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Inked Mag Staff

November 10th, 2020

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Turn It Up to 11 with These Heavy Metal Tattoos

We celebrate everything heavy on Nigel Tufnel's special day

You may have never touched a guitar a single day in your life, but I guarantee you know where “These goes to 11” comes from. The iconic line came from 1984’s “This Is Spinal Tap.” (Editor’s Note: Apologies, our CMS will not allow us to put the umlaut over the N)

The Rob Reiner directed film may not have been the first mockumentary ever made, but it has become the gold standard for the genre. “This is Spinal Tap” does a truly impressive thing in the way it walks the line of mocking the rock and metal world, while simultaneously paying tribute to the heavy genre of music. This is accomplished thanks to the phenomenal performances and writing—plus a hell of a lot of improvisation—by Reiner, Christopher Guest, Michael McKean and Harry Shearer. While the feckless rockers are most definitely the butt of the joke, they are treated with such tenderness that the viewer never feels as if they are laughing at them, but along with them as we all ponder the absurdities of life.  

It all comes together beautifully in this scene, where Nigel Tufnel (Guest) brags about how loud his amplifier can go. 

Tufnel’s argument is simultaneously idiotic and logical. The numbers on those dials don’t actually mean anything, Marshall isn’t saying that 10 means it’s at 10 decibels (obviously), they’re just saying 10 is the loudest. Yet, Tufnel’s retort of “It’s one louder” makes so much sense on the surface, because, of course it is. 

The influence “This Is Spinal Tap” has had on both the film and metal worlds cannot be understated. Bands like None More Black are named after quotes from the film and even J.K. Rowling was inspired by the horrid fates suffered by a series of the band’s drummers when she wrote “Harry Potter.” 

And, as you should have guessed, there are plenty of Spinal Tap-related tattoos out there. But we wanted to do more than just celebrate the film on 11/11, but the whole genre of heavy metal as well. So crank it up to 11 and rock out to these metal tattoos. 

View this post on Instagram

Thank you @darrinhawker7819! This was über fun! #apprenticetattoo #barnstormerstudio #ottawatattoo #ontariotattoo #spinaltaptattoo

A post shared by Sebastian Sardegna (@sebbyseb) on May 31, 2018 at 6:16pm PDT

View this post on Instagram

Healed spinal tap Simpson’s tattoo on Andy, did this back in May! #thesimpsonstattoo #thesimpsons #simpsonstattoo #bananajims #thecirclelondon #spinaltap #spinaltaptattoo #spinaltapsimpsons

A post shared by Bananajims (@bananajims) on Oct 11, 2017 at 4:58am PDT

Metallica

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Did the finally touch on this bad boy yesterday think y’all can imagine what band he listen to… Check out my Facebook page for CloseUp on this one U find the link on top of my profile page #metallica @metallica #nikinorberg #wickedtattoo #gothenburg #sweden

A post shared by Niki Norberg (@niki23gtr) on Feb 20, 2013 at 10:00pm PST

Megadeth

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I could tattoo a rattle head every day and never grow tired of this logo. God bless @davemustaine and @megadeth #brittanyelliotttattoo #megadeth #vic #rattlehead

A post shared by Brittany Elliott (BZ) (@bzelliott) on Oct 10, 2020 at 6:34am PDT

Slayer

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Tag a friend that would get this. @slayerbandofficial tattoo done by Pat Stephens #heavymetaltattoos #slayer #slayertattoo #thrashmetal #tattoo

A post shared by HEAVY FUCKING METAL TATTOOS (@heavymetal.tattoos) on Feb 3, 2017 at 10:21pm PST

Anthrax

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Rad @anthrax tattoo by @doire76 #heavymetaltattoos

A post shared by HEAVY FUCKING METAL TATTOOS (@heavymetal.tattoos) on Feb 2, 2017 at 11:52am PST

Marilyn Manson

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Another fun @marilynmanson portrait I made this week on my longtime client Chris! @theseancetattooparlor @cheyenne_tattooequipment @eternalink @hustlebutterdeluxe @painfulpleasures

