Grateful Dead Tattoos

GD Tattoo #121 Gigi's Painted Dancing Bear

2010-12-07T00:57:00.007-06:00

Gigi sent us this beautiful Painted Dancing Bear Tattoo . She had it done By Chris at Headlight Tattoo II in Deptford, NJ. It's a cool dancing bear, but then again I've never met a dancing bear I didn't like... Listen to this. Full screen. Turn it up a notch. Thanks Gigi !!

List of Tattoo Artists and Shops

2010-11-24T12:09:00.005-06:00

The following is a list of tattoo artists and shops as of (11/24/2010) that have their work displayed on gratefuldeadtattoos.com. People use these links to find artists in their area to do their Grateful Dead tattoos. The site is averaging over 100 unique visitors a day from all corners of the world.

If you would like to send your Grateful Dead tattoos to gratefuldeadtattoos@gmail.com, I will post a link to your shop as well.

I am also putting together another tattoo blog for general interest tattoos, so send those as well, if you are so inclined. http://www.tattooblogguy.com/

Have a Grateful Day!

GD Tattoo #120 Grateful Dead Pin Up Girl

2010-11-24T11:22:00.003-06:00

Deadhead Johnny shared a couple of his tattoos with us. This one was inspired by Bobby's Ace album cover, and is the first Grateful Dead pin up girl I've seen. This one was also done by James Marlowe at Marlowe Ink in Fairfax, Virginia.

GD Tattoo #119 Eyes of the World

2010-11-23T04:20:00.000-06:00

Deadhead Johnny shared some of his tattoos with us. Here's a great Jerry's Eyes over glasses. This one was also inked by James Marlowe from Marlowe Ink in Fairfax, Virginia.

Top 10 Tattoos May - November 2010

2010-11-22T16:17:00.004-06:00

Based on pageviews:

GD Tattoo #34 Pink Floyd and Rosie Dead

GD Tattoo #42 Life, The Universe, and Everything

GD Tattoo #27 Purple Space Your Face

GD Tattoo #32 Steal your Face with wings

GD Tattoo #29 Melted

GD Tattoo #75 Feathered Tribal Dreamcatcher Steal...

GD Tattoo #25 Don't Tread On Me

GD Tattoo #19 Fresh Jester with Guitar

GD Tattoo #45 Cosmic Charlie how do ya do?

GD Tattoo #93 Sugar Skull Steal Your Face

GD Tattoo #118 Grateful Dead Wings

2010-11-22T04:20:00.001-06:00

Deadhead Johnny shared some of his tattoos with us. Here's a set of wings he has on his left shoulder. This one was inked by James Marlowe from Marlowe Ink in Fairfax, Virginia.

GD Tattoo #117 Let There Be Songs to Fill the Air

2010-11-21T04:20:00.003-06:00

This Dancing Bear was done by Joe at Brooklyn Ink in, well, Brooklyn.

Dancing Bears, as legend has it, are inspired by Owsley Stanley, AKA Bear. According to Wikipedia, Bear manufactured an estimated 5 MILLION hits of LSD.

Dancing Bears are probably the most common Grateful Dead tattoo, and they always bring a smile. Check out The Other Ones, (Dancing Bear tattoos I mean) ; )

I'm curious as to which there are more of, people with Dancing Bear Tattoos, or hits of Owsley Acid.

And here's a good Ripple video for you all

No man, I mean this one!!

Grateful Dead Tattoos> Spotlight> Ernie

2010-11-20T13:58:00.011-06:00

Okay folks, we're in for a treat. I was first contacted by Ernie back in May of this year (2010), and he sent in his Maxell ad inspired (lot sticker inspired) forearm piece, which was posted as:

GD Tattoo #95 It's Worth It.

So Ernie says to me, (and I paraphrase...) hey dude... I have 12 Grateful Dead related tattoos, would you like to see more of them?

I figure, sure why not, right? I mean, this is a Grateful Dead Tattoo blog.

So, lets spotlight Ernie's tattoos...

First of all, we need to know that ALL of these tattoos were done by Dez Moon (Desmond Mooney) from White Lotus Tattoo and Fine Art Gallery in Toms River NJ

Secondly, we need to know that Ernie digs Morning Dew maybe a bit more that the average Dancing Bear. So I'm going to do a few things here...

