Top NYC Artist Inks Florence Welch

Florence Welch is best known as the vocalist of the indie rock band Florence and the Machine and has produced mega hits such as “Dog Days Are Over,”  and “Shake It Out.” As a performer, Welch is known for her signature bohemian style—which often includes light, billowy dresses that harken back to the rock goddesses of the 1970s. In past interviews, Welch credits singers like Stevie Nicks and Patti Smith as her influences and heroes, the latter of which she immortalized on her body in ink.

While in New York City, Welch paid a visit to artist Michelle Santana of Bang Bang NYC for a tattoo that would pay tribute to Patti Smith, a singer-songwriter who debuted during the 1970s and became known as the “punk poet laureate.” Smith is best known for her 1978 song “Because the Night,” which was cowritten with Bruce Springsteen. Welch paid homage to the legendary artist by replicating Smith’s own tattoo, a lightening bolt on her knee.

In her 2010 memoir, Just Kids, Smith references the inspiration behind her tattoo.

“I thought of something I learned from reading Crazy Horse: The Strange Man of the Oglalas by Mari Sandoz. Crazy Horse believes that he will be victorious in battle, but if he stops to take spoils from the battlefield, he will be defeated. He tattoos lightning bolts on the ears of his horses so the sight of them will remind him of this as he rides. I tried to apply this lesson to the things at hand, careful not to take spoils that were not rightfully mine.”

Welch opted for a fine-line version of Smith’s tattoo on her wrist and shared her new tattoo to her Instagram. What do you think about Florence Welch’s new tattoo? Let us know your thoughts on this story in the comments section.