A post shared by Paul Acker (@paulackertattoo) on Dec 30, 2018 at 1:12pm PST

Ozzy Osbourne and Alice Cooper 

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Ozzy X Cooper . #bishoprotary #inkeeze #radiantcolorsink #hasselbladx1d #sullen #tattoo #tattoos #realistictattoo #ink #inked #blackandgrey #blackandgreytattoo #niki23gtr #vallgatan15 #gothenburg #göteborg #ozzyosbourne #ozzy #alicecooper #alice #cooper

A post shared by Niki Norberg (@niki23gtr) on May 23, 2018 at 8:27am PDT

Motorhead

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Finally finished! Thank you @y_not_your_trash_my_cash ! I’ll post it again when it’s all healed #motörhead #motorhead #motorheadtattoo #motörheadtattoo #backpiece #backpiecetattoo #portraittattoo #tattooportrait #lemmy #lemmykilmister #philcampbell #mikkeydee #kingsroadtattoo #kingsroadrebecca #mästare #mästarbrev #srtärtrygghet #sverigesregistreradetatuerare #blackandgreytattoo #bngtattoo #realistictattoo #tattoorealistic #tattoorealism #realismtattoo

A post shared by Rebecca Ryrberg (@kingsroadrebecca) on May 1, 2020 at 8:59am PDT

Ghost

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Last night’s tattoo of Papa Emeritus II from @thebandghost . Really fun piece on a nice guy that flew in despite the terrible weather. If you haven’t listened to or seen Ghost live you’re missing out!

A post shared by Paul Acker (@paulackertattoo) on Apr 30, 2014 at 5:43pm PDT

Iron Maiden

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Epic @ironmaiden tattoo done by @lazartattoo #heavymetaltattoos

A post shared by HEAVY FUCKING METAL TATTOOS (@heavymetal.tattoos) on Apr 18, 2016 at 9:09am PDT

King Diamond

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”Religion has been the root of so much evil.” King #kingdiamond #kingdiamondtattoo #tattoo #tattoos #tattooart #tatuointi #ink #beartowntattoo #rabbitholetattoogallery #helsinki #töölö #neotraditional #neotraditionaltattoo #neotrad #neotradsub #neotradeu #traditionaltattoo #colortattoo #finnishtattoo #finnishtattooartist #radiantcolorsink #inkmachines

A post shared by (@joel_honkala) on Feb 23, 2020 at 12:08am PST

Ronnie James Dio

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#tbt to that time that myself, @misplaced_squid @sixxam @scottianthrax and the legendary #ronniejamesdio managed to break the internet! Looking to do some more forced perspective tattoos this year! Fm me ur ideas and we’ll work something out! #bencarlisle #malotattoo #devilinthedetail #oztattskincare #oztattsynergyproteam #magnum #magnumtattoosupplies #ronniejamesdio #forcedperspective #realism #ronniejamesdiotattoo

A post shared by Ben Carlisle (@ben_carlisle_tattooist) on Jun 1, 2017 at 6:19am PDT

Type O Negative 

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HBD to the Thermonuclear Warrior

A post shared by Paul Acker (@paulackertattoo) on Jan 4, 2020 at 12:06pm PST

Tool

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Tool inspired #studioinkcartridges @studioinkcartridges #tool #alexgrey #alexgreytattoo #tooltattoos

A post shared by Shane Strout (@shanestrout) on Sep 12, 2019 at 2:48pm PDT

Pantera

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Killer job on this Dimebag Darrell piece by @audie_tattoos – Fresno, CA #inkoftheday #pantera #panteratattoo #dimebag #dimebagdarrell #dimebagtattoo #tattooportrait #portraittattoo #musictattoo #tattoo #tattoos #tattoodotcom

A post shared by Tattoo.com (@tattoodotcom) on Feb 28, 2018 at 7:56pm PST

Deftones

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✋TÁ NA MÃO linhas grossas para o tempo segurar o white poney do @deftones para nosso amigo @leoxolv . Trampo feito pelo @sabbatotattoo . BORA TATUAR? Manda DM ou WhatsApp (13)99116-9103 . Aqui no sua ideia é bem vinda ou se quiser temos centenas de desenhos prontos para você . . #tropicalink #tropicalinksantos #tropicalinktattoo #tropicaltattoo #tropicalflash #tattooemsantos #tatuagemsantos #013 #santos #tattoo #santostattoo #deftones #deftonestattoo #whiteponey #whiteponeytattoo #boldwillhold

