See a Face Tattoo Made With Charles Manson’s Ashes

Charles Manson was not a subtle man. Every part of his persona was aggressive and every action of his was calculated to create a commotion. A tattoo made of Manson’s ashes should embody this spirit and be ostentatious (with a touch of menace). Patrick Boos nailed that when he chose to place the tattoo on his face. 

Tattooer Ryan Almighty tattooed “Helter Skelter” big and bold on Boos’ forehead, as reported by TMZ. For those unfamiliar with Manson mythology, “Helter Skelter” was the term used among his followers for the race war they were aiming to start. Manson was inspired by the Beatles song of the same name, misinterpreting the lyrics to fit his ideology. 

As you can see in the photo above, this is not the first tattoo Boos has referencing the cult leader, as he has the same X Manson carved into his forehead during his trial for the Tate-LaBianca murders. 

Almighty, a self-professed “professional weirdo” has been pushing the limits with his art and tattoos for a while. This was not the first tattoo that he’s incorporating Manson’s ashes and he’s made paintings that have included dirt from Sharon Tate’s grave. Almighty told TMZ he obtained the ashes from people who had scooped them up after they had been scattered at Manson’s funeral.  

The tattoo, along with much of Almighty’s artwork, is a testament to Manson’s charisma and the pull he had over people. It’s been over 50 years since Manson’s crimes but he still holds an enormous place in our culture.

Whether or not Manson should be celebrated with a tattoo is a tricky question. Many people likely find Boos’ tattoo choice to be repugnant, even without factoring in how the term Helter Skelter was used by Manson as a term for a race war. While at the same time, practically everybody with a love for tattoos fully respects free speech and choosing to do anything you want with your body, so long as it doesn’t hurt others. 

One specific fear we have, albeit an outlandish one, is what if the ashes end up influencing Boos’ personality? You know, like when Homer got the hair transplant from Snake in that one Treehouse of Horror episode. That could be truly frightening. 

What do you think about the tattoo? Would you ever consider getting a tattoo with the ashes of an infamous cult leader and murderer?