explain the marks beside it. Grohl has discussed some connections; the others can be described by their shape and placement.

The arm symbol Grohl linked to John Bonham adds one more musical influence: a drummer he has spoken about admiring.

Grohl’s smaller tattoos can be hard to spot beside the larger music designs. In concert photos, his wrist or forearm may be turned away, and stage lighting can hide fine lines. A sharper image gives a better look, though it may not date the tattoo.

“Music” is a useful thread through the collection, but it does not tell the story of each tattoo. Black Flag, memorial pieces and other band-related images each have a different history. Grohl has explained some connections; others show only what is on his skin.

The Ace of Spades and other music tattoos

Grohl’s Ace of Spades and related tattoos give the collection a sharper edge. The high-resolution photo shows the card design more clearly than a dim concert shot, and the link to Motörhead places it in the music he admired.

Each piece belongs to its own period. The Ace of Spades, Black Flag and other band references grew from different moments in Grohl’s musical life.

Grohl’s tattoos are easier to understand as a timeline than as a matching set. Black Flag recalls the music that caught his attention early; the playing-card image and smaller marks sit within a wider history of punk, metal and touring. One shared theme is not needed.

The Black Flag tattoo has the plain force of a teenage music obsession. It is a simple design, but it stayed with Grohl. His connection to the band speaks to influence and allegiance, a different story from a family tribute.

The Ace of Spades leaves more room for interpretation. The card is strongly linked with Motörhead and rock culture, but photos cannot say which part of that history meant most to Grohl when he got it. The band reference is clear; a more personal meaning would need confirmation from him or a reliable interview.

Small pieces are harder to date. A clear forearm shot may show where a design sits but not when he got it, while a concert photo can hide fine lettering. An image is useful, but it does not provide a complete timeline.

Grohl’s forearm tattoos often come into view when he plays guitar or talks into a microphone. He can cover them with sleeves, but the ink has also become part of his public image. The collection looks accumulated over years of bands and touring, rather than designed as one brand.

Grohl has tied Black Flag to his early musical influences, and the Ace of Spades points to the rock and metal world around Motörhead. The smaller marks are best described by what the photos show when he has not explained their meaning.

Age and photo quality can make the collection look different from one picture to the next. A dark stage shot may swallow a tattoo, while a close portrait shows its edges. Ink also fades; a change in appearance does not necessarily mean new work or a cover-up.

Nothing in the collection suggests a coordinated style. The tattoos span records, bands, friendships and the years between small venues and arena stages. Some carry stories Grohl has shared; others are simply visible parts of his life.

The history behind each design matters more than a dramatic meaning added afterward. Grohl has shared part of that history in interviews; older photos and concert images fill in the rest of the picture.

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Dave Navarro’s tattoos stretch across his back, chest, shoulders, arms and hands. Some have a clear explanation from Navarro himself. Others are easy to identify in photographs and tattoo catalogues, but have no reliable public explanation. The distinction leaves plenty to describe without inventing a story for every skull, card or flourish.

The named tributes are the parts of the collection Navarro has discussed. The surrounding traditional imagery is best read from what the photographs show.

Constance, the name he wears low on his back

The lower-back lettering reads Constance, a tribute to Navarro’s mother. Charlie McDonald of Mayhem in Los Angeles is credited as the artist. Tucked low and central, the name feels more private than the bold chest work, even when Navarro is photographed shirtless.

A simple written mark can carry more weight than a large image. The lettering sits where clothing can hide it, but the name reads immediately when it is visible.

A portrait and memorial lettering fill the left side

Photographs of Navarro’s left side show a portrait associated with his mother, surrounded by flowing script and smaller traditional motifs. The surrounding arm appears to have been built over several sessions, so one photograph cannot date the portrait. The face is the main image; the script and smaller marks give the arm a scrapbook feel.

