My new handwritten tattoos

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So today I got a couple of new tattoos! These are my 13th, and 14th tattoos - yikes. They were done by Tom Wootton at The Studio, Afflecks in Manchester. I emailed the studio about a week ago to see if any of their artists would be willing to do them for me, and I got them done today! This was probably the most 'last minute' tattoo session I've ever had - I'm used to waiting around 2-4 months when I book in with my usual artist, and other well known artists I find on Instagram. Saying this though, both of these tattoos I've wanted a while, and I've had the pieces of paper laying around for about a year now. Until now I kept putting off getting them because I'm so used to planning and booking in for big pieces, but since it's been 6 months since my last tattoo, I thought these little ones will keep me going for now. 

Anyway, now I'll tell you a bit about why I got these tattoos..

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All Ends Well

"All Ends Well" was written by Myles Kennedy, best known for being the lead singer of the hard rock band 'Alter Bridge'. This band have been one of my favourites for years, and this song in particular is one of my absolute favourites - I feel invincible when I listen to it. During my Art Foundation Course I actually made a star sign calendar inspired by the lyrics in the song "Somewhere down the road, your stars will show" and I used these lyrics on the front cover. I just love the song, it means a lot to me and evidently, it inspires me. Not to mention, Myles is a musical genius, and Alter Bridge create flawless music all round.

Back in July I got the opportunity to meet him. I missed out on VIP for a few Alter Bridge shows as in my opinion, they've been just a little too expensive for me. But I have always wanted to meet Myles for many reasons. When he announced his solo shows, he released VIP tickets that were half the price of the usual Alter Bridge VIP prices so I obviously jumped on this opportunity. 

I don't think I had been that nervous meeting a musician in a very long time. I used to meet lots of bands back when I was a teenager, but nowadays I'm not so fussed because I'm not as much of a fan girl as I used to be, and chances are I've already been there, done that. But the bands and musicians I do meet now usually mean a lot more because chances are, I won't have met them before, or they'll mean that tiny bit more to me. 

Anyway, I wanted to tell Myles that me and my brother saw Alter Bridge when we went to Rome on holiday last year. It was our first gig abroad and it was such a cool intimate gig - a nice change from the arena UK shows we're used to seeing them at. I also wanted to tell him that we decided to play one of his songs 'Wonderful Life' by Alter Bridge at my dads funeral only a few months prior. It meant a hell of a lot to me to be able to tell him this in person. And it's weird because, I'd already bought the ticket to meet Myles before my father passed, so I guess it just made it that bit more special when I did meet him.

It only felt right to ask him to write out "All Ends Well" for me because I definitely wanted something to remember this experience by, as well as obviously honouring one of my favourite songs. And the tattoo itself is an obvious reminder, that all does indeed, end well. Life can be full of surprises sometimes, some horrible things can happen to us. But in the end, we all come out stronger for it. 

Or at least, I do.

"Somewhere down the road, your stars will show

Somewhere down the road you're almost home,

You're almost home

-

If you believe in nothing else,

Just keep believing in yourself,

There will be times of trouble,

It's gonna hurt like hell

This much I know, all ends well

It all ends well."

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Sunsets and Silhouette Dreams

"Sunsets and Silhouette Dreams" was handwritten by Derek Sanders, the lead singer of a band called Mayday Parade. They're lyrics from the song 'You Be The Anchor That Keeps My Feet on the Ground, I'll Be The Wings That Keep Your Heart in the Clouds', one of my favourite songs of theirs - they like their lengthy song titles. It's from their album 'A Lesson in Romantics' - which was the first album of theirs I fell in love with.

Mayday Parade were the first band I saw live, e v e r. I was only 13 years old, imagine that? And I've been lucky enough to see them around 10 times over the past 8 years. I can't believe it's almost been a decade since I've been seeing them live. I feel extremely grateful for the fact they're still going. They're always making new music, every couple of years they throw another album out there. And they always do regular tours in the UK every few years too. 13 year old me wouldn't be thinking I'd be lucky enough to still be seeing them when I'm in my early twenties - but boy would she be chuffed to bits if she knew. 

I've met them quite a few times over the years, but the last time I met them was last October, on their 10 year anniversary tour for A Lesson in Romantics. I was so ecstatic that they announced this tour for the UK, since I'd heard loads about the tour in America. And since it was the first album I really got into them by, I knew it'd be the most nostalgic gig for me. 

2017 & 2016^

I got to thank them a few times over the past couple of years for their music, and all the memories associated to them, and all the memories involving them. And of course, for being a huge part of my soundtrack of my teenage years. I got Derek to write out "Sunsets and Silhouette Dreams" on this tour, and I also got his signature heart tattooed with it.

There's so many lyrics I could have chosen from this band, but I feel like these lyrics fit me perfectly (*cough* obsessed with sunsets *cough*) and I can't really go wrong with them. Plus this tattoo stands for all of my favourite Mayday songs, not just the song that these lyrics are in - even though that one is one of my all time favourites.

I was also thinking of getting some sort of artwork related to them, but when I thought of this idea, this one was the one that really stuck with me. Maybe one day i'll get another - but I'm sure this does the job regardless. 

Thanks Mayday for still going, I'm more grateful then you'll ever know. And I'll see ya again in February.

                                           

     

2015 / 2013 / 2012 ^

"And I'll be here by the ocean,

Just waiting for proof that there's sunsets and silhouette dreams.

All my sand castles fall like the ashes of cigarettes,

And every wave drags me to see.

I could stand here for hours

Just to ask God the question: "Is everyone here make believe?"

With a tear in his voice, he says "Son, that's the question".

Does this deafening silence mean nothing to no one but me?"

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I got both of these tattoos on my arms. 'All Ends Well' above my elbow crease, and 'Sunsets and Silhouette dreams' on the opposite arm, on my inner bicep. It was actually the easiest and quickest tattoo session I've ever had - but that's literally because more often than not, I get full day sittings. I plan at some point doing a post or video about all 14 of my tattoos. But i'll probably do that after my next big piece - because, I can't be tamed apparently.

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-x.o, B.E.J