Frank Iero's Tattoos: A Catalog - The Catalog, Part 1: spritesam

spritesam

Frank Iero's Tattoos: A Catalog - The Catalog, Part 1

Mar 23, 2008 18:47

[|catalog|]
Part 1
Part 2

Tattoo: Jack-o'-lantern
Location: Back
Date: 31 October 1999
Frank says: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 symbolize 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.
Source: Metal Hammer (Tatts Life) May 2005

* * *I got tattooed on my 18th birthday when I was old enough to do it legally . . . My first tattoo was the pumpkin in my back. I did it because my birthday is on Hallowe'en. It's my favourite holiday. I always grew up with that being the biggest holiday of the year. My family were into Christmas, but they went all out for Hallowe'en. My house was always decorated wildly and I had a birthday party and all that. Even the weather is good. In New Jersey the Fall is the most beautiful time of the year.

Source: Total Tattoo Magazine March 2006, 2

Other Notes & Speculation:

Carving pumpkins on Halloween is a particularly American tradition although carving vegetables in the harvest season is common in the British Isles. The term, jack-o'-lantern, originally referred to a night watchman - a man with a lantern.

{source}
{ more photographs}

Tattoo: "Loyalty * Honesty * Respect" arm band
Location: Left bicep
Date: 1999-2002
Frank says: The next tattoo I got was this band on my left arm which says 'Loyalty, Respect, Honesty.' I got that because they're the only kind of people I want in my life.
Source: Metal Hammer (Tatts Life) May 2005

* * *The second tattoo I got done is a band on my arem that says 'Loyalty, respect, honesty.' I did it because that's the kind of person that I want to be in my life so I got the qualities tattooed in my arm. I got them at a young age but at the time I was just starting to have relationships and you get burnt a lot, you get made fun of and, with that, you learn a lot of things. It's a time when you learn more than any other time of your life about the person you want to be. So I got the qualities tattooed on me, almost like a flag.
Source: Total Tattoo Magazine March 2006, 2

Other Notes & Speculation:

The earliest picture that I have of Frank with the arm band is November 2002. However, as Frank has mentioned that it was his second tattoo and all of the earlier pictures that I have of Frank do not show the correct area of Frank's left arm, it is likely that the tattoo was done earlier than 2002.

Frank in November 2002 with dreads and the "Loyalty * Honesty * Respect" arm band on his bicep.

Frank in the van in the early days of MCR with the arm band.

{photo credit: bowwowwoff}
A close up of the tattoo from the Leathermouth concert.

Tattoo:X with the initials N, P, J, P clockwise
Location: Right ankle
Date: 1999-2002
Other Notes & Speculation:

The initials stand for New Jersey Pop Punk and refer to the New Jersey music scene. Thanks to xanax-n-wine@lj for the heads up on this tattoo.
The date on this tattoo likely corresponds to Frank's time in Pencey Prep when he was very active in the New Jersey music scene.
Thanks to choked@lj for pointing out the ankle/lower shin tattoos and providing pictures. I had not noticed them before. { our discussion}

NJPP stands for New Jersey Pop Punk which included the bands in the pop punk scene in New Jersey. Here is the abbreviation on a flyer for Humble Beginnings (one of Gabe Saporta's old bands). Thanks to xanax_n_wine@lj for the information and flyer.

A very DIY looking tattoo.

Tattoo: Nautical star
Location: Left inner arm
Date: 2000-2001
Other Notes & Speculation:

Tattoo was completed before February 2001. It may actually be Frank's second tattoo instead of the arm band.
The star is red and black.
Historically, nautical star tattoos were associated with sailors and people who worked the water. Stars held much importance for these men who depended on them for guidance. It is thought to be a hopeful symbol representative of finding your way and home. This common tattoo has also been adopted by the military, GLBT community and the punk movement as well as other music scenes.
Traditionally, red represents the port (left) side of the ship.
Frank added several other nautical stars to his left arm at a later date

Frank in the Pencey Prep era playing his guitar and showing off his nautical star.

