These 25 Beloved Bands and Musicians Inspire the Most Tattoos

Music and tattoos have always gone hand in hand, and it’s no surprise that some of the most beloved musicians and bands of all time inspire countless fans to get inked. From classic rock icons to modern pop stars, the artistry and passion of these musicians have inspired fans to express their love and loyalty in permanent ink.

In this post, we will be taking a closer look at 25 bands and musicians that inspire the most tattoos, exploring the history and influence behind their music and the ink that it inspires. Ticketsource has crunched the numbers to uncover what musicians are inspiring the most tattoos and the results are surprising! Whether you’re a fan looking for your next tattoo idea or simply interested in the intersection of music and body art, read on to discover which artists have left their mark on the skin of millions of devoted fans.

Grateful Dead

According to Ticketsource, the 25th most popular band or solo artist to inspire tattoos is the Grateful Dead. In the above example, we find a Peter Max inspired bolt.

Motorhead

Heavy metal band Motorhead, from England, rank as the 24th band to inspire tattoos. With the band’s signature metal imagery, it should come as no surprise that there are many tattoos in honor of them.

Michael Jackson

Now, for our first solo artist on this list, Michael Jackson. The King of Pop ranks 23rd among the most frequently gotten artist-inspired tattoos. How cool is this portrait?

Halsey

In 22nd place, we have Halsey who inspires a great deal of tattoos. Her lyrics are always poignant and make a real statement and they are the most popular kind of tattoo inspired by Halsey.

AC/DC

Next up, we have rock band AC/DC, ranking in 21st place. For AC/DC fans, it’s the band’s logo that gets the most love. Following it, tattoos inspired by “Hell’s Bells” are also a favorite.

Eminem

Music lovers and Eminem fans are all about a portrait when it comes to tattoos regarding him. The many different looks of Slim Shady earned him the rank of 20th place.

Justin Bieber

For the Beliebers of the world, portrait and lyric tattoos are highly favored. Further, Justin Bieber has a bunch of tattoos himself that many fans try and copy. That puts him in 19th place.

Lady Gaga

Lady Gaga’s little monsters love portraits of the singer as well as lyrics, especially “Born This Way.” According to Ticketsource, Gaga tattoos rank 18th in popularity today.

Blink 182

For Blink 182 fans, it’s the band’s logo that’s getting inked more than anything else. The many people with the logo tattooed on them have helped rank the band 17th.

Marilyn Manson

Only time will tell if the horrific abuse allegations against Marilyn Manson will slow the popularity of tattoos in his likeness. For now, he ranks 16th.

Rammstein

For Rammstein fans, it’s the band’s “ramming stone” logo that gets the most tattoo love. Many people have tattoos similar to this one, making the band the 15th most popular on this list.

Led Zeppelin

You will find this image tattooed on a whole bunch of Led Zeppelin fans, but symbols associated with the band are also a popular choice. For the thousands of folks with a tattoo celebrating the band, they have pushed it to the 14th place.

Amy Winehouse

Late legend, Amy Winehouse lives on in tattoo form, inspiring countless designs in her likeness. She had such an iconic look that it comes as no surprise that portraits of her are currently most popular. Winehouse tattoos rank in 13th place.

Bob Marley

Another artist we lost far too soon, Bob Marley, is the subject of many tattoos. As with Winehouse, Bob Marley tattoos tend to be portraits. He ranks 12th place.

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Lana Del Rey

Next up, we have Lana Del Rey who is celebrated in ink mostly in portraits but also the words “Born to die,” decorate a lot of bodies. Her fans make tattoos of the singer rank in 11th place.

Metallica

This symbol right here is the most popular style of Metallica tattoo today. Tons of people have it. We’ve made it to the top ten and we’re not really shocked about this one.

David Bowie

David Bowie’s signature lightening bolt is, by far, the most popular style of tattoo in honor of the artist. All manner of bolts are out there. That puts Bowie tattoos in the 9th spot.

Wu-Tang Clan

The stylized W and symbol for the band, Wu-Tang Clan, is one of the most easily recognizable images associated with any band or solo artist. It inspires tons of tattoos each year. It’s the 8th spot for this hip-hop collective.

Rihanna

There are countless portrait tattoos of Rihanna in the wold today. The superstar, who gave one of the most memorable half-time performances at the Super Bowl, will likely continue to rise but for now, tattoos of her rank in 7th place.

Iron Maiden

One thing is certain: Iron Maiden fans are dedicated. More than any other band inspiring thousands of tattoos, Iron Maiden fans boast the largest pieces. This giant back-piece in homage to the band is but one example of the very big tattoos out their in their honor. It’s 6th place for these tattoos.

Nirvana

Sure, you will stumble across many portraits of Kurt Cobain and the band’s smiley face logo, but the album art for In Utero is also beloved. The grunge band ranks in 5th place.

Tupac Shakur

Portraits of one of the most influential artists in a generation, Tupac Shakur, are widely beloved. The person who shared this image explained that it is based on All Eyez on Me. Tupac tattoos are in the 4th spot.

Slipknot

At first we were surprised that Slipknot ranked in 3rd place, but then we thought about the people who know who love the band and it clicked. Fans of the group are as dedicated as they come. The S symbol is the most popular among fans.

Pink Floyd

In 2nd place, we have Pink Floyd tattoos which are on tens of thousands of folks today. Especially popular is the Dark Side of the Moon imagery as well as Wish You Were Here. With many album covers mirroring the band’s psychedelic style, all of the covers can be found in ink.

