Machine Gun Kelly isn’t afraid of a bit ink.
The singer, whose actual identify is Colson Baker, is totally lined in tattoos — together with a couple of large-scale designs that absolutely took tons of time, persistence and ache to finish.
Amongst 31-year-old MGK’s most outstanding works of ink? Tributes to his hometown of Cleveland and to his music, together with symbolic figures, numbers and dates.
He’s even obtained a nod to his girlfriend, Megan Fox; in a cameo on a monitor from his album “Tickets to My Downfall,” the 35-year-old actress addresses her man, saying, “You simply obtained my initials tattooed on you. I simply obtained your nickname tattooed on me.”
Fox has the words “el pistolero” — Spanish for “the gunman,” in reference to Machine Gun Kelly — tattooed beneath her collarbone, but it surely’s not but recognized the place MGK selected to ink her initials in return.
Under, see a number of the “Bloody Valentine” hitmaker’s most memorable tats, and be taught the meanings behind each — as a result of unlike his similarly tattoo-happy pal Pete Davidson, it doesn’t seem that the rapper-turned-rocker will likely be parting along with his ink anytime quickly.
Neck reduce
Considered one of Kelly’s most up-to-date tattoos is that this gruesome trompe l’oeil slash. The crimson line, finished in April 2021, lends the looks of a bloody slice proper down the rocker’s throat.
“Tickets to My Downfall”
Kelly paid tribute to his 2020 pop-punk album by getting its title inked round his decrease neck in a Gothic font.
Beneath, he has a barbed wire necklace adorned with an atom and lightning bolts.
“Est. 1990”
MGK’s obtained this tribute to his delivery 12 months inked slightly below his collarbones.
Two sorts of ladies
The star has his personal interpretation of the satan and angel on his shoulders, positioned on both facet of his “Est. 1990” tattoo. One of many two feminine figures seems demure, whereas the opposite holds a knife behind her again and smiles manically.
“I simply have two views on ladies. Some are the f—ing satan, and a few are angels coming that can assist you out. However I simply now got here to phrases with realizing that not all ladies are unhealthy,” MGK told TheDrop.fm in 2013.
He added that whereas that he has unhealthy relationships with each his mom and the girl to whom he misplaced his virginity, he’s developed shut bonds with different ladies, like his supervisor.
“Locals Solely”
This tattoo is a testomony to the kind of folks with whom the star likes to encompass himself.
“It doesn’t need to imply actually; it simply so occurs that the folks I roll with are Cleveland-type sh—t, it’s not about regional life,” he advised TheDrop.fm.
“However in the event you’re from the place I’m from, so far as mentally and demographically, I’ll f—okay with you. Should you’re that child who’s brushing all these negatives and solely placing them to positives, I’m with you.”
Guardian angel
The singer obtained an enormous tattoo of a guardian angel inked in the course of his chest when he was 16 years outdated, when he “began believing in God.” Somewhat than choosing a typical Christ-like determine in flowing robes, Kelly selected an angel sporting a tank high, saggy denims and Chuck Taylors.
Later, Kelly had the angel reworked into giant black raven with a dagger by means of it.
“Casie”
In honor of his daughter, who was born in 2009, MGK has her identify tattooed beneath his nipple.
Banksy
On his decrease left stomach, Kelly makes a political assertion by means of an art work by Banksy; it depicts a person holding an indication that reads, “Preserve your cash I need change.”
Anarchy image
Kelly is a famous fan of chaos, and his devil-may-care perspective impressed this massive design positioned on his abdomen. Nonetheless, the star has shared that his group wasn’t too glad concerning the piece.
“It was the one one which was a debate,” he advised TheDrop.fm. “Everybody was like, ‘No man! No f—ing approach, man. You’re already type of black-balled within the trade, and also you’re gonna put that in your physique. Now no company sponsors are going to f—okay with you.”
He continued, “I simply obtained anarchy as a result of it’s a really robust assertion about social reform. There isn’t a f—ing guidelines. There isn’t a code. You’ll be able to’t inform me the best way to reside my life. That is my very own individuality, and I put on it proudly.”
“XXX”
This design, which sits slightly below the phrases “Virtually Well-known,” serves to warning MGK’s lovers.
“It offers women a good warning of what they’re entering into,” he advised TheDrop.fm. “Some nasty s—t’s about to occur.”
“Intercourse Medication Rock & Roll”
This ink celebrates Kelly’s hard-partying rockstar way of life.
Double-decker bus
In 2013, MGK was hit by a double-decker bus in Manchester, England, whereas crossing the road. To commemorate the expertise, he had the crimson automobile tattooed on his facet, full with damaged home windows and the date of the accident: 5/14/13.
There’s even a stick determine to symbolize himself.
Route 71 North
The Cleveland native tattooed a everlasting reminder of his residence on his proper bicep; “If I’m ever homesick, I can simply take the 71 North,” he told GQ in 2016.
“216 East” and “303”
Underneath the 71 North signal, Baker has one other tribute to Cleveland: the town’s space code. He’s additionally obtained an space code for Denver, which he equally holds near his coronary heart.
“These are the 2 cities that molded me into a person,” he advised TheDrop.fm. “I used to be in Denver once I was 9 to 14 [years old]. These had been pivotal years in my life the place I began being conscious of the world. All my first police run-ins had been [in Denver].”
“MGK”
In case Kelly ever forgets his stage identify, it’s inked throughout his whole higher again.
Salvador Dalí portray
Beneath the “MGK” is an outline of “The Temptation of Saint Anthony” by Salvador Dalí. The scene depicts a collection of temptations carried in on the backs of elephants, — together with the golden cup of lust, nude ladies and an obelisk — whereas St. Anthony kneels in entrance holding a cross.
In 2017, Kelly told iHeartRadio that these colourful again tattoos took about 50 to 60 hours to finish.
Jessica Rabbit
It appears MGK has all the time had a factor for curvy bombshells like Megan Fox; the artist has the voluptuous main girl from 1988’s “Who Framed Roger Rabbit” tattooed on his bicep.
“She’s like my fantasy girl, my dream girl. Type of,” he advised iHeartRadio.
“F—okay off!”
“That was clearly a 3:30-in-the-morning tattoo,” he advised GQ of the warning inked on his wrist.
“Stone chilly” coronary heart
Kelly has been fascinated with gore since lengthy earlier than “Bloody Valentine.” On his arm, he has an anatomical coronary heart fabricated from stone, symbolizing the partitions he’s constructed up over time.
“Once you spend so a few years on this trade, you actually be taught to harden your self and never let folks in,” he advised GQ.