Frank in February of 2003 with the nautical star but no Black Flag tattoo yet.

{source}
A close up of the red and black star.

Tattoo: Broken heart
Location: inner right wrist
Date: 2000-2001
Other Notes & Speculation:

The date of the tattoo likely corresponds to Frank's time in Pencey Prep, Frank's old band.
Pencey Prep used a broken heart as a band image especially on their album, Heartbreak in Stereo.

Pencey Prep used the broken heart image on their release, Heartbreak in Stereo.

The band's merch (at least according to the website) had a similar image.

Old school Frank with the broken heart on display.

At the Leathermouth concert in October 2007, Frank showed off the broken heart and its integration into his Frankenstein stitches tattoo around his right wrist.

Tattoo: "I wish I were a ghost"
Location: Right wrist
Date: 2000-2001
Other Notes & Speculation:

The date of the tattoo likely corresponds to Frank's time in Pencey Prep.
However, the existance of this photograph suggests that Frank did not get this tattoo until after he joined My Chemical Romance in 2002.
It is written in red ink in a handwritten-like font.
The phrase is a lyric from a never released Pencey Prep song, Death of the Lionheart

The tattoo is usually visible when Frank is in a t-shirt provided he isn't wearing gloves long enough to cover it.

Later, Frank added a Frankenstein stitches tattoo around his right wrist.

I wish I were a ghost

Tattoo: "Hope" with flames
Location: Chest
Date: 2000-2001
Other Notes & Speculation:

The date for this tattoo is uncertain as it is in a location that is not readily seen by the public. Frank definitely had it before he continued work on his left arm but likely after the "Loyalty * Honesty * Respect" arm band.
Fire is a common symbol of hope and light.
This tattoo has been covered by Frank's more recent chest piece

A younger Frank showing off his chest tatt with a friend. (Does anyone know who this is with Frank?)

{source}
A close up of the "Hope" tattoo.

{ more photographs}

Tattoo: Scorpion
Location: Right side of his neck
Date: 2002
Frank says:Source:I did it because I didn't wan 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 basically 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."
Source: Metal Hammer (Tatts Life) May 2005

* * *On my neck I have a scorpion that I got on our third tour. Actually the band helped pay for it because I didn't have enough money. We were at this venue sound checking, I fell asleep and had a dream: I didn't ever want a come-back plan. I didn't was to be able to go back home. We were working so hard and what we were doing was really rough and it looked like it might not happen for us. So I thought I might have to go back home and get a job but I didn't want to give myself that option, so I woke up and I decided to get a tattoo on my neck. I wanted a scorpion as I am a Scorpio. I did it in a way so no collar can cover it. It was my first visible tattoo.
Source: Total Tattoo Magazine March 2006, 3

Other Notes & Speculation:

Internet speculation says that Frank may have had this tattoo done in Virginia. In 2002, My Chem played in Virginia on October 19, 2002 and December 12, 2002.
Scorpions are eight-legged arthropods with two additional long arms with pinchers known as pedipalps. Frank's scorpion has four legs and one pedipalp on the side closest to his ear , but only three legs and a pedipalp on the side closest to his back. This may be an attempt at perspective and a three dimensional image with the missing leg purposefully not present.
Frank's birthday is October 31; this makes Frank a Scorpio (October 23 - November 21).

{illustration credit: K. Dempsey}
{source}
A scorpion with eight legs and two pinchers.

The tattoo is almost always visible. Here is Frank in January 2003 with the tattoo.

A closer look reveals that the scorpion either on purpose or accidentally only has three legs on one side.

Tattoo: Black Flag logo
Location: Left bicep
Date: February-August 2003
Frank says:And after that I think I got my Black Flag bars **
Source: Metal Hammer (Tatts Life) May 2005

* * *I also have the Black Flag logo. They are my favourite band and they made me want to start playing guitar. That band taught me that you don't need to be a guitar virtuoso to play, just to get on and do it. It was the first band that I picked up on and felt free. I felt I can do this.