Catalogues also identify memorial lettering and a skull in the same area. The smaller designs sit alongside the realistic portrait, old-school outlines and narrow script, but Navarro has not publicly explained each one.

“Surrender Dorothy,” the phrase Navarro has explained

“Surrender Dorothy” is one of Navarro’s best-known chest tattoos. In an interview, he connected “surrender” with letting go and allowing life to be what it will be. The phrase also recalls The Wizard of Oz, giving the lettering the feel of both a quotation and a sign.

Ornamental blackwork frames the words, with a heart, crown and other flourishes nearby. Navarro’s interview explains the phrase; the photograph shows how it sits across the larger chest composition.

Eleven Twenty-Two across the upper chest

“Eleven Twenty-Two” stretches across Navarro’s upper chest. The numbers are clear, but public descriptions do not establish which personal event the date marks.

The inscription sits among heavy black-and-grey imagery, mirrored script and ornamental shapes, folded into a larger chest design. Its position is as striking as the date itself.

Heart, crown and mirrored lettering anchor the chest

Navarro’s chest includes a large flaming or sacred-heart image, crown-like details and ornamental blackwork. Published photographs also show mirrored script lower on the torso, including the reported phrases “I am alone” and “I am utterly alone.” The wording is visible, though its connection to the surrounding images has not been explained publicly.

The heart draws the eye first; script spreads outward and the blackwork fills the spaces around it. A distant event photograph can lose the small symbols that make the composition easier to read.

CE initials for Carmen Electra

Photographs and entertainment coverage identify CE on Navarro’s chest as a tribute to Carmen Electra. The initials are clear and easy to distinguish from the surrounding designs.

The chest tattoos around the initials fold them into a larger black-and-grey composition, but CE remains its own relationship tribute, distinct from “Eleven Twenty-Two” and “Surrender Dorothy.”

A Celtic cross and playing-card suits on the forearm

A Celtic cross is regularly identified on Navarro’s forearm, alongside playing-card suits, ornamental flourishes and other traditional-style marks. Its strong outline keeps it readable even when the arm is photographed at an angle.

Catalogues also list skull-and-crossbones imagery, a pierced-skull motif and narrow script near the wrist. The pieces can overlap in a single photograph, but each is a separate design.

Man’s Ruin, cards and dice across the arms

Specialist tattoo inventories identify a traditional “Man’s Ruin” pin-up in a martini glass, with aces, twos, dice, a liquor bottle, skull-and-crossbones imagery and a banner nearby. The pin-up, gambling symbols and bold outlines draw on classic flash designs.

Taken together, the group gives Navarro’s arms a Sailor Jerry-inspired look. Elsewhere, the memorial and family work brings a different tone to the collection.

The arm also carries the One Hot Minute fairy logo, a reference to Navarro’s Red Hot Chili Peppers period. Among the pin-ups, cards and heavy outlines, it can look like another decorative figure; its connection to the band is more specific.

What the photographs show and leave open

Navarro is sometimes said to have more than ninety tattoos, though totals vary depending on whether a connected cluster counts as one piece or several. One list may group a portrait with its lettering; another may count every card, banner and small symbol separately. An inventory is more useful than a firm total.

Repeatedly documented designs include Constance, the family portrait, memorial and name lettering, Surrender Dorothy, Eleven Twenty-Two, the central heart-and-crown composition, mirrored loneliness script, CE initials, the Celtic cross, skulls, card suits, dice, Man’s Ruin, the One Hot Minute fairy logo, and additional shoulder and hand marks. Photographs show how the tattoos sit together; Navarro’s interviews explain only some of them. A design can be plainly visible even when its personal story has not been shared.

Nicki Minaj’s Chinese tattoo is easy to recognize but more complicated to explain. Six traditional characters, 上帝與你常在, run down her left upper arm. English coverage gives two common translations: “God is always with you” and “God is always with me.”

It is often described as Minaj’s first tattoo, which she got at about sixteen. Later reports say she regretted choosing such a visible spot; she had first considered the back of her neck. Language specialists have also questioned some of the character forms. The phrase is easy to identify, but its history and lettering need care.

The six Chinese characters form the tattoo’s central message

The six characters 上帝與你常在 anchor the design. Cheng & Tsui transliterates them as Shàngdì yǔ nǐ cháng zài and explains the common Christian reading. 上帝 can mean God or a supreme deity; the remaining characters convey being with someone and staying present.

English sources render that last idea in slightly different ways. Capital XTRA uses “God is always with you,”; other references say “God is always with me.” “You” and “me” reflect different English renderings, not different characters. It helps to give both common readings while keeping the original visible.

The vertical arrangement makes the phrase easy to recognize. It is not a single-character mark or a textless symbol. All six characters and their order matter; Chinese writing is not a set of interchangeable English initials.

This tattoo also shows why character tattoos need a language check. Cheng & Tsui and Sinosplice have analyzed the writing instead of repeating an online translation. Their analyses support the intended blessing while pointing out that some strokes are inaccurate.

The vertical writing sits on Minaj’s left upper arm

Minaj’s Chinese writing runs down her left upper arm and bicep. Capital XTRA and photo coverage place it there; Glamcheck describes it as being on the upper part of the limb. The arm is visible in sleeveless performances and red-carpet photos, which helped make the design familiar early in her career.

Steal Her Style reports that Minaj considered the back of her neck before choosing her arm. That made the tattoo easier for photographers and fans to see, but it also turned a teenage decision into a permanent part of her public image.

The characters follow the curve of her arm in a narrow vertical column, not a horizontal banner. The bicep bends as she turns, so distant photos can shorten the column or blur neighboring characters. Close-ups are better for reading the full phrase.

Her later regret was about placement, not necessarily meaning. Reports say she wished the tattoo were somewhere less visible, while still identifying the phrase as a religious blessing. That’s more precise than saying she hates the design.

Traditional forms and uneven lettering complicate the translation

The tattoo uses traditional Chinese forms, including 與 rather than the simplified 与. Sinosplice examines the characters individually and says some are uneven or missing strokes. Cheng & Tsui compares them with standard forms and notes that the intended sentence can still be understood, even if the calligraphy isn’t fully accurate.

That distinction matters: the translation comes from reading the sequence as a sentence and comparing it with language analyses, not guessing from appearance alone. The phrase conveys a familiar blessing, but the handwriting may not meet a native calligrapher’s standard.

For anyone considering a Chinese-script tattoo, check the wording with a fluent reader before copying it. A design can matter to its wearer and still contain an awkward form or nonstandard stroke. Criticism of the lettering doesn’t prove Minaj had no intention behind it.

Minaj’s Chinese tattoo also appears in discussions of her music persona. Some later coverage connects it to her lyrics and public image, but the tattoo predates those references. She chose it as a teenager, and it stayed visible as her music and styling changed. It is the same set of characters in each photo.

What can be stated confidently about the Chinese tattoo

The clearest description is straightforward: Minaj has a vertical, six-character Chinese tattoo on her left upper arm, commonly read as a blessing that God is always with someone. She got it as a teenager, considered a different placement and later regretted how visible the arm location was. Language analyses say some characters look rough or nonstandard.

The real interest lies in the tattoo’s context: the wording, placement and calligraphy all matter. Show the original characters beside any English translation, and label that translation as a reported reading. That keeps the guide accurate without turning a teenage tattoo decision into a claim about Minaj’s private faith.

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Most people recognize Lil Wayne by a few close-ups: “Fear God” across his eyelids, teardrops under his eyes and “I Am Music” above one eyebrow. His tattoos cover much more, from his face and neck to his chest, arms, hands, back and legs. In a 2017 interview, his former tattoo artist Dow Hokoana said she had done about 300 tattoos on him and helped complete a full-body suit.