Here's a link to www.archive.org that will get you to EVERY show on the archive that has Morning Dew in it, sorted by date, most recent first. That's 1034 SHOWS folks, thats a lot of Grateful Dead spanning from 1995 back to 1967!

And some youtube...

pretty good stealth video from 1986, very good Dew. Let some of that play while you take a few minutes to check these out.

Here's a nice Blues For Allah. I've always thought this image made for a very nice tattoo. Grateful Dead Tattoos has posted two other Blues For Allah tattoos that can be seen here, or by hitting the tags on the right.

I hear that Furthur brought back Blues for Allah this year. Crazy man, crazy. That's a link to the live rendition of the original album.

I'm Uncle Sam - that's who I am... I've posted 5 Uncle Sam related tattoos, and I have to say, they kick ass.

If Uncle Sam above had a dog, I'd imagine it would look like this...

This dog reminds me of Bobby's Yellow Dog story...

or this gem...

"My dog has no nose"

"No Nose?! How does he smell?"

"Awfull!"

Here's a series of Jesters. I've posted a handful of Jester tattoos before. As far as GD tattoos go, I think the Jester, or Bard, or mandolin player, or whatever you want to call them makes a damn good one.

This tattoo I call Reddy Kilowatt because I don't know what else to call it. (suggestions appreciated). The real Reddy Kilowatt has a long history, and can be seen here...

Phil Lesh was known as Reddy Kilowatt on the Grateful Dead's first, and self titled album.

One More Saturday Night makes for a good tribute to New Years as well as the band.

Did you know that Deadheads Al Frankin and Tom Davis wrote and starred in a movie called "One More Saturday Night"?

Bertha is a classic Grateful Dead image, as easily recognized as the Steal Your Face.

Dark Star Palace has a great post about the Skull Fuck album art and the Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam.

Playing cards are a great Grateful Dead tattoo, as gambling and cards come up quite a bit in Grateful Dead song lyrics. Here's another, a King of Roses.

"Like a surfer riding on a tidal wave" This one is still in the works, but looks pretty fun.

So, I'd like to thank Ernie for sharing his tattoos with us all. He's sporting some very original work, and hopefully you find some inspiration for your next tattoo.

Grateful Dead Tattoo #105 Wharf Rat

2010-08-30T01:56:00.005-05:00

Mo sent in this Narcotics Anonymous and Wharf Rat inspired Steal Your Face.

I came across your blog in the weeks leading up to me getting this ink. It is a SYF with a diamond in the skull. A diamond with a circle around it is the symbol of the fellowship of Narcotics Anonymous, which has saved my life (and my face). The yellow in the bolt is a nod to the yellow balloons used by the wharf rats during shows to let recovering heads know where to go for support. Hope you like it!

Thanks for sharing Mo!

Here's a Wharf Rat from 81...

Grateful Dead Tattoo #104 Jerry's Guitars

2010-08-30T01:19:00.007-05:00

Steve sent in this back piece inspired by Jerry Garcia's guitars (Wolf, Tiger, and Rosebud) and the song Stella Blue. Nice tattoo's Steve!

The work was done by Craig Cheape at Tattoo Don's Nickel City Tattoo in Buffalo, NY.

I thought to include a youtube video of Stella Blue from Hampton '87

Grateful Dead Tattoo # 103 New York Giants Steal Your Face

2010-08-29T23:32:00.005-05:00

Bill Sent in his New York Giants Steal Your Face tattoo. The work was done at Hole in the Wall Tattoos in Conway, SC.

Grateful Dead Tattoo #102 Dancing Bear with Sun, Moon, Stars

2010-08-29T22:58:00.005-05:00

Brittany sent this nice Dancing Bear in. Tattoo was inked by Joe Rose Lions Den Studio in New Hope, PA.