Source: Total Tattoo Magazine March 2006, 2

Other Notes & Speculation:

Frank did not have the tattoo as of My Chemical Romance's performance at Irving Plaza in February 2003. Either he had several other tattoos completed between the Black Flag bars (scorpion, nautical star, etc) or his "Loyalty * Honesty * Respect" arm band was not his second tattoo. Or Frank is very confused.
Greg Ginn's brother under the name Raymond Pettibon suggested the name Black Flag and designed the logo - four black rectangles forming a stylized flag.
Traditionally, the black flag has been associated with anarchy and pirates. It is also the opposite color of the traditional white flag of surrender.
Frank's favorite Black Flag song is Nervous Breakdown.

The Black Flag logo as designed by Raymond Pettibon.

{photo credit: all fall down photography}
Frank on August 23, 2003 showing off his devotion to Black Flag with a tattoo and band t-shirt.

Another younger Frank with a relatively bare left arm except for the Black Flag tattoo.

A closer look at the Black Flag tattoo.

Tattoo: Crossed guns
Location: Back
Date: February-August 2003
Frank says:And then I decided to get my back done.
Source: Metal Hammer (Tatts Life) May 2005

Other Notes & Speculation:

Many military insignias feature two crossed guns. For example, the United States Army Military Police use two crossed pistols for their regimental crest, insignia, and collar mark.
The crossed pistols are also a common American gang image.
Handguns are a band image. Gerard's bullet-proof vest from Warped 2005 had two uncrossed guns on the back. Additionally, some of My Chemical Romance's equipment had the same image on them. Thanks to suckmyglock@lj and choked@lj for the information and photos.
On the bullet-proof vests:B is for…Bullet-proof vests
An indispensable part of the band’s onstage attire.
Gerard: The bullet-proof vest is a metaphor. It symbolises the fact that this band feels indestructible.
Frank: It’s really based on the way we feel onstage. You get into a certain mindset where nothing really matters - you can’t get hurt and nothing fazes you. Together we feel unstoppable.
Gerard: It’s also about us relating to hip-hop artists. We come from the same world as a lot of them (Newark, New Jersey) and we relate to their drive and the way they don’t give a fuck about what anyone else thinks.
Source: Rock Sound.
Frank's views on the bullet-proof vest may extend to the meaning of the crossed guns on his back.

{cap credit: exsequar@lj}
Like Frank's other back tattoos, this one is really only visible when Frank takes off his shirt.

{source}
Or shows off his tattoos (without the Search And Destroy tattoo)

{source}
And with the Search And Destroy tattoo.

Gerard wearing a bullet-proof vest with two uncrossed handguns on the back during Warped 2005.

A slightly clearer picture of the guns.

A similar or the same image was also used on My Chem's equipment.

Tattoo: Winged Our Lady of Sorrows
Location: Left arm
Date: August-October 2003
Frank says:Also on my left arm, I have Our Lady Of Sorrows. She's almost a challenge to faith. It's a band image. We use a lot of religious imagery and I think it's a challenge to faith in general, believing in things you can't see, hoping that there'll be something out there but there probably is not. I don't believe in religion but I have certain beliefs: I believe in the here and the now, and I believe do your will is the only law.

Source: Total Tattoo Magazine March 2006, 2

Other Notes & Speculation:

Our Lady of sorrows is a traditional Catholic representation of Mary, the mother of Jesus. According to the Bible, Simeon prophesized at Jesus' presentation at the Temple that a sword would pierce Mary's soul. This image of Mary is commonly depicted as having seven swords pierce a flaming heart representing the seven sorrow's of Mary's life.
Unlike the traditional image, Frank's Our Lady only has five swords piercing her heart perhaps representing sorrows in his own life.
Frank's Our Lady has wings as well which is not included in the traditional image of Mary but more related to angel imagery.
Frank's Our Lady is also standing on human skulls.
She has her mouth stitched closed.
People on the internet frequently cite Gerard as the designer of this tattoo.
Skull imagery is common in many religious art pieces. It represents a reminder of mortality of the body and eternal life of the soul.
My Chemical Romance has a song, Our Lady of Sorrows. {download}
Frank also references the image as a band image. To date, this wallpaper is the only band image that I have found to resemble a Mary-like image.Thanks to megolas@lj for hooking me up with the wallpaper.

