Myles Kennedy tattoos are easy to miss when he is in a jacket, holding a guitar or moving around a festival stage. When he wears a sleeveless shirt, though, the artwork on both arms comes into focus. His collection has a clear visual thread: bold animals, curved shapes and designs that feel personal without looking overworked.
The known set includes a dragon on his left forearm, a koi fish on his right forearm, an octopus higher on his right arm and two elephant heads on his chest. Kennedy has explained that the dragon and koi connect with Asian stories and imagery, while the octopus comes from a simple love of the animal. That gives the collection more character than a random set of flash designs.
What tattoos does Myles Kennedy have?
Kennedy has five main tattoo subjects that are regularly mentioned together: one dragon, one koi fish, one octopus and two elephant heads. The exact details can be hard to read in a fast concert photograph, but the larger shapes are very clear in close views of his arms.
Kennedy’s work with Slash and the Conspirators is another reason the stage photos suit this article so well. The arm pieces stay visible while he performs, much like the bold forearm work in our Slash tattoos guide.
His dragon and koi are the pieces that most obviously work as a pair. The old legend about a koi swimming up the Yellow River and becoming a dragon has been discussed in interviews about his ink. You can read the story in Loudwire’s tattoo reveal, where Kennedy talks through the meaning behind those two designs.
The dragon and koi tattoos
The dragon is on Kennedy’s left forearm, while the koi is on his right. That placement makes the pair especially useful inspiration if you like the idea of balancing two related tattoos across opposite arms. You could use the same line weight and shading on both pieces while allowing the subjects to face in different directions.
A dragon can be drawn with sharper movement and heavier scale detail. A koi gives you softer curves, flowing fins and a more horizontal shape. Together they create contrast without looking like two unrelated tattoos. Kennedy’s versions also show why it helps to think about how a design wraps around the arm rather than planning only a flat front view.
The octopus arm tattoo
Kennedy’s octopus sits higher on his right arm and gives the collection a different kind of movement. Tentacles naturally wrap around a curved surface, so the design can look different whenever the arm turns. That is one reason octopus tattoos are so flexible: they can be bold from a distance and still reward a closer look.
For a tattoo inspired by this idea, ask your artist to map the main head first and let the tentacles follow the shape of your arm. Too many small lines can blur over time, especially around the inside of the elbow. Strong outlines, open skin and a few carefully chosen shadows will usually age better than trying to copy every detail from a photograph.
The elephant tattoos on his chest
The two elephant heads are the least visible part of Kennedy’s collection because clothing usually covers them. They also add symmetry to a group that is otherwise concentrated on the arms. Chest tattoos can be designed as a pair, with the faces angled toward each other, or as separate pieces that share the same shading style.
If you like this part of the collection, think about scale before picking a reference image. Elephant faces need enough room for the ears, eyes and trunk to stay readable. A smaller design can still work, but it may need a simpler outline and fewer decorative details. A good artist will help you keep the strongest features instead of squeezing in everything at once.
What makes Myles Kennedy’s tattoos work?
The biggest strength of Myles Kennedy’s tattoos is that the designs feel connected without turning into one solid sleeve. The animals give the collection a natural theme, and the placement lets each piece stand on its own. His arm tattoos also have enough movement to suit a performer who is constantly reaching for a microphone or guitar.
There is a useful lesson here for anyone planning a tattoo. You do not have to fill every open patch of skin. A few large designs can have more impact than a crowded collection of small symbols, especially when the pieces have room to breathe. It also helps to choose imagery you will still care about years later, then let the artist adapt it to your body.
Ideas to take from the collection
Fans who like Kennedy’s ink can borrow the overall approach without copying the exact artwork. Pair two animals with a shared story, use one arm for a flowing design and keep a second idea for the chest, shoulder or upper arm. Japanese-inspired shapes can be translated into many styles, from clean blackwork to softer colour work.
Before booking, bring several references that show the mood you want rather than one image you expect the artist to trace. Talk about size, placement, how the design will move when you bend your arm and how much detail your skin can comfortably hold. That planning is what turns a cool idea into a tattoo that looks right on you.
How to plan a tattoo with this kind of movement
One detail that stands out in the concert photos is the way the artwork follows Kennedy’s arms instead of sitting like a sticker on top of them. The lines bend with the muscles, and the heavier areas give the eye somewhere to land. That is worth discussing with your tattoo artist before the stencil is made. A design that looks great on a screen may need to be opened up or rotated once it is placed on a real arm.
It is also smart to think about visibility. Kennedy’s ink can disappear under a sleeve and then become the main focus when he wears a vest. If you work in an office or want the option to keep your tattoos private, forearm and upper-arm placement gives you more control than a hand or neck tattoo. You can still choose a bold animal design without making every part of your collection visible all the time.
Colour is another choice to make early. The photos show how much impact a tattoo can have even when the overall outfit is dark. A limited palette can keep an animal design readable, while black and grey can make the shapes feel more like an old illustration. Bring both colour and blackwork references to your consultation and ask how they will look against your skin tone after healing.
Finally, leave room for the tattoo to settle. Fresh ink often looks brighter and sharper than healed work, and swelling can hide how the design will really sit. Follow the aftercare instructions, avoid judging the final result too quickly and take clear healed photos if you plan to add a second piece later. Kennedy’s collection is a good reminder that a strong group of tattoos can build over time.
Watch Myles Kennedy talk music and performance
For a closer look at Kennedy outside the stage photos, watch this interview about touring, songwriting and playing with Alter Bridge and Slash.