Greatest Hits Top 5 GD Tattoo Posts 8/24/10

2010-08-25T12:01:00.008-05:00

Top 5 Grateful Dead Tattoo Blog posts, by page loads, as of 8/24/10

GD Tattoo #93 Sugar Skull Steal Your Face
GD Tattoo #27 Purple Space Your Face
GD Tattoo #42 Life, The Universe, and Everything
GD Tattoo #34 Pink Floyd and Rosie Dead
GD Tattoo #29 Melted
thank you

Grateful Dead Tattoo #101 He's Gone

2010-08-20T17:22:00.006-05:00

Melissa sent in this steam locomotive. The tattoo was done at Voodoo Monkey in Cleveland, Ohio. She says that

hate is not hatred for the dead, but anger at the loss of a soul mate: "like a steam locamotive rolling down the track, he's gone and nothings gonna bring him back"

rest in peace robert keenan

GD Tattoo #100 I'll Get Up and Fly Away

2010-08-16T12:51:00.003-05:00

I thought to pull out a good one for post number 100. This picture was sent in to the Facebook page. This guy was seen on tour this year (2010). If that's you, or you know this dude, tell him that's one awesome back piece, and that it is on display here.

GD Tattoo #99 Hugs are good

2010-08-16T12:24:00.007-05:00

This one is by Jenni from Dead Pirate Tattoo

Tattoos by: Elijah Tanner and his girlfriend Jenni.

Elijah and Jenni have a shop in the U.S. Virgin Islands called Dead Pirate Tattoo. Elijah first saw the Grateful Dead in 1980, and discovered he was home. Elijah has done many GD tattoos. He sent us 3 of his own and one from Jenni. You can find their work on Facebook searching Dead Pirate Tattoo, as well as other places. Thanks Elijah.

GD Tattoo #98 Jerry touched me

2010-08-16T12:15:00.005-05:00

Tattoos by: Elijah Tanner.

Other palm print tattoos... Missing Finger, Palm Print.

GD Tattoo #97 Bertha picking a tune

2010-08-16T12:05:00.005-05:00

Tattoo by: Elijah Tanner.

GD Tattoo #96 Jerry Garcia in Abstract

2010-08-16T11:43:00.005-05:00

I'd like to introduce you to Elijah Tanner and his girlfriend Jenni. Elijah and Jenni have a shop in the U.S. Virgin Islands called Dead Pirate Tattoo. Elijah first saw the Grateful Dead in 1980, and discovered he was home. Elijah has done many GD tattoos. He sent us 3 of his own and one from Jenni. You can find their work on Facebook searching Dead Pirate Tattoo, as well as other places. Thanks Elijah.

GD Tattoo #95 It's Worth It

2010-08-16T11:18:00.003-05:00

Ernie sent in this classic Maxell advertisement inspired Tattoo. Great tattoo, very original.

Who here still has their Maxell cassettes? I bet they still work, too.

(Mine do, but the quality off of the Archive surpasses all of those second, third ... tenth gen recordings)

(Source: http://reel2reeltexas.com/vinAd80.html)

GD Tattoo #94 Dancing Bear

2010-08-16T11:03:00.001-05:00

A blog reader sent this Dancing Bear Tattoo in.

GD Tattoo #93 Sugar Skull Steal Your Face

2010-08-16T10:31:00.004-05:00

Amy sent in this awesome Sugar Skull inspired Steal Your Face.

Tattoo was created by Britt Cherry, tattooed by Cory Pierce of Flats Tattoos in Groton, CT.

GD Tattoo #92 One More Saturday Night

2010-08-16T10:10:00.006-05:00

Paparazzi sent this groovy New Years Sam One More Saturday Night tattoo.

Tattoo was done by Jerry's Tattoos in Pittsburg, CA.

I posted a similar tattoo a while back, it can be found here...

GD Tattoo #91 Steal Your Face w/ Sun, Moon, and Stars

2010-08-10T04:20:00.001-05:00

This tattoo done by Armando Mena at Renegade Tattoo out in the west Texas town of El Paso.

GD Tattoo #90 Jerry Garcia in shorts

2010-08-06T15:36:00.005-05:00

Posted on Facebook by the fine folks at Mountain Air Batik in Portland.

The artist is James Kern in Portland. He can be found at No Hope No Fear Tattoo Studio

A rare breakout of Rubin and Cherise from '91 from Youtube...