Wayne added the work over many years, often in private sessions, and each photograph shows only part of it. Some tattoos have clear explanations; others are visible but remain personal. A neat numbered list would miss that history.

His face holds faith, music and unmistakable lettering

The clearest explanation is “Fear” on the right eyelid and “God” on the left. In a 2008 Guardian interview, Wayne was asked what he feared and answered, “Nothing. Fear, God… That’s it.” The phrase is direct; it needs no extra symbolic theory.

Above his eyebrow, “I Am Music” reads like a statement of identity. In that Guardian profile, Wayne called himself music. The words are part of his public image, not hidden beneath clothing.

Other face tattoos make the area more like a patchwork than a single design. BET’s gallery shows “Misunderstood” running down his face, with stars nearby, a fleur-de-lis on his cheek as a New Orleans reference, “East Side” under his jaw and a C between his eyes. Wayne hasn’t given one explanation for every mark; gallery captions identify what’s visible but don’t settle its private meaning.

The teardrops are recognizable but easy to overread. Some tattoo lists assign them a specific story, but a shape’s conventional meaning isn’t evidence about Wayne. The same applies to the cracks, cross and other marks around his forehead and cheeks. A photo shows where the ink sits, not why he chose it.

In December 2014, Wayne added an Eye of Providence to his chin and Arabic writing above an eyebrow. Early reports translated it as “Momma’s boy.” The FADER later updated its story after Arabic speakers questioned that reading. It’s safer to call it “Arabic lettering,” than repeat the translation as fact. The writing is visible; the first translation was disputed.

Chest and stomach lettering trace the Cash Money years

Wayne’s torso carries some of the collection’s largest pieces. BET’s gallery identifies “M.O.B.,” “Cash Money,” “Bang Bang” and “Life’s a Gamble” across his chest and stomach. From a distance, the words form a dense field; closer photos make several phrases readable in the same shot.

“M.O.B.” is often expanded by other tattoo guides, but BET lists the initials without a direct explanation from Wayne. Keep them as printed rather than presenting an unverified expansion as his definition. “Cash Money,” is straightforward label text from the career that made him known.

On his abdomen, 17 refers to New Orleans’ 17th Ward, according to BET. Other catalogues list “Apple Eagle,”, “BM JR,”, “R.I.P. TB,”, red skulls and more lettering low on his stomach. The photos don’t verify every item equally clearly, so keep those entries attributed rather than presenting them as equally certain.

Biographical accounts say Wayne got his father’s name tattooed at 14, then later added “Cash Money” across his stomach. The public reports don’t give a session-by-session record. Still, the names and affiliations link family, New Orleans and the label that launched his career.

His arms and hands carry names, dates and hometown details

His arms mix names and dates with references to New Orleans and music. The gallery shows “Baby” over a bird on his upper right arm, described as a tribute to Bryan “Birdman” Williams. BET also identifies “9-27-82,” his birth date, on a forearm, plus “Thugged Out” with an alien and a Rolls-Royce logo on the left arm.

Other entries include “Slim,”, “Nae” on each forearm, “504,”, and “In Memory of Rabbit: It’s Up to Me.” Some tattoo catalogues link the last phrase to his stepfather, Reginald “Rabbit” McDonald. Blanket labels such as “gang tattoos” miss the range: names, family tributes, hometown markers, jokes and brand references share the collection.

BET captioned several close-ups of Wayne’s hands. One is “A Gun” on his right palm; another is “The World” on his left. “Concrete Street” runs across both hands, and a small smiley face sits inside his lip. Other catalogues list “HOT” and “BOY” across the hands, “SQAD” and “SHIT” on his fingers, “TRIGGER” on an index finger, plus “Shake Junt” and “Skateboard” designs. These small marks are hard to make out in stage photos; close-ups work better.

