Anthony Kiedis with no tattoos
Anthony Kiedis has 10 (visible) tattoos:
1. Bird on back
2. An Indian chief at the top of each arm
3. A band on each arm
4. A dagger on each arm.
5. A tiger on the inside of his right arm
6. A koi carp (and flower) on the inside of his left arm.
7. The Chili asterisk/star of infinity.
The majority of Anthony’s tattoos are in black ink although the two inner arm ones are coloured; his tattoos are symmetrical in layout with balanced, but not completely identical, designs on either arm. Many of the designs reflect aspects of his life most noticeably his North American heritage (on his maternal side). Several of his tattoos were drawn by, Henky Penky (real name Henk Schiffmacher), a tattooist based in Amsterdam, The Netherlands, who is famous for his work on rock n’ roll icons.
Picture showing coloured tattoos:
Anthony’s first tattoo was of Chief Sitting Bull on his upper right arm:
His second was of Chief Joseph on the opposite side:
His famous back tattoo that stretches across his entire back was done in the 1980s:
There are various online interpretations as to the origin of the design. The most common views are that it is of an Inca/Aztec falcon but some people claim it is a Haida thunder bird. Hank Schiffmacher began work on the tattoo in February 1988 while the Peppers where in Amsterdam on tour; it was completed over a course of 18 months when Anthony happened to be in the city.
“On our visits to Amsterdam, I had befriended an amazing tattoo artist named Hank Schiffmacher. Hank, also known as Henky Penky, was an icon of his country-an underground philosopher, artist, Hell’s Angel associate, booze hound, drug hound, girl hound, an absolute rapscallion of Dutch proportions. Over the years, Hank had injected much ink into my skin, and in the process, we’d become close.”
‘Scar Tissue’ Anthony Kiedis with Larry Sloman; page 303
“On that first trip to Holland (around the Pink Pop Festival dates in Finland), however, Kiedis was preparing to endure the fist pricks of the enormous cubic Indian totem image that would eventually engulf his back. Schiffmacher told him it would be the work of many visits, each one time-consuming (up to six hours at a time) and also very painful. Kiedis replied, jokingly, that given his own schedule, it would also take several years.”
Red Hot Chili Peppers By The Way: The Biography by Dave Thompson; page 120-1
During the 1990s a bold band was added underneath each Indian chief:
Close up detail of (broken?) heart:
Celtic Daggers completed the symmetry:
A tiger was added in 2001:
“A tiger, added in 2001, was to help him get over the pain of creaking up with his girlfriend, and represents both his Chinese birth sign and the Thai tradition of tigers bringing longevity and protection to the wearer- and he enjoys adding the detail that he is Tony the Tiger, the cartoon cat from the Kellogg’s Frosties add.”
‘Inside the Veins of the Velvet Groove’ by Martin Roach
The koi carp was the final addition and was added in around 2006:
The smallest tattoo is perhaps most significant for RHCP fans as it is of the band’s asterisk logo
Hi. I was just wondering if you could tell me who got their asterisk tattoo first: Anthony or John Frusciante. I always thought it was John, he has had a huge influence on my life through his music, and have thought about getting the tattoo. If you could let me know it would be hugely appreciated.
I need to check that- I’m sure from what I read, Flea was the first one but beyond that, I have no idea; have just logged on to have a quick look before I go down to London for the weekend; can I get back to you next week (if nobody else answers?)
Sorry to tell yall this but Anthony got his first and and then John. Flea Chad and Josh never got the tattoo of the asterisk. Now that John has left Anthony is the only one in the band with the asterisk.
John added the tatto around 1992, just confer “Funky Monks documentary”
John was one who got first that Anthony!
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AwaGoB6VLAE/T9NqMN_QfXI/AAAAAAAAGic/pB47FkwiyUs/s1600/funky_monks.jpg
I can’t find anything definite; sorry. I’m assuming it’s Anthony. Have just scanned an article (was hanging on for it to see what it said exactly) and added a link to the article but it’s vague. I think it was Flea first, and then AK- remember reading something about it once but can’t remember where. I’ll update if ever I find it… but it’s THINK; sorry don’t know for sure. I have one other person to ask so I’ll see if they know any more.
