Chip and Tom and Frank

Sometimes, the subject of a tattoo is unclear to the un-illuminated eye. Curiosity compels one to ask: what is that?<br /><br />And the answer makes sense. And one marvels at the mind behind the man (or woman) who says,"Yeah, let's put that on me forever."<br /><br />Such was the case during rush hour on the N train. An guy named Chip stood nearby and his right forearm intrigued me. I couldn't make out what his tattoos were. Can you?<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT9isiESKEMvsoFkUnyWX0wT5rSgvV1SJraja9D4n3X_RYIkJhK24_xWK4YxmW-rlviogSEa-i5v-KniTTnL4HJtqqTj9JYNAyEPUHK4PP_O3GiKaXQudZ70SoGDsC1dSCbZC4iaCDpuY/s1600-h/zappa+waits.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5364199917380210642" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT9isiESKEMvsoFkUnyWX0wT5rSgvV1SJraja9D4n3X_RYIkJhK24_xWK4YxmW-rlviogSEa-i5v-KniTTnL4HJtqqTj9JYNAyEPUHK4PP_O3GiKaXQudZ70SoGDsC1dSCbZC4iaCDpuY/s400/zappa+waits.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" /></a><br />When I asked, he explained. The top piece is a photograph from a <a href="http://www.tomwaits.com/">Tom Waits</a> album:<br /><br /> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqRweTCj0jyFPw2q5qdAWi6weCHJfaFdKKqRDuRBR38YtVYMjmDtkLctOCBrYRa4Mx7wh6rZbVzpYd77WGYEuJSF4loETBkBQmZTUVqfS8T0zkdD8YWZzz7znArRi2BR_XbUV3We4oUGA/s1600-h/waits+detail.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5364199811951872306" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqRweTCj0jyFPw2q5qdAWi6weCHJfaFdKKqRDuRBR38YtVYMjmDtkLctOCBrYRa4Mx7wh6rZbVzpYd77WGYEuJSF4loETBkBQmZTUVqfS8T0zkdD8YWZzz7znArRi2BR_XbUV3We4oUGA/s400/waits+detail.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 366px; height: 400px;" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkwJ-62CQhCYEGkK-V-mnfTU0ftLXfkutKPAUK_cOx_6NmW9EVCQFYjfT1w1hHKeF8gGWKs5c_JluC00OGBKbpVAu-qkR37Z8YEmvU1IqA9D2UhuAioRSzjZHZf4WtNUEicqIu4cxBueA/s1600-h/tom_waits_tree.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5364202593707572386" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkwJ-62CQhCYEGkK-V-mnfTU0ftLXfkutKPAUK_cOx_6NmW9EVCQFYjfT1w1hHKeF8gGWKs5c_JluC00OGBKbpVAu-qkR37Z8YEmvU1IqA9D2UhuAioRSzjZHZf4WtNUEicqIu4cxBueA/s400/tom_waits_tree.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 381px;" /></a>Despite ascertaining this is a Tom Waits photograph, I can't pinpoint where it came from. If anyone knows for certain, please let me know. The tattoo was done by <a href="http://www.cjaytattoos.com/">C-Jay</a> at <a href="http://www.risingdragon.com/">Rising Dragon Tattoos</a> in Manhattan. Work from Rising Dragon has appeared previously <a href="http://tattoosday.blogspot.com/search/label/Rising%20Dragon%20Tattoos">here</a>.<br /><br />Below the Waits tattoo is a <a href="http://www.zappa.com/flash/lumpymoney/index.html">Frank Zappa</a> piece:<br /><br /> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjaIPSpdQIv6ubrbz2uk5Fh7oaUGGg6ZOKShH6u7RMgqBDR5CfgUYoBMtSGlzBBpFNZJqRADv8iuMAQdk5zKET2lrWt_pvfopaeuSDqH8frSrZzPkd9hlhlQPKtnNbWknovm-KD9-kDgA/s1600-h/zappa+detail.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5364199743324366434" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjaIPSpdQIv6ubrbz2uk5Fh7oaUGGg6ZOKShH6u7RMgqBDR5CfgUYoBMtSGlzBBpFNZJqRADv8iuMAQdk5zKET2lrWt_pvfopaeuSDqH8frSrZzPkd9hlhlQPKtnNbWknovm-KD9-kDgA/s400/zappa+detail.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 316px; height: 400px;" /></a><br />This is based on artwork that appeared on the back cover of Zappa's autobiography <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Real_Frank_Zappa_Book">The Real Frank Zappa Book</a>:<br /><br /> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMPnleJ-4VxL5ahVYLsGtdkA5aT5Lz6eoaF-1yLRPcF5p_u2dmdqYElra9PyFfwWMrMAH4_G3Ua9Drmlyz-XASKQDEtWZ_O3YSwxkAY0Zerxsdi8R8eDd_-_XxD08NZiwSvP5YXh02lbw/s1600-h/real_frank_zappa_book-back_cover.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5364203398955785362" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMPnleJ-4VxL5ahVYLsGtdkA5aT5Lz6eoaF-1yLRPcF5p_u2dmdqYElra9PyFfwWMrMAH4_G3Ua9Drmlyz-XASKQDEtWZ_O3YSwxkAY0Zerxsdi8R8eDd_-_XxD08NZiwSvP5YXh02lbw/s400/real_frank_zappa_book-back_cover.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 268px; height: 400px;" /></a><br />This piece was tattooed by an artist he only identified as Chris at <a href="http://www.myspace.com/142698433">Marco's Tattoo</a> in Wakefield, Rhode Island.<br /><br />Obviously, Chip is a huge fan of both Frank Zappa and Tom Waits. That's all there is to it.<br /><br />Thanks to Chip for sharing his cool and unusual tattoos with us here on Tattoosday!

Chip and Tom and Frank

Sometimes, the subject of a tattoo is unclear to the un-illuminated eye. Curiosity compels one to ask: what is that? And the answer makes se...

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