Where a tattoo sits changes when it can be seen. Forearm lettering is usually visible; a palm appears only when Wayne turns his hand toward the camera. “The World” and “A Gun” read like short visual jokes, but they don’t explain his beliefs or life. Photos confirm the words and placement; his reasons are another question.

The full-body project includes work most photos never show

Wayne’s former tattoo artist, Dow Hokoana, told The FADER she completed about 300 tattoos on him over seven years. Her aim was to build a full-body suit. They often started around midnight and worked until morning; on tour, she sometimes met him at a hotel after a show. This was a long-running project, not just a face-tattoo phase or a few memorable chest pieces.

Hokoana named designs that rarely make short lists. One cheek tattoo is a cloud and lightning bolt, chosen after Wayne spotted a bolt on her daughter’s backpack. She said he sometimes wanted a design simply because he liked it, without a grand explanation. That’s a useful counterweight to the habit of assigning life-changing meaning to every mark.

She also described ten Vegas-style showgirls wrapping around his hip, an Andy Warhol Campbell’s soup can, and a colorful checkerboard across his backside. Hokoana said the full-body project was completed, but kept one intimate design private, saying Wayne could discuss it himself if he chose. That boundary should stand.

Catalogues also list a prayer and map of Louisiana on his back, a skull and leg work, including a Jay-Z verse often identified as “Lucky Me.” The available portraits don’t show all these pieces clearly. Keep the descriptions attributed to those catalogues rather than calling them independently verified close-ups.

What the record can say without guessing

The clearest picture comes from three sources. Wayne’s own words explain “Fear God”. BET’s captions identify words and placements across his face, torso, arms and hands. Hokoana’s interview shows how extensive the body-suit project became and names pieces that rarely make short lists.

Those sources don’t give a current tattoo count or a dated record of every session. Wayne’s tattoos changed over time, and photos may show old, altered or newly added work. No single image captures the whole collection.

His tattoos grew alongside his public identity. The face carries words about music and faith; the chest and stomach reference Cash Money and New Orleans; the hands and arms add names, dates and jokes; the body suit includes work cameras rarely capture. That’s more specific than treating every tattoo as a mystery, and it stays close to what the photos and interviews show.

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Kehlani’s tattoos span their face, neck, hands, arms, torso and legs, and the collection has changed over time. Teen Vogue mapped the designs by body area in 2020. More recently, Kehlani said they were considering removing some face tattoos, so older photos are only a snapshot.

Face tattoos

Kehlani has a queen-of-hearts symbol near the left temple, Espíritu Libre on the right, four dots beneath the eyes and a paper plane under the left eye. In a 2015 interview, they said the face tattoos hurt less than many people might expect, Teen Vogue reported.

In a 2026 interview with VICE, Kehlani said they were considering removing the face tattoos to feel fresher and have more freedom with their appearance. They also worried that face ink can leave a person looking locked into one style.

Perdida y encontrada on the neck

Kehlani got the phrase perdida y encontrada tattooed on their neck in 2016. Teen Vogue translated it as “lost and found.” Kehlani said it marked recovery after a major heartbreak and felt therapeutic, a reminder that getting lost didn’t mean they couldn’t find themselves again.

A Japanese-style cloud runs along the left side of Kehlani’s neck. Their throat bears a large Om symbol with the word fluid beneath it. Teen Vogue linked fluid to Kehlani’s discussion of sexual orientation. Hair and clothing can make these visible designs easier or harder to see in photos.

The WOKE hand tattoo and lotus cover-up

In 2018, Kehlani’s WOKE hand tattoo was covered by a double lotus, BET reported. They said they had once felt very sure of their own knowledge, but later felt the word had become too fixed a statement.

BET quoted Kehlani describing the lotus as a design that wrapped around and carried forward the idea behind WOKE. Teen Vogue credited the cover-up to Dillon Forte. The redesign changed the meaning of the tattoo as well as its appearance.

