It is likely you know multiple people with tattoos, as there are millions of people all over the world sporting incredible tattoo art. Whether your inked friend is a stock clerk at your local grocery store, a waitress at the bar or a co-worker in your office, the popularity of tattoos is undeniable. In fact, those who get one tattoo often get the tattoo bug and continue to get inked throughout their entire lifetime. Popularity of the world wide tattoo culture has spread tattooing from taboo to pop culture. While tattoos were once reserved for those in the military or those who owned Harleys, today tattoos adorn soccer moms and everyone in between. Spring breakers come back with their first tattoo on their hip every year and mother surprise their children by getting daisies tattooed on their ankle for their fortieth birthday.
While tattoos are hip and trendy today, this was not always the case. In fact, tattoos were once seen as an affiliation with bikers and or gangs only. It is true the majority of bikers (those people who live a lifestyle of driving motorcycles for sport, fun and socialization) do in fact have tattoos. In fact, there are few bikers who dont have at least onebiker tattoo. In fact, they have tattoos for a purpose. When asked, many people will find many of these pieces of art on the skin have symbolism or personal meaning. Eachtattoo is placed on the skin to tell a story. Much like someone may commemorate a birthday milestone with a tattoo, bikers can do the same. A biker tattoo design can be a way to mark ones self in a way which states their affiliation with a local bike chapter. A tattoo of a name, a number and possibly the letters MC would show the specific person belongs to a motorcycle club.
Not all bikers have club affiliation tattoos. Other bikers will tattoo their loved ones names or a photo of a loved one on themselves, as a memento or way to honor the person. These portrait tattoos and memorial tattoos are considered to be art of the highest honor. Another way to memorialize someone can be with tattooed pictures or scenic tattoos which can easily represent a lost loved one. For instance, there was a female biker who had a ship which was sinking into the sea. Aboard the ship was a man playing cards, gambling and drinking with death. Her tattoo was in memory of her son who had lost his life to drugs. Other biker tattoos often include Harley Davidson tattoos showing the HD emblem and an eagle or wings. Another popular tattoo design in biker culture is the Born to Ride tattoos or Live to Ride, Ride to Live tattoos. These tattoos show the love for the freedom of being on the road and sharing this sensation with a brotherhood or sisterhood of bikers. After all, bikers say there is nothing better than being one with the road, feeling the air in your face.
Similar to biker tattoos are gang tattoos. They should not be confused however. The two are different because gangs are often affiliated with crime organizations, whereas not all bikers are in bike gang seeking out trouble. Gangs often tattoo teardrop tattoos on their faces for murder victims or fallen comrades. Other gang related tattoos often include tattooed names on knuckles or spider web tattoos on the elbow. In addition, many tattoos are done between the webs of the fingers, as well as gang names or symbols tattooed on visible areas of the body. Bikers and gangs have been associated with tattoos for many years. However, with the growth of tattoo popularity in todays society you can not judge a person who has a tattoo and try to put them in the category of gangs or bikers. In fact, most of those who get biker tattoos are not affiliated in any way with crime organizations. Instead, they are simply people who enjoy motorcycles and riding in groups with their friends. Biker tattoos and all other types of tattoos are ways to artistically express yourself, honor someone, or simply have some fun celebrating your eighteenth birthday. Next time you see someone who has full sleeves of tattoos, or a name tattooed across their neck, think about why the person has embellished their body. Instead of the tattoo being a pointless act of rebellion, there is likely a story behind the ink.
