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Inked Mag Staff

August 3rd, 2020

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Metallica Tattoos

It's James Hetfield's birthday, so we're celebrating Papa Het with some rad Metallica tattoos.

Fifty-seven years ago, in Downey, California, a child was brought into the world. Nobody knew it at the time, but this baby would grow up to be the leader of one of the most important bands of all time—Metallica. We’d like to think that even as baby, James Hetfield snarled and sneered instead of the usual crying that is common among infants. Or maybe he would give the metal sign whereas other children simply grasped at their parent’s fingers. The point we’re trying to make is that there had to have been some type of sign that this was no ordinary baby, but a future heavy metal god.  

By 1981, 39 years ago, all of the signs were there when Hetfield answered an ad that had been placed by drummer Lars Ulrich. As the cliche goes, from there, the rest was history. Metallica was formed, although the lineups would change over the years, Hetfield and Ulrich have been a constant. 

Although they were founded in Los Angeles, the band made a name for itself once they relocated to San Francisco. Right from the start, they had some of the most rabid fans in all of the metal scene. Their fans were notorious for turning their back to opening bands, showing off the Metallica patches on their backs. With the release of each subsequent Metallica album, you hear fans bickering back and forth about how the band “was better before.” By this point in time, it’s become a cliché. [Editor’s Note: The correct answer to this is that it all went downhill after “…And Justice For All,” but at no point has Metallica ever been bad. With the exception of the snare drum on “St. Anger.” That is an affront to God.]

While fans may disagree on their favorite albums, the passion cannot be denied. So it should come as no surprise that there are thousands of Metallica tattoos out in the world, including a ton of portraits of Hetfield. In the gallery below you’ll find both portraits of the birthday boy and tributes to the band. 

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Just done using @eztattooing @eztattooing @eztattooing @luxuryinkbali @handmad_campah @pantheraink #jameshetfield #jameshetfieldtattoo #metallica #eztattooing #ezcartridge #ezrevolutioncartridges #blackandgreytattoo #realistictattoo #potraittattoo #luxuryinkbali #handmadcampah #pantheraink #intenzeink #intenzepride #fkirons #xion

A post shared by Ukix Asmirantika (@ukix_asmirantika) on Mar 28, 2019 at 4:05am PDT

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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

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Help me to make this viral IN Progress – Sneak peak of this @papa_het_ @metallica piece I worked last two days. I will post a photo later so you can check the bottom section. Tag your friends who love Metallica! I have a few openings next week, Thanks @michael_mcmichaelson I’m answering emails tomorrow. Thanks for your patience. . @intenzetattooink @mdwipeoutz @balmtattoous @painfulpleasures @inkmachines . . . @graveyardnyc @graveyardtattoo . @sullenclothing @ink.life @tattoopushers @inkedmag @skinart_collectors @skinart_mag @tattoodo @tatsoul @tattoo.artists @tattoorealistic @tattoosnob @freshlyinkedmagazine @alienpubes @matt_is_yahoo @_metallicafamily @metallica_daily @_metallica_ @metalhammeruk @josemangin @altered_ego_industries @unclejeremy @united_ink @nyempirestatetattooexpo @mike_andrino @mikedevries #colortattoo #nyctattoo #nyctattoos #nyctattooartist #painfulpleasures #graveyardnyc #rubenbtattoo #rubenbarahona #rubenbarahonatattoo #intenzepride #intenzetattooink #sullen #sullenclothing #inkmachines #comicartist #mdwipeoutz #eastvillagenyc #eastvillage #jameshetfield #metallica #jameshetfieldtattoo

A post shared by RUBEN BARAHONA (@rubenbtattoo) on Mar 29, 2019 at 11:10am PDT

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E pensar que muita gente hoje nem sabe oq é este objeto hahahahahaah Exclusiva que criei junto com o querido @mauricio_kj Contato (42) 9 9908 7166 ou inbox #k7 #fitak7 #tapek7 #metallica #tatuagem #tattoo #tattoo2me #tattoodobr #metallicafamily #metallicatattoo #metal #watercolor #fullcolortattoos #headbanger

A post shared by gui moraes (@guimoraesz) on Aug 2, 2020 at 7:10am PDT

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made with the support of @eztattooing @intenzetattooink @intenzerussia @bishoprotary @dermalizepro @tattoofixcare , @x_salon_com #KronPharma и @KronPharma #tattoofixcare #bishoprotary #vselectcartridges #ezcartridges #eztattooing #xsalon #intenzetattooink #intenze #tattooed #tattoosofinstagram #tattoo #tatted #tattooing #artist #artcollective #tattooartmag #moroztattoo #тату #татумастер #inkme #татукиев #tattooflash #tattoos #tattooartist #tattoosketch #tattoolife #tattooart #the_tattooed_ukraine

