The Tattoos of Saving Abel

Celebrities with tattoos are nothing new; every day there's a famous film star, sports star, or music star in the news for getting inked. To be honest, I don't even know why this stuff makes the news anymore because it's so commonplace. What does surprise me, though, is how bad so many celebrity tattoos really are. I mean, these are some of the wealthiest people on the planet who can literally get tattooed by anyone they choose, and yet so many of them are sporting some of the worst ink I've ever seen. There are several websites that even have pages dedicated to bad celebrity tattoos.

Rock stars, on the other hand, are a breed of stardom that seem to appreciate-not just tattoos, but good tattoos. Now, I'm not saying they're all like that, but there seems to be a much greater percentage of rock musicians that have quality ink compared to their celebrity comrades. One of my favorite examples of this very point is the members of Saving Abel.

Ink In Their Blood

One of the things I love about these guys - aside from their music, which has a great gritty, dirty southern rock sound - is their deep appreciation for body art. They don't just have tattoos because they're rock stars; they have tattoos because they prize them, just like I prize them and every true enthusiast I've ever met prizes them. They even have a song (on their first album) called "New Tattoo," Scott Bartlett (lead guitar) has a tattoo-inspired clothing line, and there's a link on their website inviting their fans to send in photos of their ink, just because they like to share that common interest with their followers. Of all the rock bands I've read about, Saving Abel is the only one that generates that kind of enthusiasm for body art. Thanks to the awesome PR guys at Total Assault, I recently had the privilege of hanging out with Jason Null [pic], Scott Bartlett [pic], Eric Taylor and Blake Dixon [pic] (and later via phone interview with Jared Weeks), to talk to them about their body art and why they're different.

Let me say, talking to these guys about their tattoos was no different than talking to any other body art enthusiast. They're so down-to-earth anyway, but get them on the subject of tattoos and all formalities of the typical interview dissolve. They were pulling up sleeves and pant legs, regaling stories of good and bad ink experiences, laughing and pointing just like any of us do about our own art. So, when I asked them what it was that made them such big fans of tattoos, Scott was the first to chime in...

"We're all artistic to a certain degree. I mean, I can't draw a stick figure, but I know when something is appealing to me. My father, who's a doctor, is also a phenomenal artist….and obviously, as musicians, we're artists with sound. It's all about that creative side of the brain. Every musician has it, but I'm not sure what sets us apart." And then Jason jumped in with, "It all started with the song we had, New Tattoo - I mean, that's where it all came into play. We ran into this really great guy from Corpus Christi named Jojo Miller (from Electra Art), and we all opted to have tats done by him. And we became really good friends with him and he came out on the road with us. I don't know if that's a common thing or not, but for us personally that was one of the things that got us rolling with the tattoos - having a good friend that could come out and spend time with us, even ride the bus with us for a week at a time." "Oh yeah," Scott agreed. "And he would ask us stuff….he'd be like, 'OK, you want this - now tell me why." Scott explained that Jojo would come up with a few different ideas and continue to ask questions to dig for the deeper purpose of the tattoo so that it could be portrayed accurately in picture form. That kind of connection to the spiritual side of body art is what makes Jojo a special artist, and he's teaching his clients to have that same connection. It's no wonder Saving Abel has such a true passion for tattoos. Now Jojo is enjoying his own notoriety by traveling with other rock bands just as he did with Saving Abel, and has recently inked members of Papa Roach, Shinedown, Nickelback and Hinder.

"If the artist 'gets it' (referring to the client's deep personal reasons for the art they have chosen) then it becomes an entirely different kind of experience - a different form of art." - Scott Bartlett

Favorite Tattoos

When I asked them about their favorite tattoos, Scott pointed to his left inner forearm, which is decorated with a guitar neck upon which the first seven frets are decorated with images that represent the seven deadly sins from the bible [pic]. Jason's favorite is his left arm sleeve, which portrays "the beginning to the end" starting with the crucifixion of Jesus on his wrist and ends with the coming of the four horsemen of the apocalypse across his bicep [pic1] [pic 2]. Eric's favorite, however, may not be as intense or biblical, but it definitely has great significance. On the tops of his feet are replicas of his daughter's newborn footprints [pic]. Being a father on the road is never easy, so having her footprints is a way he can have her with him all the time. I don't know if it was planned this way, but the footprints are in the opposite direction of Eric's own feet, reminding me of a little girl standing on her father's feet to dance with him. I'm sure that one day Chloe will stand on her own footprints and dance with her daddy.

Jared also has some sentimental tattoos, including a nautical star for his grandfather, a heart with a crown for his fiancée, and one that I haven't actually seen because, as Jared explains, "I didn't send you a picture of the tattoo I have on my chest, but I do have one…it's in Italian and it means "my family, my love." But I'm kinda shy, I didn't want to send a picture of me like that, with my shirt off and stuff 'cuz, you know - I'm not like that." (laughs) Well, that's okay, Jared - sometimes it's the tattoos that aren't meant for show that mean the most, just like Eric's footprints.

Respect the UN-Inked

Of course, all of the Saving Abel guys aren't tattooed. There's one who remains un-inked, so while Blake was still away having his lunch, I asked the rest of the crew what was up with that. With a mischievous grin, Jason laughed, "He has commitment issues" while Scott quipped, "'Cuz he's a pussy!" But in all fairness, I asked Blake for his own reasons once he returned, and he actually gave the perfect answer that cannot be argued. He said, "I would actually get a tattoo but I can't think of anything I would want permanently. I mean, I got a lot of shirts that I like, but I wouldn't want to wear them every day." Well said, Blake, and good for you! I don't condone anyone getting inked just for the sake of having a tattoo - it usually only ends in regrets.

"Everyone was doing it (getting tattooed) back then, except me. Then again, coming from the way I was raised, my mom woulda probably beat me, even at eighteen!" - Jason Null

Live and Learn

Speaking of regrets, I asked the guys if they have any tattoos they wish they hadn't gotten. Eric pulled up his sleeve to reveal a rather sad little tribal design and says, "Yeah! Don't get long green lines mixed with flowers!" Everyone enjoys a good chuckle and then Scott confesses, "I've got a stupid lion on my back. I got it when I was like eighteen - I didn't know what the heck I was doing…it's just faded and stupid looking. To the point that I'm probably not even gonna show it to you." (Which he didn't, and that's ok - I promised him I really do understand!) Jason had some previous work that he didn't care for, but they're all but a distant memory now, covered up with the excellent workings of Jojo. I leaned in for a close inspection, and only after Jason pointed them out to me could I see the faintest hint of the old tattoos. Jojo's coverup work is exquisite.

"It's gonna be on you, hopefully forever - get it right the first time." - Scott Bartlett

And just like any true tattoo enthusiast, the guys spend time thinking about and planning out their next pieces, hoping that time will allow despite their hectic touring schedule. Jared is hoping to get something in honor of his new daughter, and also has an idea in the works for a piece inspired by Van Gogh's Starry Night. So many tattoos, so little time!

New Music!

Saving Abel's latest album, Miss America, was officially released on June 8, 2010. You can order the CD now and have it delivered to your door, or get it directly from iTunes if you prefer the digital version. I have listened to the track list and I really, really like this CD. For those of you who think there's nothing more to Saving Abel than their overly-played "Addicted," you need to take a listen to the rest of their music. Miss America has even more of that southern rock feel to it, with my personal favorites being Mississippi Moonshine, I'm Still Alive, and Hell of a Ride. Their first single release from the album, Stupid Girl, isn't the best representation of the album as a whole - I think the intention was to have something with a lighter feel and a good hook for radio, but there's so much more to Saving Abel!