A traditional image of Our Lady of Sorrows.

Frank with the Our Lady tattoo in progress.
{Rock Sound (January 2004)}
{full size}

Frank had the outline of the tattoo done first.

A close up of the outline.

Then he had the colors finished.

The colors on this tattoo as well as the subject make it one of my favorites.

{source}
A close up of the finished tattoo.

Tattoo: Anatomical heart with a knife through it
Location: Left arm
Date: August-October 2003
Frank says:The heart is a design I put together, a kind of a modern day image.
Source: Total Tattoo Magazine March 2006, 2

Other Notes & Speculation:

A knife through the heart is a common image of betrayal, sorrow, and sacrifice.

Frank's more modern image.

Frank's more modern anatomically correct-looking image.
{source}

.
{source}
A close up of the heart.

Tattoo: Black roses
Location: Left wrist
Date: August-October 2003
Other Notes & Speculation:

Frank has two or three black roses tattooed.
In the language of flowers, black roses symbolized death, hate or farewell, but also could represent the completion of a long journey. They were often popular at funerals.
Black roses may also mean "slavish devotion."
They have also been used as an anarchist symbol.

The black roses around Frank's wrist.

{source}
A better look at the roses.

{source}
More roses.

Tattoo: Black bats
Location: Left arm (below arm band)
Date: August-October 2003
Other Notes & Speculation:

Frank had five or six bats tattooed
He added additional bats at a later date
Frank is a huge fan of horror movies so the bats may have an origin there.
Additionally the band has used the phrase unleash the bats to describe their antics on stage.

{full size}
The arrows are pointing to three of the black bats visible in this photograph.

{source}
A better look at some of the bats.

The bats from a side view.

{ more photographs}

Tattoo: Nautical stars
Location: Left arm
Date: August-October 2003
Other Notes & Speculation:

Frank added three stars. At least two of them are also red and black.
See Frank's first star

In addition to the bats, Frank added three more stars to his arm.

The stars resemble Frank's Frank's first star

{source}
A closer look at the red and black stars

{ more photographs}

Tattoo: Rising Sun style sun with a black rose and a swirl of handguns
Location: Left elbow
Date: January-March 2004
Other Notes & Speculation:

The Rising Sun flag is a Japanese military flag with a central red disc and 16 rays.
The swirl of guns is another band image.
Frank has a single black rose on his elbow.
My Chemical Romance first played in Japan on August 7 and 8, 2004 (after Frank had the tattoo).

The Rising Sun flag is the military flag of Japan.

Here it is on a tour poster from the Breathing Bullets Tour. The band used the swirl of guns frequently through the Revenge-era.

Frankie's bare elbow with the Black Flag, Our Lady, and stars and bats in place.

The Rising Sun style design with the swirl of guns and black rose.

{photo credit: Nadia Vazquez}
A closer look at Frank's elbow.

The tattoo in black and white.

{source}
A better look at the tattoo.

Tattoo: Chainsaw
Location: Left bicep
Date: January-June 2004
Frank says:I really like the chainsaw that's around my left bicep. I'm not exactly sure how much of a bicep it is, but the tattoo came out really well. The chainsaw came from The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, which is one of my favorite movies of all time. It also represents a revenge theme to me, the balance of power, or rather redressing the balance of power
Source: Metal Hammer (Tatts Life) May 2005

* * *The chainsaw is from the movie Texas Chainsaw Massacre which is my favourite movie. I think it's also hilarious and the fact that Tobe Hooper did the soundtrack for that is cool as well!