"Reuben and Cerise"
Words by Robert Hunter; music by Jerry Garcia
Copyright Ice Nine Publishing; pirated from The Annotated GD Lyrics

Cerise was brushing her long hair gently down
It was the afternoon of carnival
as she brushes it gently down
Reuben was strumming the painted mandolin
It was inlaid with a pretty face in jade
Played the Carnival Parade
Cerise was dressing as Pirouette in white
when a fatal vision gripped her tight
Cerise beware tonight
Reuben, Reuben tell me truly true
I feel afraid and I don't know why I do
Is there another girl for you?
If you could see in my heart
you would know it's true
there is none Cerise except for you
except for you
I swear to it on my very soul
If I lie may I fall down cold
When Reuben played the painted mandolin
the breeze would stop to listen in
before going its way again
Masquerade began when nightfall finally woke
Like waves against the bandstand dancers broke
to the painted mandolin
Looking out on the crowd, who is standing there?
Sweet Ruby Claire at Reuben stared
At Reuben stared
She was dressed as Pirouette in red
and her hair hung gently down
The crowd pressed round
Ruby stood as though alone
Reuben's song took on a different tone
and he played it just for her
The song he played was the Carnival Parade
Each note cut a thread of Cerise's fate
It cut through like a blade
Reuben was playing the painted mandolin
When Ruby froze and turned to stone
for the strings played all alone
The voice of Cerise from the face of the mandolin
singing: Reuben, Reuben tell me true
for I have no one but you
If you could see in my heart
you would know it's true
There is none Cerise, except for you -except for you
I swear to it on my very soul
If I lie, may I fall down cold * * *
The truth of love
an unsung song must tell
The course of love must follow blind
without a look behind
Rubin walked through the streets
of New Orleans 'till dawn,
Cerise so lightly in his arms
and her hair hung gently down
these additional verses connect at the asterisks(***)
and replace the original ending verse
***
Ahoy old Ferryman
Riverboat of Charron ride
Though alive, take Reuben to the other side
For his sweet Cerise has died
It's a long lonely walk from Hell
to the burying ground
Cerise may return
but don't you look around
for your glance would cut her down
The truth of love an unsung song must tell
The course of love must follow blind
but Reuben looked behind
Reuben walked the streets of New Orleans till dawn
with the ghost of Cerise in his empty arms
and her hair hung gently down

Grateful Dead Tattoos

GD Tattoo #121 Gigi's Painted Dancing Bear

List of Tattoo Artists and Shops

GD Tattoo #120 Grateful Dead Pin Up Girl

GD Tattoo #119 Eyes of the World

Top 10 Tattoos May - November 2010

GD Tattoo #118 Grateful Dead Wings

GD Tattoo #117 Let There Be Songs to Fill the Air

Grateful Dead Tattoos> Spotlight> Ernie

Grateful Dead Tattoo #105 Wharf Rat

Grateful Dead Tattoo #104 Jerry's Guitars

Grateful Dead Tattoo # 103 New York Giants Steal Your Face

Grateful Dead Tattoo #102 Dancing Bear with Sun, Moon, Stars

Greatest Hits Top 5 GD Tattoo Posts 8/24/10

GD Tattoo #93 Sugar Skull Steal Your FaceGD Tattoo #27 Purple Space Your FaceGD Tattoo #42 Life, The Universe, and EverythingGD Tattoo #34 Pink Floyd and Rosie DeadGD Tattoo #29 Meltedthank you

Grateful Dead Tattoo #101 He's Gone

GD Tattoo #100 I'll Get Up and Fly Away

GD Tattoo #99 Hugs are good

GD Tattoo #98 Jerry touched me

GD Tattoo #97 Bertha picking a tune

GD Tattoo #96 Jerry Garcia in Abstract

GD Tattoo #95 It's Worth It

GD Tattoo #94 Dancing Bear

GD Tattoo #93 Sugar Skull Steal Your Face

GD Tattoo #92 One More Saturday Night

GD Tattoo #91 Steal Your Face w/ Sun, Moon, and Stars

GD Tattoo #90 Jerry Garcia in shorts

GD Tattoo #93 Sugar Skull Steal Your Face
GD Tattoo #27 Purple Space Your Face
GD Tattoo #42 Life, The Universe, and Everything
GD Tattoo #34 Pink Floyd and Rosie Dead
GD Tattoo #29 Melted
thank you