id: Tatts Life
When Frank Iero gave us the lowdown on the issues behind his ink.
IS THERE A THEME TO YOUR TATTS?
Yeah, kind of. I guess it’s basically that if I put my life to pictures, it would be my tattoos. They have a lot to do with my childhood, a lot of images to do with the band, specific moments from our career so far and feelings that I have about things at certain times. I don’t really regret any of my tattoos because they all symbolise a point in my life. Whether it was a good time or a bad time, it’s all my life.
WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST TATTOO?
The first tattoo I had done is in the middle of my back. It’s a jack-o’-lantern. I was born on Halloween so it’s to basically symbolise that. We’re all major horror fans in this band, so it’s also kinda neat, I think. I got it on my 18th birthday, so there was no lying to people in tattoo parlours – I tried lots of times to get one when I was younger but they didn’t buy it!
WHAT WAS THE NEXT TATTOO YOU HAD DONE?
The next tattoo I got was this band on my left arm which says Loyalty, Respect, Honesty. I got that because they’rе the only kind of people I want in my life. And after that I think I got my Black Flag bars, and then I decided to get my back done. I really like the chainsaw that’s around my left bicep. I’m not sure how much of a bicep it is, but the tattoo came out really well! The chainsaw came from The Texas Chain Saw Massacre, which is one of my favourite movies of all time. It also represents a revenge theme to me: the balance of power, or rather redressing the balance of power.
ANYTHING LOWER DOWN?
Actually, I have a lot of personal things tattooed on me, such as poetry that I’ve written. The newest one I got, that I really like a lot, is down on my thigh and it says ‘Live every day like it’s your last’.
TELL US ABOUT THE ANCHOR?
Me and three of my friends all had the NJ with the anchor done at the same time. It means always being anchored to home in New Jersey. It was something we needed to do.
AND YOUR LIP?
I had the inside of my lip done with the NJ. I guess it’s a way of remembering your 100ts and keeping you honest,
true to yourself and down to earth.
WHY EXACTLY DID YOU GO AND GET YOUR NECK TATTOOED?
I did it because I didn’t want to get a proper job – no one’s gonna give you a regular job if you’ve got your neck tattooed, right? It was a way of forcing myself to be in this band by getting it done. The band actually paid for it! We were out on tour one day and I woke up in the venue and said to the guys, “I want to get it done,” and they’re like, “Well, if you really are gonna do it, we’ll all chip in.”
WHAT’S YOUR FAVOURITE TATTOO? I don’t know – I’ve got so many! |
“I THINK TATTOOS SHOULD SYMBOLISE A POINT
IN YOUR LIFE – WHETHER IT WAS A GOOD TIME
OR A BAD TIME” FRANK’S TATT-DOS & DON’TS“