Source: Total Tattoo Magazine March 2006, 2, Total Tattoo Magazine March 2006, 3

Other Notes & Speculation:

The Texas Chain Saw Massacre is a horror film with a villain who uses a chainsaw as one of his weapons.
It is not based on a true story. The idea of the chainsaw came from the hardware store:I was in the Montgomery Ward's out in Capital Plaza. I had been working on this other story for some months - about isolation, the woods, the darkness, and the unknown. It was around holiday season, and I found myself in the Ward's hardware department, and I was still kind of percolating on this idea of isolation and such. And those big crowds have always gotten to me. There was just so many people to go through. And I was just standing there in front of an upright display of chainsaws. And the focus just racked from my eyeball to the people to the saws - and the idea popped. I said, "Ooh, I know now I could get out of this place fast - if I just start one of these things up and make that sound." Of course I didn't. That was just a fantasy.
Tobe Hooper is the director of The Texas Chainsaw Massacre. He also did the sound effects and editing
The chainsaw used in the film may have been a 1970s Poulan 306A chainsaw.

Movie poster from The Texas Chainsaw Massacre

The chainsaw in the movie is thought to be a 1970s Poulon chainsaw with the faceplate covered.

I have no idea how authentic Frank wanted his tattoo but here is a slightly newer model Poulon 306A.

The chainsaw begins under the arm band at the end of the word "loyalty."

It goes around his inner arm.

Continues around

And ends on the back of his arm.

{photo credit: Andrew Kendall}

{photo credit: Andrew Kendall}
{ more photographs from this series}

Tattoo: "i'm so sorry"
Location: Left arm
Date: January-June 2004
Other Notes & Speculation:

The phrase is tattooed in black ink in a handwriting-like font.

{full size}
"i'm so sorry" is circled in this picture.

Frank most likely got the tattoo after the chainsaw.

Frank eventually decorated the arm with stars and dots making the small tattoo sometimes difficult to see especially if you don't know that it is there.

{full size}
A close up of the tattoo.

Tattoo: Bomb
Location: Left arm
Date: January-June 2004

The bomb beneath Frank's Black Flag tattoo.

{source}
A better look at the tattoo.

Tattoo: Devil and angel swallows
Location: Hips
Date: 2004
Other Notes & Speculation:

The date for this tattoo is uncertain as it is in a location that is not readily seen by the public.
The birds resemble swallows. The swallow on Frank's left hip has horns and X's for eyes. The other bird has a halo.
The devil swallow also has a star above its head
Swallows are an old-school sailor tattoo image that symbolized love, loyalty, hope and home. The (non-migratory) birds never fly too far from home and mated pairs are monogamous. Additionally, the number of swallows tattooed on a sailor could represent the distance that they had traveled from home.
Usually depicted on the shoulder or whispering into the subject's ear, the angel and demon imagery represents inner conflict or the dual nature of humans - capable of good and evil. The angel is often depicted with wings and a halo while the demon will have horns. The left is traditionally associated with the devil; the right with the angel.
Tinhatters often associate the devil swallow with Frank who used to put black X's over his eyes and the angel bird with Gerard who used to put a bar over his eyes as stage make up. Unfortunately none of the pictures that I have are clear enough to tell if the angel bird actually has a bar over its eye.
Two stars were later added to the angel swallow.

Unlike Frank's back tattoos, every once in a while, Frank will show off the swallow tattoos on his hips during a concert.

And again here.

{source}
A closer inspection will reveal an angel bird on Frank's right hip (your left as you view the picture) and a devil bird on Frank's left hip (and your right).

{source}
The devil swallow has horns and X's for eyes. It also has a single star above its head.

