Musicians

Tattoo guides for singers, rappers, DJs and musicians, with photographs, documented meanings and the stories behind their designs.

Miranda Lambert’s Tattoos: Winged Pistols, an Arrow and a Paw-Heart

Miranda Lambert’s tattoo collection is small, but the designs connect to parts of her life that matter: a paw-heart for animal rescue, an arrow linked to guitarist Scotty Wray, and winged pistols marking her first gold record. Each piece has a story behind it.

Lambert has shared the stories behind several tattoos in interviews, and close photos show where they sit. There is no complete official inventory, so this account sticks to reported meanings and designs that can be seen.

The winged pistols mark Lambert’s first gold record

Miranda Lambert showing the winged pistol tattoo on her forearm

The most distinctive piece in Lambert’s collection is a pair of pistols with wings on her forearm. The guns are drawn in black ink with feathered wings around them, mixing country-western imagery with a playful angel reference. Her friend Amie Sikes created the design at Junk Gypsies.

Lambert says the tattoo celebrates her first gold record. The pistols suit country imagery and her public persona, while the wings recall the phrase “angel and little pistol” used to describe the character Sikes captured.

The design sits on her forearm, visible in sleeveless photos and onstage when she raises her arm. A distant shot may show only its outline; close-ups reveal the separate wings and pistols.

The arrow remembers guitarist Scotty Wray

Miranda Lambert showing the paw-heart tattoo on her foot

Lambert has linked the arrow to Scotty Wray, the guitarist she worked with, who later died. Its simple shape is a reminder of a specific person and period in her life.

The arrow is sometimes read as a sign of moving forward, but the story Lambert has shared points to Wray. That connection is more specific than the general symbolism; the available account does not give the design a broader meaning.

Photos put the arrow among the small tattoos on Lambert’s arm and hand. Its lines can look longer or shorter depending on the angle, so a dated close-up shows more than a stylized illustration. It also makes the arrow’s direction easier to see.

The arrow is one of several designs tied to people Lambert has worked with. Her tattoos vary in style, from colourful pieces to simple marks and familiar music or western imagery, but many point to particular memories.

A paw print connects the ink to MuttNation

Miranda Lambert showing a colorful heart tattoo on her forearm

Lambert’s paw-heart on her foot reflects her love of animals and MuttNation Foundation, the rescue group she founded with her mother. The small design combines a heart with paw details. It is easy to miss in event photos when shoes cover her foot.

She has said she got the tattoo around 2011, before marrying Blake Shelton, and linked it to her rescue work. The date and MuttNation connection give the design its clearest context.

On the foot, the paw-heart sits apart from her forearm pieces. A close-up can show the heart and paw pads; a full-body shot rarely captures its shape.

The paw-heart links Lambert’s affection for animals to MuttNation’s work. Photos and her comments support that connection, while details that are not clear in the images are best left unclaimed.

Other small tattoos add family, faith and music references

Miranda Lambert and her tour mates showing matching music note tattoos

Lambert’s other reported tattoos include small lettering and music-related marks. They are not as well documented as the winged pistols, arrow and paw-heart. A tattoo list can note a visible design while leaving its meaning open.

Tattoo galleries often repeat the same descriptions, even when an image is old or unclear. Comparing each claim with a clear photo helps show whether the details came from Lambert or from someone else.

Lighting can change how the coloured forearm tattoos look, and the paw-heart is usually visible only in close photos of her foot. A change in colour or angle does not necessarily mean she got new ink; dating the photo helps.

Together, the designs point to animals, music, friendship and career milestones. The winged pistols celebrate her first gold record, the arrow recalls Scotty Wray, and the paw-heart is tied to MuttNation and her love of dogs. Those are the meanings Lambert has shared; other details remain open.

The three pieces also make it easier to place tattoos in photos while keeping Lambert’s explanations separate from guesses based on appearance.

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The Tattoos Miley Cyrus Has Collected Over the Years

Miley Cyrus’s tattoos trace years of music, family and personal milestones. The clearest stories belong to a few pieces: a Pixies lyric on her upper arm, 1961 on her hand, a matching tattoo with Wayne Coyne, and a ringed planet she first called Jupiter. Many other designs are visible, but their meanings have not been confirmed.

The Pixies lyric on Miley Cyrus’s upper arm

Miley Cyrus’s Pixies lyric tattoo on her upper arm

In 2019, Cyrus added a four-line Pixies lyric to her bicep: “my head was feeling scared, but my heart was feeling free.” It comes from “The Thing.” Allure credited the piece to tattoo artist Winter Stone. Cyrus has not publicly given it a more specific personal meaning.