Does anyone know what his left arm bicep means ( the heart / broken heart ). It’s super nice : )
I’ve never read anything as to it’s meaning; I don’t know if anyone else has? I read somewhere that the bands were designed to fit in with the other tattoos and be symmetrical but nothing as to why the Fleur de Lys and the broken heart were incorporated into them.
Damn ! No one seems to know , and I’m really considering getting it , I love the design and have major respect for AK. It may say it in scar-tissue , will have to give that a read!
I’ve re-read Scar Tissue in detail recently and I’ve seen nothing in it; was looking for info for the articles on this site so I would have quoted it if there was anything about the tattoos. When I get a few minutes, I will look through some of my other RHCP books- one has got a bit about tattoos in it (there’s the quote in this article. I copied that when I wrote the first version of this tatto article for another website a couple of years ago; I haven’t read the book since so there may be more in it). The other place where there might be info, is in the magazine articles. I haven’t used them for info (yet! Reading them all and taking quotes/info from them is on my loooong list of things to do!) But it might be worth having a glance at them – are even more on my other website thechilisource.com ! If I ever find anything, I will update this. It’s a really cool design!
Thank you , it sounds like you have a real passion for the chili’s. I will keep searching also. Looking forward to the new album and interviews to follow! If only we could ring him up eh !
Think RHCP has taken over my whole life at times…. hehe! Happy hunting!
I love the peppers!! And his tattoos. I have read “Scar Tissue” and am about to start it again. Glad to know I am not the only one…
I Love Anthony’s tattoo,especially the Totem..but he doesen’t have earrings?
I don’t think he does; I can’t remember ever seeing him with them but I’ll double check with a few people and get back to you (might be next week as I’m going away for a few days over Easter).
Sorry… no he doesn’t
he never worn it?Anyway his style is really cool.Thank you so much!
i’m really sorry,this is my last question!He didn’t wear an earring or he does not like it?Thank you so much!
I do believe that in Oral/Visual it is mentioned somewhere about the asterisk tat… if it was not there, then in the 1993 book Red Hot Chili Peppers by Dave Thompson. I read them both nearly back to back. The only other place I may have seen something on it was Me and My Friends, but I am doubting that.
I would be interested to know if Tone has a small Ant tattoo on one of his arms. My brother tells a story of spending time with him in singapore on a Chili’s tour some years ago. The tattoo was done in about 20 minutes by Singapore Tattooist Tommy Two Thumbs. Love to get picture/confirmation of that.
Never heard of it or seen it but I’m going to check that one out for you; give me a couple of days and I’ll see what I can find out.
I’ve asked my two AK experts and both are saying they know nothing about such a tattoo and there’s nothing on any photo, I or they, have ever seen.
Does anyone know who’s asterisk is on the back of the bssm album, and what colour it is, cause wherever I look people say black, but on the album sleeve it doesn’t look like a full on black, it looks kinda faded, which is the effect grey ink gives (my girlfriend had a tattoo with grey ink), I really like the one on the back of the bssm album cover, it’s the perfect size (a lot of people have it done too big in my opinion) and as I said, I prefer the shade over a jet black colour, thanks.
Asking around, the general consensus seems to be to that it’s AK’s (seems to be nothing definite though that I can find); only he and John have the asterisk on their wrists. They both have the tatts on their right wrist so no help there but JF’s does look marginally lower down than AK’s.
BSSM back cover:
http://sleevage.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/08/rhcp_bssm_back.jpg
AK’s hand (seems same shape hand and tatt position):
http://anthonykiedis.net/info/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/ak-tattoo-flowers1.jpg
http://anthonykiedis.net/info/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/kimberly-anthony-kiedis-signature-silverlake-meal.png
John’s hand has longer fingers:
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-T-qYGgXnkRU/TeFxMbWAesI/AAAAAAAABD4/35fSftmqaSM/s1600/john-frusciante-ep-promo-2001.jpg
As for the colour, both JF’s and AK’s vary from photo to photo-I’ve looked at that many tonight lol! I think you should go for what suits you-add your own twist on it!