First hand tattoos and messages

Kehlani told The Fader that their first tattoo was HAVE HOPE across the knuckles, Teen Vogue reported. They got it for a best friend who was moving away and whom they called a sister. Their hands later gained small symbols, including an arrow, anchor, Venus sign and the number 510.

Other hand tattoos include a peace sign, triangle, Mickey Mouse, heart, paisley pattern and the phrase La Dreamer. Teen Vogue said it was a nickname for a girl Kehlani met while in foster care. That explains La Dreamer; it doesn’t explain every tattoo on their hands.

The Maori family tattoo

During a 2017 trip to Australia, Kehlani flew in a New Zealand artist to create a traditional Māori tattoo. Teen Vogue reported that it represents whānau, or family. Six koru stand for four siblings living on earth and two who had died; two mangopare, or hammerhead sharks, represent guidance and strength through adversity.

Kehlani’s account explains the family symbolism and the artist’s connection to the design. The tattoo’s Māori tradition is part of that context too.

Arm portraits and music influences

Kehlani’s left arm has a sunflower on the shoulder, a portrait of Lauryn Hill with Come As You Are, and a portrait of Frida Kahlo. They said Frida had influenced their personality, strength and art, Teen Vogue reported. The Lauryn Hill portrait uses the cover of The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill; Kehlani said it reminds them to stay focused and make a great album.

The right arm has a colourful sleeve of peacock feathers and roses. Los Angeles artist Miryam Lumpini later enlarged and brightened the sunflower, Teen Vogue reported. Kehlani hasn’t given a specific meaning for the sunflower or the sleeve’s filler designs, so those meanings remain open.

Torso and leg tattoos

A large Tsunami tattoo spans Kehlani’s torso, a reference to the nickname Lani Tsunami. Other reported designs include marine animals and Arabic lettering translated as “forgive yourself.” Between the shoulder blades is a quote about surviving hardship. Teen Vogue also documented Today Is the Best Day Ever beside a portrait whose subject Kehlani hasn’t named.

Pop culture turns up on Kehlani’s legs too: Mia Wallace and Vincent Vega dancing in a Pulp Fiction scene, a longboard with a palm tree and waves, and Reggie Rocket from Rocket Power. Kehlani said Reggie reminded them of their tomboy childhood and helped them ignore other people’s judgments. Other reported designs include Betty Boop, an unidentified portrait, and a spider and rose pierced by a dagger.

How the collection has changed

Since Teen Vogue’s 2020 gallery, Kehlani has covered WOKE and discussed removing the face tattoos; other pieces have also been expanded or reworked. The gallery is a snapshot, so a tattoo shown there may not look the same now.

Kehlani’s collection includes phrases, portraits of artists, family symbols, pop-culture characters, Māori work and tattoos tied to personal changes. They have explained some designs. The photos show what others look like, but don’t establish what each one means.

Frequently asked questions

What happened to Kehlani’s WOKE tattoo?

In 2018, Kehlani covered the WOKE hand tattoo with a double lotus. They said their view of the word had changed and described how the lotus carried its idea forward. Teen Vogue identified Dillon Forte as the cover-up artist.

What does Kehlani’s Maori tattoo mean?

Kehlani said the Māori design represents whānau, or family. Its koru refer to siblings and the mangopare to guidance and strength.

What does perdida y encontrada mean?

Perdida y encontrada means “lost and found” in Spanish. Kehlani described the neck tattoo as a therapeutic reminder after heartbreak.

Are Kehlani’s face tattoos being removed?

VICE reported in 2026 that Kehlani was considering removing the face tattoos to feel softer and have more freedom with their appearance.

Kehlani’s tattoos reflect friends, family, music and culture, with many tied to personal growth. The face and hands show the most visible shifts: WOKE became a lotus, and Kehlani has discussed removing face ink. They’ve explained other pieces too, including the neck phrase, Māori family tattoo and portraits. The remaining photos show what the designs look like, but not what each one means to them.

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