The small lettering sits high on her arm and can disappear in wider photos. Its connection to the Pixies is clear; Cyrus has not linked it to a particular relationship or event.

What does Miley Cyrus’s 1961 hand tattoo mean?

Miley Cyrus showing the 1961 hand tattoo

Around the 2019 MTV Video Music Awards, the number 1961 was reported as a tribute to Billy Ray Cyrus’s 58th birthday. Allure named Winter Stone as the artist behind the two tattoos Cyrus debuted then. The digits sit on her left hand; no second meaning has been established.

Rings, poses and lighting can obscure digits on a hand. Close photos make the placement of the hand tattoo easier to confirm, while the birthday story gives the number its context.

The matching chest tattoo with Wayne Coyne

Miley Cyrus and Wayne Coyne matching chest tattoo

In July 2014, the Los Angeles Times reported that Cyrus and Flaming Lips frontman Wayne Coyne got matching chest tattoos at a house party in Los Angeles. Coyne posted photos of the session. The design shows Cyrus’s late dog howling the title of the Flaming Lips album With a Little Help From My Fwends. The report connects the piece to their friendship and collaboration but does not name the tattooist or document every detail of the finished design.

Coyne later said he and Cyrus got matching tattoos, including a small triangle. That confirms they shared more than one design, but it does not mean every small mark in later photos came from the same night.

“Love Never Dies” and Cyrus’s music-related ink

Miley Cyrus showing the Love Never Dies armpit tattoo

“Love Never Dies” appears high in Cyrus’s armpit and upper arm. Reports from the Bangerz era also mention “Love Yer Brain,” named for the Flaming Lips song and album. US Weekly says Cyrus worked with New York tattooist Bang Bang on the piece.

The lettering is easy to miss in performance photos. Close-ups show the words and their location, while reports connect the phrases to the Flaming Lips without giving them one private meaning.

The planetary tattoo she called Jupiter

Miley Cyrus showing the planetary arm tattoo

TIME reported in April 2016 that Cyrus had a ringed planet tattoo on her left arm. She captioned the photo “#lilbbjupiter,” but many people called it Saturn because of the rings. The story became a small public correction: the image shows a ringed planet, while its name shifted between Jupiter and Saturn.

The planet and its placement are easy to see. The photos and caption do not tell us why she chose it.

Other documented tattoos and placements

Miley Cyrus tattoo placement guide showing arm, wrist and rib tattoos

Later summaries and fashion coverage list more designs across Cyrus’s arms, ribs, hands, feet and shoulders. The reported pieces include small symbols, script, a dreamcatcher, the Visconti of Milan coat of arms, a heart, animals and music- or relationship-related phrases. The record does not provide a full official list.

Different artists worked on different pieces. Vogue has linked Cyrus with Keith “Bang Bang” McCurdy, while Allure credits Winter Stone with the 2019 lyric and 1961 tattoos. No single artist made the entire collection.

How Miley Cyrus’s tattoo collection has changed

Miley Cyrus showing her tattoo collection

Her collection grew quickly in the 2010s, from small symbols and fine lettering to larger images. Dates matter: clothing, aging ink, cover-ups and camera angles can all change what a photo shows. An older tattoo missing from one frame may simply be hidden.

In 2025, LOS40 reported Cyrus saying she had more than 74 tattoos and regretted about 80 percent of them. That gives a sense of how she feels about the collection, but it is not an exact current inventory and does not mean every tattoo has been removed or changed.

Which Miley Cyrus tattoo meanings are confirmed?

Miley Cyrus forearm tattoo detail

The best-supported stories are the Pixies lyric, the 1961 family tribute, the chest tattoo of her late dog howling the Flaming Lips album title, and other Flaming Lips references. The ringed-planet tattoo is visible, but Jupiter and Saturn are names used in the caption and later reports.

Many other designs can be seen without a confirmed meaning. A photo of a heart, animal, date or symbol does not reveal why Cyrus chose it. When neither Cyrus nor an artist or reliable report has explained it, its meaning is unknown.

Frequently asked questions

Who tattooed Miley Cyrus?

Cyrus has worked with multiple artists. Allure named Winter Stone for the 2019 lyric and 1961 pieces; Vogue has also reported tattoos by Keith “Bang Bang” McCurdy. Those credits apply to the pieces they mention, not the entire collection.

Does Miley Cyrus have a Saturn tattoo?

Miley Cyrus Jupiter tattoo close-up

She has a ringed planet on her left arm. She first called it Jupiter, while photos and later reports often identify it as Saturn; the design is documented, but its personal meaning is not.

How many tattoos does Miley Cyrus have?

