Metallica’s James Hetfield has revealed his latest tattoo, which serves as a tribute to late Motörhead frontman Lemmy Kilmister. Hetfield took to Instagram to showcase the tattoo on his middle finger, which is comprised of a spade inside an iron cross symbol, and also incorporates cremation ashes given to Hetfield by Kilmister’s family. Hetfield wrote on the post that “without [Lemmy], there would be NO Metallica”.
Metallica have been vocal about how important Lemmy Kilmister was to the band ever since he died of cancer in 2015. Hetfield and Lars Ulrich, the drummer of the band, have stated that Motörhead inspired the formation of Metallica. Speaking on Lemmy’s influence in 2016, Hetfield said that “when he was around, it just felt like things were going to be okay”.
Plans were recently approved to erect a statue of the Motörhead frontman in Stoke-on-Trent, the town where Kilmister was born. In March of this year, it was announced that some of Lemmy’s ashes will be placed at the Bloodstock metal festival, as well as at Rock City venue in Nottingham. In 2019, more of his ashes were scattered at Germany’s Wacken Open Air festival.
The tattoo incorporates the spades and iron crosses that Hetfield often displays on his guitars. The black ink mixed with the cremation ashes is a unique addition to the tribute tattoo. Overall, the tattoo serves as a permanent reminder of how much Lemmy Kilmister’s life and music influenced not only Metallica, but also the wider world of rock and heavy metal
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