If You're a Music Lover, You'll Love These Tattoos

By Thalia Shepherd - Feb 6, 2025

Tattoos are permanent, which is probably the first thing you were ever told about them. But do you know what else is permanent? A love of music. The tattoos compiled here were designed for music lovers like you, dear reader. Here, you’ll find rock ‘n rollers and popstars, cassette tapes, wine, and a whole bunch of treble clefs. If you’re a music lover looking to emblazon their appreciation of their favorite band, artist, or just music as a whole on your skin, these images should give you ample inspiration.

Rock Band Sleeve

If you’ve ever said that today’s music sucks when compared to the rock and roll of yore or expressed similar sentiments, you’ll love this tattoo. It’s a full sleeve depicting no less than nine different bands (by our count) and probably features others that we can’t see in this image.

Instagram // @wesvaughntwo

This sleeve features your parents’ (and their parents’) favorite bands and singers, including Nirvana, Jim Morrisson, Pink Floyd, and, yes, the Beatles. Really, the only thing missing from this tattoo is a quote that says, “I hate modern music,” but maybe that would have been overkill.

Piano in the Hole

For many musicians, piano was their first love, and it’s easy to understand why. Teaching music on a piano is much easier than most other instruments thanks to its considerable range and the fact that every single note is laid out in front of you. Of course, learning and playing are two different things, and we think this chord shape demonstrates that fact quite well.

Instagram // @inker_land

Most simple chords on piano require the use of three fingers — the thumb, middle finger, and pinky — but from the looks of it, this chord uses all five! We wonder if the dexterity required to play piano translates well to tattooing.

Galaxy-Brained Jimi Hendrix

If you’re a classic rock fan, you almost certainly have professed your love for Jimi Hendrix sometime before. He’s not exactly a cult figure — after all, he pretty much single-handedly revolutionized electric guitar playing — but it’s rare to see a true Hendrix fan out in the wild.

Instagram // @loutat2

Most people only claim to be Hendrix fans without actually possessing any knowledge of the man’s catalog beyond “All Along the Watchtower” and “Foxy Lady”. Nevertheless, we’re fairly certain that you must be a huge fan if you’re willing to get his beautiful mug in all its cosmic glory tattooed on your forearm.

Freddie Mercury — In The Flesh!

We’re fairly certain that everyone in the world knows Queen and its flamboyant lead singer. At the very least, we’ve all belted “Bohemian Rhapsody” in our car at some point or another (thanks, Wayne’s World), and that’s thanks to the once-in-a-generation talents of Freddie Mercury.

Instagram // @marielleroyseth

This, along with his magnetic stage presence and charming persona, made Freddie a global icon. When he passed away in 1991, the world wept. As such, don’t be surprised to see this tattoo and others like it proudly emblazoned upon the flesh of many rock fans worldwide.