There is no fixed official count. Cyrus was reported in 2025 as saying she had more than 74 tattoos, but the total can shift with new work, cover-ups and how small pieces are counted.

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Liam Payne's Tattoos Keep Family, Band and Memory Close to the Skin

Liam Payne’s tattoos range from the four chevrons on his forearm to longer script, a feather, Egyptian hieroglyphics and Only time will tell on his wrist. He has said the arrows refer to his four One Direction bandmates. Other designs have clear locations but no public explanation.

In the GQ Tattoo Tour, Payne explains several pieces himself. Older catalogues add details from photos, but those sources do different jobs: an image shows lettering and placement, while Payne’s comments tell us what he meant. The distinction helps keep the stories straight.

Four arrows keep One Direction on Payne’s forearm

Liam Payne’s four black arrow tattoos on his forearm

Payne has linked his four-arrow forearm tattoo to the other members of One Direction. The arrows sit together, so they read as one design rather than four unrelated chevrons.

The band had five members, and the tattoo turns that number into a compact black motif: four arrows for Payne’s bandmates. Their clean shape works as a reference without taking over his arm.

From a distance, lighting can make the lines look heavier or thinner. Close-ups show the details; performance photos show how the arrows sit on Payne’s arm. The marks beside them may be separate tattoos.

It is a clear example of a small tattoo with a specific group connection. Payne needed only four repeated shapes to refer to his bandmates; his own explanation supplies the meaning.

Long script lettering gives the forearm a private register

One long script piece on Payne’s left forearm reads Everything I ever wanted but nothing I’ll ever need. The handwriting contrasts with the short chevrons and gives the arm a more personal note.

The letters are readable in photos, but their origin has not been confirmed. It could be a lyric, a conversation or a private thought; Payne has not identified one. The words carry their own weight without an invented backstory.

The script is on his forearm, visible in short sleeves or while he holds a microphone. It can disappear from view when he turns his arm, so a clear photo gives a better sense of the full line than an old partial shot.

The text sits near other symbols and short phrases, but their stories are not all connected. Payne has explained the arrows as a band tribute; the longer line is best taken as text whose private origin is unknown.

Hieroglyphics and a feather add smaller visual chapters

Liam Payne tattoo guide showing hieroglyphics and feather

Older tattoo callouts show Egyptian hieroglyphics on Payne’s right arm and a feather elsewhere. They also list Only time will tell on his wrist, along with a screw and other small designs. Photos support their shapes and placement more than any translation or backstory.

A photo can show Egyptian-style characters, but that alone does not translate them. Without a reliable source, it is safest to describe their appearance and location.

The feather is a separate image from the script and arrows. Callout photos also place Only time will tell on his wrist; it is another distinct piece, not a caption for everything above it.

These tattoos look like additions from different periods rather than one sleeve planned in advance. Their exact dates are not all known, so a placement-based account is clearer than a chronology built from scattered photos.

What Payne’s tattoo record can establish

The documented collection includes the arrows for One Direction, long forearm script, hieroglyphic-style marks, a feather and wrist lettering. The GQ interview gives the strongest personal context for the pieces Payne discusses himself.

There is no official count or public explanation for every mark. Some pieces may have changed or faded; photos can also hide them depending on the angle. Where details remain uncertain, it is best to stick to what Payne and the images actually show.

Each piece can stand on its own. The arrows have a clear band connection; the script is readable even though its source is unknown; the hieroglyphics and feather add their own visual detail. There is no need to assign every mark a story.

The arrows, script, hieroglyphics and feather are different designs, each with its own shape and level of documentation. A close photo beside the right description helps keep them distinct. Future interviews or clearer images may add detail, but the current account should stay as certain as the evidence allows.

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Joe Jonas's Tattoos Turn Cartoons, Music and Memory into Linework

Joe Jonas’s tattoos move between pop culture, music and personal memory. SpongeBob SquarePants, Mario, Chuckie Finster and other cartoon characters make the pieces on his upper thigh knowingly playful. A Freddie Mercury portrait nods to a musical hero, while one report linked an African symbol to an experience that changed him. There’s no single theme holding the designs together, and they don’t need one.

Photos of the thigh pieces are rare because they sit beneath ordinary clothes. The tattoos appeared in a short video and older music footage, not regular red-carpet photos. The dates and placement follow the sources that show them; where Jonas hasn’t explained a meaning, it stays open.

Cartoon characters cover Joe Jonas’s upper thigh

Joe Jonas showing SpongeBob Mario and cartoon thigh tattoos

The thigh group is the most unexpected part of Jonas’s tattoo collection. Recent coverage identifies SpongeBob SquarePants, Chuckie Finster from Rugrats and Mojo Jojo from The Powerpuff Girls. Other reports add Mario, Dexter and Max Goof from later sessions. It feels like a mix of favorites gathered over time, not one coordinated scene.

Lauren Winzer is associated with several designs from a 2018 session. Fine black outlines do the work: the familiar shapes and expressions make SpongeBob or Mario easy to recognize without color or heavy shading.

Jonas showed them off in a joking video while wearing a robe. That helps explain why the pieces rarely turn up in press photos: they sit high on the thigh and stay covered unless he chooses to reveal them. They feel more like a private joke than a visible bit of stage branding.

Nostalgia is the clearest read. Reports identify childhood characters and Winzer’s involvement, but don’t assign a personal story to each one. SpongeBob works as a tattoo subject on its own; Jonas has placed him alongside other familiar characters from television and games.

Freddie Mercury gives the collection a musical tribute

Joe Jonas's Freddie Mercury line-art tattoo

Joe Jonas has a fine-line portrait of Freddie Mercury, Queen’s frontman. Business Insider identified it from a monochrome photo of the fresh tattoo, alongside Jonas’s social post and artist tag. The portrait has a clearer connection to music than the cartoons, while its spare lines echo the lighter character work.

In a line drawing, a few marks have to carry Mercury’s face, hair and posture. The published photo lets readers judge the likeness instead of relying on a caption.

The cartoons are playful; Mercury’s portrait points to a performer whose voice and stage presence have influenced generations of musicians. A collection can hold a childhood character and a rock icon without settling on one tone.

The report supports describing it as a Freddie Mercury portrait, but says nothing about a particular song, concert or personal meeting.

An African symbol was linked to help and cooperation

Joe Jonas showing his forearm symbol tattoo

An earlier report places an African Adinkra symbol on Jonas’s lower right forearm. It explains the symbol as meaning help me, help you and links his choice to a visit to Africa. That’s the published explanation; the short segment doesn’t say more about the trip.

The symbol looks quite different from the cartoons: it’s a compact geometric form that carries meaning without depicting a character. On the forearm, it can show in interviews, though some photos catch it at an angle and lose the finer lines.

The report ties the message of cooperation to a place and experience that mattered to Jonas. It doesn’t explain his other designs; the symbol’s meaning shouldn’t be applied to the rest of his tattoos.

Set beside the cartoons and Freddie Mercury portrait, the Adinkra mark adds another kind of reference. The thigh pieces are playful, the portrait is a tribute, and the forearm design carries a meaning attributed by the report. Each points to a different interest or experience, from television to music and travel.

Earlier linework fills out the map

Other guides mention linework and symbols on Jonas’s arms and elsewhere, but the available photos aren’t always clear. Treat those entries as tentative until a sharp image or reliable report confirms them. A blurry picture or recycled caption can misidentify a design, especially if it may have been covered since.

These well-documented pieces already sketch the collection: cartoon characters on the thigh, a musical influence in the Freddie Mercury portrait, and an Adinkra symbol that a report linked to mutual help. There’s no need to pad the list with shapes that can’t be identified.

Jonas’s tattoos make more sense as a collection of contrasts than as one single theme. The cartoons are playful; the Mercury portrait is a musical reference; the forearm symbol has its own reported context. The sources give enough to describe them without guessing at motives Jonas hasn’t shared.

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Maluma's Tattoos: Magia, Family Elephants and the Lion on His Chest

Maluma’s tattoos cover several parts of his life: music, family and the symbols he has chosen at different stages of his career. His collection includes an album title, animal designs, a dove on his neck and tattoos tied to his parents and sister.

No single article captures every piece. Photos show more ink than sources can identify, and some tattoos have changed as new work was added. Dates and placement help separate what can be seen from what Maluma has explained.

Maluma has said that tattoos connect his biography with his music. That doesn’t make every design autobiographical, but it helps explain why the album name, family initials and family animals have firmer meanings than small marks seen only in distant photos.

Magia marks the beginning of his musical story

Maluma showing the Magia tattoo on his forearm

The word Magia sits on Maluma’s left forearm and names his first album. Inked and GQ España both make that connection. It’s one of his easiest tattoos to identify: the word is readable, and its meaning points to a specific release.

The forearm is often visible, and the lettering now sits beside other sleeve work. Older photos show it before later flowers and lines were added, so those details shouldn’t be dated to the album tattoo. The confirmed link is simple: Maluma used his forearm to mark Magia.

That’s why a tattoo guide benefits from music context: “Magia” marks a release and a moment in his career. The surrounding sleeve can be described on its own.