A post shared by TROPICAL INK (@tropical.ink) on Sep 9, 2019 at 4:01am PDT

Black Label Society

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@blacklabelsocietyofficial tattoo done by @niki23gtr #heavymetaltattoos

A post shared by HEAVY FUCKING METAL TATTOOS (@heavymetal.tattoos) on Mar 7, 2016 at 8:56am PST

Gwar

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Hey maggots , Orderus Urungus wants you to join Gwar slavepit. Finished the colour on Sarah last night, thanks for sitting tough! @gwar #gwar #oderus #oderusurungus #scumdog #slavepit #gwartattoo #colortattoo #like #follow #morefollowers #bohab #eternalink #fusiontattooink #goodguysupply #eikondevice #heavymetal #horror #horrortattoos #spoopytattoos #tattoosnob #tattoos #neotraditional #neotraditionaltattoo #picoftheday #bestofinstagram #ontariotattoos #upcomingcanadatattoo #greatwhitenorthtattoos #sleepyhollowtattooparlour

A post shared by Bobby T (@bobbyttattoos) on Dec 1, 2019 at 10:15am PST

Sepultura

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Sepulturiando! Para mi cumpa de la vida @konnehead #sepultura #sepulturaband #sepulturatattoo #sepulturafans

A post shared by (@leosh.tattoo) on Apr 20, 2018 at 12:26pm PDT

Korn

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#jonathondavis portrait on @ajillustrations15 today! Probably gonna make another pass and add some signatures from the band too! #korn #korntattoo #griffinsalve @griffinsalve #thebutchertattoos #thebutchertattoo @thebutchertattoo

A post shared by coryhandtattoos (@coryhandtattoos) on Feb 5, 2018 at 5:22pm PST

Judas Priest

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Today I got to tattoo one of my favorite images from one of my favorite bands on one of my favorite people. Thanks @tallboy666 #greatlakestattoochicago #grandavetatcrew #kevinlearyglt #redemptiontattoo #massavetatcrew #greatlakestattoo #judaspriest #screamingforvengeance

A post shared by ᏦᏋᏤᏆᏁ ᏝᏋᎪᏒᎽ ★ (@kevinlearytattoo) on Aug 25, 2017 at 4:46pm PDT

Slipknot

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– Corey Taylor . . @slipknot @coreytaylor . #slipknottattoo #coreytaylortattoo #rocktattoo #barranquillatattoo #slipknot.

A post shared by インク • Mauricio Salcedo (@mauricioinktattoo) on Jul 5, 2020 at 1:06pm PDT

System of a Down 

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Portrait of @serjtankian from @systemofadown hope you guys like it . If you are looking to get a portrait I will start booking at the beginning of September #Luxembourg #luxembourgtattoo #serjtankian #systemofadown #systemofadowntattoo #kwadron #stencilstuff

A post shared by Shawn W. (@sw_tattoo) on Jun 16, 2017 at 10:35am PDT

Rammstein

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Rammstein’s frontman Till Lindemann tribute on the great Alex, part of his awesome music sleeve project (mini Till is 2 months healed). #empirebodyarts #tilllindemann #rammstein #portrait #portraittattoo #blackandgreyallday #blackandgreyrealism #blackandgreytattoo #blackandgrey #bng #bnginksociety #bngis #armtattoo #halfsleeve #halfsleevetattoo #ladytattooers #tattoo #ink #quebec #tattoo_art_worldwide #kwadrontattoogallery #realistic_tattoopage @realistic_tattoopage #blackmasterink #realism #realismtattoo @till_lindemann_official @rammsteinofficial #cheyennesolnova @eikondevice @cheyenne_tattooequipment @solabspurklenz @stencilanchored @tattoo_collector @skinart_collectors

A post shared by Christelle Souverbie (@christellesouverbietattoo) on Feb 1, 2020 at 2:19pm PST

Mastodon 

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Details of Mastodon art work sleeve for Tim.#mastodon #mastodontattoo #mastodonartworktattoo #sleeve #colortattoo #jankowzki #71tattooenschede

A post shared by Pawel Jankowzki (@jankowzki) on Aug 10, 2020 at 2:37am PDT

Yeah, we know, we missed roughly 1,000 good bands. Have a favorite that got left out? Let us know! Have a rad metal tattoo that you think we should see? Blow us up on social with it! 

\m/

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