Watch someone prove me wrong now lol but that’s what some of us here think! If I find anything more/definite, I’ll update.
Haha, thank you so much! I think I’ll probably go for the same shape and size as AK’s then, but in a grey colour. I just love exactly how it looks on the BSSM album cover!
i’m really sorry,this is my last question!didn’t he wear an earring ?or does he not like earrings?Thank you so much!!!
No he doesn’t wear an earring; have never seen any evidence of him with one and I’ve just asked my AK expert – according to his mother Peggy has mentioned him wearing one as a child but there is no photo of that and he’s never been seen in one since. Hope that helps! And feel free to answer all of the questions you like; sorry it’s taking me a while to answer them but real life has been getting in the way
)
Thanks!:)Your answer is very clear!Could it be a question of look?Does He prefer himself without?
Sorry I have no idea what AK himself thinks about this. Anyone else?!!
What kind of earring he worn when he was a kid?Please!
Someone just tell me that he likes indian’s earring,but i don’t think so!
Thanks!!!
cool tatto
Cara mais foda do mundo ! RHCP
hey! look I live in Mexico, and I´ve been looking for the Scar-tissue book for years!! can you tell me where I can find it in Mexico please!!?? thanks
I’m sorry I have no ideas but hopefully somebody else can help you
You can definitely find it online, both in English and Spanish. Check out Amazon.com or AbeBooks.com maybe.
I’m wondering what his affiliation is with Chief Sitting Bull and Chief Joseph if any.
Man, I’d just like to say thank you! Handsome website! Congrats
I’m going crazy trying to figure out what does Anthony has in his belly. Is it a tattoo? a scar? please help me!!!
You can appreciate it in this photo
http://www.google.es/imgres?q=anthony+kiedis+abdominales&um=1&hl=es&sa=N&rlz=1C1AVSW_enES365&biw=1280&bih=685&tbm=isch&tbnid=SHh5mIivBLe8-M:&imgrefurl=http://foros.vogue.es/viewtopic.php%3Ff%3D8%26t%3D31349%26start%3D6560&docid=nHj0ANPA_0NF-M&imgurl=http://img370.imageshack.us/img370/3103/x1pphu2k6hcg6puovgainjdfi7.jpg&w=600&h=480&ei=D-8dT5b4EMvV4QSlm7DdDQ&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=182&vpy=151&dur=31&hovh=201&hovw=251&tx=163&ty=111&sig=114155981165378750327&page=1&tbnh=144&tbnw=174&start=0&ndsp=18&ved=1t:429,r:0,s:0
It’s a scar I think; it’s not a tattoo (if you mean the line you can see).
I’ve got the picture where he shows to the photographs the scar in the ceremony of The Billboard Music Awards 1999… It seems a scar of a surgical intervention… but i don’t know for sure.
If someone wants the pic, just tell me
I would please!!!
i love Anthony and his tattoos but i wish he would have never cut his hair and grew out his mustache.
Like his back tattoo!
hai sos hermosos esos tatuajes !!=)
please could put more tattoos anthony ??? please respond…
please put more tattoos anthony
What kind of earring he worn when he was a kid?Please!
Someone just tell me that he likes indian’s earring,but i don’t think so!
Thanks!!!
Please!! Respond!
Hey thanks for the site! Any idea who took the back tat you posted (5th down) of Anthony or where I could get a high res image? Any help would be hugely appreciated!!!
Hey! I was just wondering about his asterisk tattoo, roughly how big would you say it is? I’m think of getting one done when I am older:)
hi anthony , i was wondering what the fore arm ( celtic daggers ) represent as i am having them done myslef next week , so when people ask why then i can say , i noticed on a site they said love underneath the picture , so are they for that,
many thanks john
Does Anthony Kiedis hate wear an earring?
I love him too much but i’m really curious about this! Thank you admin,you’re great!
What is the tatt that most defines AK as im getting tatt to represent each of my kids n one of them was named Kiedis as a tribute to him and the band.
thanks