The elephant group represents family

Maluma showing the owl tattoo on his arm

Inked describes four elephants on Maluma’s right forearm, with human-like shadows reflected in the water below. The design is connected to his family. That’s more specific than a general reading about strength or loyalty because the report describes both the figures and their personal meaning.

The elephants form a single scene, not four separate tattoos. The water and reflected figures are part of it; crop the photo too tightly and those details disappear.

The source establishes the forearm location, four elephants and the family connection, but doesn’t assign a separate story to each animal.

The chest lion is one of his most recognisable pieces

Maluma showing the lion tattoo on his chest

The lion sits on Maluma’s upper left chest and appears often in coverage of his tattoos. Inked calls it one of his favourite pieces; related reporting links it with strength during a difficult period. Its size makes it one of his most visible tattoos.

Photos often show the lion alongside other chest and shoulder work. Some crop out the larger arrangement, so it’s better to describe the lion and its reported meaning without assuming every nearby line belongs to it.

Tattoo-tour footage can show the animal, its placement and style. It doesn’t establish the date, artist or private reason on its own; those details need to come from a source.

The owl, dove and family-initial tattoos fill out the record

Maluma showing additional family-related tattoos on his arm

GQ’s tattoo tour shows a large owl on Maluma’s arm, while Inked identifies a dove on his neck and links it with peace. The designs and their general locations are documented, though the available accounts don’t give a complete timeline for when each was added.

Maluma says he got his first tattoo when he was young: the initials of his mother, father and sister spell his stage name. Inked places this early family tattoo on his left leg. It belongs to an earlier chapter than the album lettering and animal pieces, not the arm sleeve.

Tattoo-tour footage also shows Roman numerals and smaller lettering. Date those marks to the footage in which they appear, and leave their meaning open unless Maluma has explained it. A numeral alone doesn’t tell us which event it marks.

Reading the collection as a timeline

Taken together, Maluma’s best-documented tattoos range from family initials to album lettering, family animals and symbolic designs on his chest, arm and neck. The meaning is clearest where a source names the design and explains it. Small marks with no direct explanation remain uncertain.

That leaves room for the guide to change as new details emerge. A future interview might identify an artist, date or meaning, and a sharper image might separate new work from old. For now, the Magia lettering, elephant group, lion, owl and dove are the pieces supported by reporting.

Compare photos by body area, date and source. One portrait can show forearm lettering, chest animals and neck symbols together, but each has its own history. Keeping those details straight gives a truer picture than assigning a story to every visible line.

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Dave Grohl's Tattoos Trace His Route Through Punk, Metal and Friendship

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

tattoo detail

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.

Dave Grohl Foo Fighters neck tattoo

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

Dave Grohl Ace of Spades tattoo

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.

Dave Grohl matching feather tattoos on his forearms

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 Read Like a Private Diary in Public

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

Dave Navarro Constance tattoo lettering

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

Dave Navarro arm tattoo portrait and memorial lettering

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

Dave Navarro Surrender Dorothy chest tattoo

“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

Dave Navarro Eleven Twenty-Two chest tattoo

“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

Dave Navarro CE initials chest tattoo

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

Dave Navarro Celtic cross and card-suit forearm tattoos

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

Dave Navarro traditional arm tattoos with pin-up and card motifs

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 Has a Clear Phrase and a Complicated Backstory

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

Nicki Minaj showing Chinese characters tattooed on her upper arm

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

Nicki Minaj displaying the vertical Chinese tattoo on her left 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

Nicki Minaj showing the vertical Chinese writing on her left upper arm

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

Nicki Minaj’s Chinese-character upper-arm 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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Lil Wayne’s Tattoos Reach From His Eyelids to a Full-Body Suit

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

Close-up of Lil Wayne showing the Fear God eyelid lettering and teardrop face tattoos

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

Lil Wayne’s tattooed chest and stomach, including M.O.B., Cash Money, Bang Bang and Life’s a Gamble lettering

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

Lil Wayne’s tattooed forearms and hands in a Universal Music press portrait

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

Archival GQ portrait showing Lil Wayne’s extensive face, chest and arm tattoos

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

Lil Wayne showing his chest and arm tattoos

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 Tattoos: Face Ink, Maori Design and What They Mean

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 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 showing her face tattoos

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

Kehlani tattoo detail showing hand and face ink

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 showing the hand lotus cover-up tattoo

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

Kehlani tattooed arm showing the family-tattoo context

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 showing the Maori tattoo

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

Kehlani tattooed arm showing the family-tattoo context

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?

Kehlani showing arm portrait tattoos

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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