{more photographs}

Tattoo: NJ anchor
Location: Right arm
Date: July-August 2004
Frank says: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.
Source: Metal Hammer (Tatts Life) May 2005

* * *The NJ anchor I got with two other friends back home. NJ stands for New Jersey where we are from and that's to keep me grounded. Where you are from, that's your anchor, where your heart is. We all got the tattoo when we were in different bands. It's a way of showing our friendship will never die. When you come from Jersey, you definitely have Jersey pride.
Source: Total Tattoo Magazine March 2006, 3

Other Notes & Speculation:

Frank got the tattoo with two friends one of whom was John "Hambone" McGuire, a former member of Pencey Prep
Like the nautical star and swallow, anchors were common sailor tattoos. They have come to represent stability and a strong foundation.

Hambone from Pencey Prep was one of the friends. Thanks to xanax_n_wine@lj for the information and picture.

Click to view

Frank shows off his NJ love with his tattoos {0:50}. {part 2}

He displays his love for home state, Jersey, with pride.

{photo credit: Andrew Kendall}
The tattoo is not as plain as it might first appear with subtle shading.
{ more photographs from this series}

{source}
That is more evident in a closer view.

Tattoo: NJ
Location: Inside lower lip
Date: 2004
Frank says:I had the inside of my lip done with the NJ. I guess it's a way of remembering your roots, and being honest, true to yourself, and down to earth.
Source: Metal Hammer (Tatts Life) May 2005

Other Notes & Speculation:

The date for this tattoo is uncertain as it is in a location that is not readily seen by the public.
Frank showed the tattoo off on FUSE's Daily Download in 2004.
He also spoke about the tattoo in an interview with New Zealand's The Edge in 2006.
Most lip tattoos fade and need several touch ups before holding. It is unknown if Frank has had touch ups down or if he still has this tattoo.

{photo credit: Leah}
{source}
In addition to his anchor, Frank had NJ tattooed onto his inner lower lip to show his love for New Jersey.

Mouth tattoos tend to fade and take several sessions before they will hold.

Tattoo: "live each day as if it were your last"
Location: Leg
Date: 2004
Frank says: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."
Source: Metal Hammer (Tatts Life) May 2005

* * *I also have a tattoo on my thigh that says: 'Live your day as if it was your last' and I try to live my life that way.
Source: Total Tattoo Magazine March 2006, 3

Other Notes & Speculation:

The date for this tattoo is uncertain as it is in a location that is not readily seen by the public.
In the Total Tattoo Magazine and Metal Hammer-Tatts Life, the thigh tattoo quotation changes. According to the photograph, Frank's tattoo actually says "live each day as if it were your last" not "live your day as if it was your last" nor "live every day like it's your last."
The sentence is written in all caps in a typewriter or serif style font.
The phrase is a very common sentiment and many noted people have been quoted saying something to that effect. The closest is probably H. H. Morant who said:Live every day as if it were your last and then some day you'll be right.

{source}
Due to its position on his thigh, it is, perhaps, unsurprising that we only have a few one picture of this tattoo.

{Full size}
Until, Frank in Philadelphia (May 7, 2008) showed off his legs.

Tattoo: "x jamia x"
Location: Chest
Date: 2004
Other Notes & Speculation:

The date for this tattoo is uncertain as it is in a location that is not readily seen by the public.
Jamia Nestor is Frank's long-time girlfriend and now wife (finally and officially, officially)
The X's may be decorative or stand for hugs (e.g. xoxoxo for hugs and kisses).
This tattoo has been covered by Frank's newer chest piece.

Click to view

Frank taking a shower on the Warped tour (2004) showing off his Jamia tattoo

Frank after a shower on the ToC tour (2005).

{source}
A close up of the tattoo.

Tattoo: "Keep the Faith"
Location: Back
Date: February-April 2005
Artist: Vic Back
Other Notes & Speculation:

The tattoo was done while My Chemical Romance was part of the Taste of Chaos tour in 2005.
Although Frank attended Catholic school growing up, interviews suggest that Frank does not follow a traditional and/or organized religion. The tattoo may therefore signify another type of faith or other beliefs.
Frank reminds us to Keep the Faith in the liner notes to The Black Parade Is Dead.
Fellow New Jersey rockers, Bon Jovi, have a song, Keep the Faith