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BTS

We knew BTS to be a worldwide sensation but we did not expect them to inspire the most tattoos of any band or solo musician. We expected to see more portraits of the band members but those were surprisingly rare. This line drawing or the words “Love Yourself” are currently the trendiest.

There you go! For even more music tattoo inspiration, keep reading. We’ve got 30 more designs to share with you.

Discover the Best Music Tattoo Ideas Below:

Oh, Pick Me!

Women rock! The guitarist with this tattoo proves it with her design of a manicured hand holding a neon green guitar pick. What a fun tat! It’s a great music tattoo idea for a musician.

Hi, Kurt

Wow! This Kurt Cobain tattoo is mindblowing. Take a look at all that detail. It looks just like a photograph. Any of your favorite artists can be the inspiration for your music tattoo ideas.

22

Do you feel like music courses through your veins? We often do! If you feel the same, this could be a great music tattoo idea for you. This heart tattoo with musical notes doesn’t miss a beat.

Jimi Jam

This portrait of the legendary guitarist Jimi Hendrix is lovingly done. You could not hope for a better outcome when getting a photorealistic portrait tattoo. Again, any artist can serve as inspiration for your music tattoo ideas.

The Production of It All

This tattoo belongs to a music producer and includes all manner of gadgets used during production. We love this 2-D design and the fun abstract shapes that bring it to life.

That’s So Stevie

This magical Stevie Nicks tattoo lives up to the legendary rocker’s reputation. Mysterious and enchanted, we’re here for all of these mystical vibes.

No Good Amy

Amy Winehouse and her iconic hair are given a stylized treatment in this tribute tattoo. The lyric “You know I’m no good” is included for good measure. Turn to your favorites for the best music tattoo ideas.

In the Mix

We are very much into the cassette tape love we’re seeing in music tattoos these days. Who remembers those epic mixtapes? You know, the one you got from a lover that really made you feel the romance? That makes tapes such great music tattoo ideas.

Mind the Music

Where is your head at? In the clouds, we hope. This stunning design features a statue listening to music and losing its head. Do you ever hear a song this good?

Pull On Those Strings

Classical music lovers can get in on the music tattoo ideas game as well. This glorious violin placed delicately inside a blooming flower is excellent.

Lennon, Marley, Mercury, Bowie

We’ve got some minimal portraits of a veritable hall of fame here. John Lennon, Bob Marley, Freddie Mercury, and David Bowie are instantly recognizable thanks to these smart designs.

The Drums

What is the thing you love most about music? Is it the beats? For your music tattoo ideas, turn to the things that make you want to move. Doesn’t this drum kit make you want to dance?

Check It

This vintage microphone conjures images of Motown and classic style. The use of color that’s reflected in the mic is absolutely stunning. Get creative with your music tattoo ideas and it will really pay off!

The Phonograph

Phonographs and gramophones are a hot tattoo trend right now. This is a very classic design, but some people have designs that imagine the horn as a flower or other objects.

RELATED: 30 Easy Tattoo Ideas and Designs to Try

Cher

We did not set out to find a Cher tattoo, but a Cher tattoo found us. This photorealistic portrait of the iconic singer and actor really captures the star’s likeness.

10.

The famous Abbey Road album cover is reimagined in silhouette. We love that the shadows even have shadows here. Album covers tend to be pretty iconic and that makes them excellent inspiration for music tattoo ideas.

Stroke Those Keys

What instrument speaks to you? For this person, it was clearly the piano. If you like to tickle those keys, something similar could be the right music tattoo idea for you.

All That Jazz

Eat your heart out, Lisa Simpson. We’ve got a jazzy saxophone tat here that’s composed of a bunch of dots. Dotwork tattooing is a special skill that gives this design so much character and visual interest.

Fender Bender

This tattoo of a guitar head is masterfully done. Done in the sketch tattoo style and incorporating watercolor red blotches of color, it’s an effective design. Turn to your favorite instruments for the best music tattoo ideas!

Composing

For songwriters and composers, a tattoo of the concept is often hard to pin down. This design takes a very literal approach and we love it. If you are a composer, we can think of no better music tattoo idea!

You Spin Me ‘Round

As promised, we’ve got some viny lovers with tattoos to prove it on the list. This very minimal black ink tattoo of a record looks sharp. For your music tattoo ideas, it’s always smart to go back to basics.

Leo Delibes Watercolor

We’ve got a phenomenal watercolor tattoo with this piece. We find sheet music set in front of the most delicate splashes of color. Remarkable! Music is gorgeous on the page, let it guide your music tattoo ideas.

Coming In On a Hot Mic

Wow. This black and grey tattoo is stunning. Music is so romantic so it’s no surprise that this design includes a gorgeous rose. Feel free to inject a little romance while coming up with your music tattoo ideas.

Banjo, Tho

As we’ve seen, instruments truly make for some of the most compelling music tattoo ideas. How good is that powder blue on this very handsome banjo? We’re all about it! Pluck away, folks.

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Floral Trebel

A treble clef tattoo is a very common design you’ll see time and again. However, this tattoo is jazzed up with the addition of a floral pattern to give it even more character. Nature and music go hand-in-hand so keep it in mind while trying to come up with your music tattoo ideas.

Wow! How good are these music tattoo ideas? We’re pretty sure they totally rock.