A post shared by Alexey Moroz (@moroztattoo) on Jan 2, 2020 at 3:58am PST

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#jameshetfield @radiantcolorscrew @radiantcolorsink @tattoomarket @metallica #tattoomoscow #tattoorealism #tattooportrait #tattoojameshetfield #jameshetfieldtattoo #tattoometallica #metallicatattoo #realistictattoo #татумосква #татуреализм #татуировкавмоскве #татувмоскве #татупортрет

A post shared by Тату в Москве (@friedmanncaroline) on Jul 27, 2019 at 2:33am PDT

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A lil quick morning piece Metallica – Black Album #bigboyzink #bigboyztattoo #letmeinkyourstory #blackink #intenzeink #trueblack #blacksnake #blacksnaketattoo #armtattoo #armtattoos #metallica #metallicatattoo #metallicatattoos #metallicafan #metallicafans #metallicablackalbum #blackalbum #blackalbummetallica

A post shared by Big Boyz Ink (@big_boyz_ink) on Jul 1, 2020 at 3:48pm PDT

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Muzycznie !

A post shared by Siwy Yakuza (@siwyyakuza) on Aug 1, 2018 at 2:50am PDT

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Tatuagem com desenho da banda Metallica no antebraço do João Batista.

A post shared by ALEX TATTOO (@alexsandermacieltatuador) on Jul 27, 2016 at 7:33pm PDT

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Muchas gracias @manuagujas_tattoo_city un placer tatuarte Hecho en @lacosanostratattoo y copiando a @lauristica_ilustradatattoo jajajaj Makinas de @hadesiron_machine #lcnparla #traditionaltattoo #madridtattoo #funkotattoo #jameshetfield #jameshetfieldtattoo #funko

A post shared by Alex Alcazar (@alexdelacosa) on Jan 17, 2019 at 5:27am PST

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James Hetfield from Metallica #metallicatattoo #realistictattoo #musictattoo #rockstartattoo #portraittattoo #tønsberg #tatovørtønsberg #tatovørnorge #tattooartistnorway #inkedup @radiorocknorge #skin2skinaftercare #bishoprotary #empireinks #tattooawards #blackandgreytattoo #skinlabs #jameshetfiled #jameshetfiledtattoo #rockandrolltattoo #tattooartistmagazine

A post shared by Aleksander Lien (@lienaleks) on Jul 12, 2020 at 6:14am PDT

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Master Of Puppets, by @india_eden @handofhopetattoo @centraltattoosupplies – – – – #tattooworkers #realismtattoo #uktattooartists #metallica #masterofpuppets #metallicatattoo #jameshetfield #blkttt #btattooing #blackandgreytattoo #portraitartist #blackandgreyportrait #blackworktattoo #blackworkers #darkartists #onlythedarkest #tattoodo #tttism #tattoosnob #picoftheday #uktta #skinart_mag #skindeep #skindeepuk #tattooartistmagazine #viroklenz #studiosafe #centraltattoosupplies #handofhopetattoo

A post shared by HAND OF HOPE (@handofhopetattoo) on Jun 19, 2020 at 12:39am PDT

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Repost @krisztian_blaho_tattoo … For a Metallica fun Part of a full sleeve . . . . . . . . . . . . #art #artist #tattoo #tattoos #tattooart #tattooartist #ink #inked #tattooed #realism #realistictattoo #budapest #blackravenbudapest #blackraventattoostudio #tetko #tetoválás #tattooing #tattoodo #tattoosofinstagram #tattoolove #tattooinspiration #artwork #tattoodesign #tattooer #tattoolife @hungariantattoos #metallica #metallicatattoo #skull #skulltattoo

A post shared by Black Raven Tattoo Budapest (@blackraventattoobudapest) on Apr 21, 2020 at 10:38am PDT

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… Un fan de Metallica #barcelona #hospitalet #metallicatattoo #metallica #fullcolortattoo #art #revolution #kmbltx #februarydays

A post shared by Miki Cambalache (@kmbltx_art.reevolution) on Feb 19, 2020 at 5:08am PST

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James Hetfield from @metallica Done @thechurchtattoo with @electricink & @barber_dts #electricink #tattoo #tattoos #tattooed #tattoodo #taot #thebesttattooartists #tattooart #tattooartist #tattoolife #tattooing #art #artist #space #sullenclothing #radtattoos #uk #birmingham #tattoosnob #fkirons #inkig #midlands #tattooink #tattooist #design #equilattera #tattooartistmagazine #darkartists

A post shared by Little Andy (@littleandytattoo) on Apr 25, 2018 at 12:23pm PDT

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