IoMP 186: Do You Need Tattoos to Be a Metalhead?
Picture the stereotypical metalhead. Black band shirt? Check. Battle jacket? Probably. Piercings? Maybe. Tattoos covering an arm, hand, neck or seemingly every available square inch of skin? There's a pretty good chance.
Tattoos have become so closely associated with heavy metal that they almost feel like part of the uniform. But does being a metalhead actually require getting inked?
That's the question Collin and Tom tackle on this episode of the Influencers of Metal Podcast—and they approach it from two very different perspectives. Collin has several tattoos and plans on getting more, while Tom has spent a decade involved in the metal world without a single drop of ink.
The guys dig into why tattoos became such a recognizable part of metal culture, from the countless tattooed musicians who helped shape the image to the differences they see between subgenres. Some corners of metal practically seem built around sleeves, hand tattoos and neck ink, while others tend to be much more subtle.
Collin also shares his experience from the other side of the needle: choosing tattoo artists, dealing with the pain, deciding where he would—and absolutely would not—get tattooed, and why trusting the person permanently putting artwork on your body matters. He also reveals the story behind a future tattoo inspired by playing lacrosse as a kid and a special connection with his grandfather.
Meanwhile, despite proudly declaring himself a "tattoo virgin," Tom admits he already has a few ideas waiting in the wings. Band-related tattoos have been considered over the years—including an Avenged Sevenfold Deathbat—but one particularly adorable couple's tattoo might beat them all to the punch.
Ultimately, tattoos may be deeply woven into metal culture, but are they really a rite of passage—or just another way metalheads express themselves?
Click play to hear our favourite duo talk tattoos, tattoo horror stories, meaningful ink, questionable decisions, the changing social perception of body art and whether you really need tattoos to be a metalhead.
DISCLAIMER: Copyright Exceptions under the Copyright Act (R.S.C., 1985, c. C-42), allowance is made for "fair dealing" for the purposes of criticism or review.
