Frank Bello’s tattoos include two pieces he has explained publicly. One honors his younger brother Anthony; another, by Paul Booth, represents his inner rage and the calm he associates with his son. Concert photos show both designs on his arms, though lighting and movement can make them hard to see.
Frank Bello’s confirmed tattoos
The clearest documented tattoo is a portrait of Frank’s brother Anthony on his right upper arm, with In Memory of Anthony beneath it. Anthony was murdered in the Bronx in 1996. The tattoo is a direct memorial, not band branding.
Frank described another Paul Booth tattoo in an interview with Glide Magazine. He said it represents his inner rage, while a glowing figure represents what calms him; he connected that figure to his son.
The Anthony memorial portrait
The Anthony portrait sits high on Frank’s arm. It appears when he wears a cut-off shirt or lifts his bass. Lettering beneath the portrait keeps the memorial legible when stage lights soften the image.
From a distance, the arm or lettering can disappear into the shadows. Closer photos show the face and script more clearly.
The Paul Booth piece and its meaning
Frank hasn’t named every figure in the Paul Booth tattoo. He has explained the main idea: the darker side stands for his inner rage, and a glowing figure represents what calms him. He said Booth understood the concept and designed it accordingly.
The design can be described as dark and surreal, as Frank has done. The blurry photos don’t support naming each shape as a demon, skull, or Anthrax symbol.
How the tattoos look onstage
Concert photos vary with red light, smoke, straps, and clothing. One may show the memorial clearly; another catches only an outline, the lettering, or part of the other design.
The designs fit his dark stage look, but their meanings are personal. The portrait honors family; the Paul Booth tattoo relates to anger and what helps him find calm.
The right upper arm is the clearest place to study. The portrait can hide under a regular sleeve and reappear when Frank reaches across his bass or lifts an arm. The lettering below it completes the memorial.
Wider photos show the arm tattoos alongside Frank’s vest, bass strap, and wristbands. The black-and-white ESP image and warmer festival shots show the same placement under different lighting, which can make the ink appear lighter or darker.
What Frank Bello does not have tattooed
Frank has said he wouldn’t tattoo Anthrax lyrics or the band name on himself. His documented pieces relate to family and personal feelings rather than the band’s logo.
The documented tattoos are personal: the right-arm portrait honors Anthony, and the Paul Booth design represents rage and calm. Frank’s comments explain their meaning; the stage photos show where they sit.
Watch Frank Bello talk about his tattoos and life in Anthrax
In the interview below, Frank talks about his life in Anthrax and the stories behind his tattoos.