Jacoby Shaddix’s tattoos are part of the Papa Roach look. His chest and arms carry colorful traditional designs, with smaller lettering and symbols on his neck, hands and face.
He has spoken about several pieces, including his first tattoo, his wife’s name. Other designs are easier to identify than to explain, so the sections below stick to what Shaddix has said and what the photos show.
The Born to Rock chest piece is the first thing you notice
A banner reading Born to Rock stretches across Shaddix’s upper chest. The larger design includes playing-card figures, musical details and traditional tattoo shapes.
The work continues over his shoulders and down his torso. A queen surrounded by water sits on one side; a king backed by flames is on the other. Tattoo coverage has described the pair as a good-versus-evil theme.
Color is a big part of the design. Reds, greens and yellows make the figures stand out in stage photos, even under concert lighting.
His sleeves are full of traditional rock imagery
Both arms carry colorful designs, including faces, flowers, flames and playing cards. The sleeves aren’t matching; each has its own mix of images and outlines.
One arm includes a microphone. Another design refers to Papa Roach’s song “Born with Nothing, Die with Everything.” The lettering can be hard to catch while Shaddix is moving, but it shows up more clearly in still photos.
He has also talked about his love of The Clash. Word tattoos on his hands add to the collection’s music references.
The side-profile shots show off his neck and shoulder ink
Side-profile photos reveal lettering and small symbols on Shaddix’s neck, plus larger shaded designs across his shoulder and upper back. Skulls, script and dark shapes give this area a different look from the colorful chest piece.
Small stars sit beside his eyes, with more around his ears. They’re easier to see in close-ups than in full-body concert shots.
Some of the neck lettering is too blurred to read. It’s better to describe where it sits than guess at words the photos don’t show clearly.
Love and Hate are written across his knuckles
Shaddix has Love across one set of knuckles and Hate across the other. The short words are easy to read when he holds a microphone or raises his hands onstage.
Smaller designs appear around his fingers and the backs of his hands. One reported piece is a little ghost; other photos show stars and tiny marks.
Hand tattoos can soften with wear, and older photos show some of the letters looking lighter. The words remain among Shaddix’s most recognizable tattoos.
The microphone tattoo brings the whole collection back to music
A microphone on Shaddix’s forearm is a direct reference to his work as a singer. It sits among other tattoos connected to Papa Roach, songs and people close to him.
In live photos, the designs shift as he lifts the microphone and moves his arms. Pink and purple stage lights can change how the colors look, while the larger outlines remain easy to see.
What Jacoby has actually said about his tattoos
Shaddix has described tattoos as an extension of commitment. He has talked about getting his wife’s name as his first piece, and about designs connected to Papa Roach and rock music.
Not every tattoo has a confirmed meaning. Stars near his eyes, for example, are visible, but their personal story isn’t documented. The clearer accounts are the ones Shaddix has shared himself.
Watch Jacoby Shaddix talk tattoos
In the interview below, Shaddix discusses some of the stories behind his ink: