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36% of Germans are tattooed. But where does this cult come from? And why do we come to the Rockabilly scene as an exemplary phenomenon when we take a closer look at tattoos?


Let's start at the beginning:
Tatau. This word has its origins in the Polynesian language and can be translated with
right, fitting, straight without implementing further meanings.
This is supposed to describe the kind of tattooing but it still remains controversial where and when tattoos were exactly created. According to this controversial a possible temporally parallel development on different continents is also given. in ancient
Egypt, the old Romans, the Celts, Tahitians, Japanese, Greeks, Christians, and so on. In nearly all cultures, regions or even religions of the earth you’ll find indication on tattoos as well as proven.
today's European understanding of tattoos began with the British explorer and navigator James Cook when he returned in 1769 from his expedition to the South Pacific. he not only reported about tattoos he also brought a tattooed
prince named Omai to Europe. But even after this first view of tattoos in Europe it should take another 100 years until tattoos should begin their steps into society. With the growing development of trade and the economic navigation of the sea tattoo art was
more and more spread by merchants and sailors and made accessible to society as well as familiar. It was only around 1890 that Tom Riley invented the first electric tattoo machine whereupon the nobility became interested in tattoos under the aspect of reduced
pain. but this interest flattened out as quickly as it appeared. After this time the stigma of
prison tattoos also the disrepute and disapproval of visible tattoos, slowly began to be implemented. It was to last again until about 1990 before this negative
interpretation of tattoos could disappear from the minds of society.

By the way: In German language the terms tatau
and tattoo existed side by side for a long time, until at the beginning of the 20th century the term tattoo finally
prevailed. Only in ethnology the term tatau continues to be used.



With reference to the mentioned question of the title, the love of the Rockabilly scene for tattoos, we look first at the Rockabilly movement. As you might expect it all began 1954 with the birth of the music direction Rockabilly.
That's all right was released that year by Elvis Presley (with Scotty and Bill) and brought this new genre to the people - which we later called Rockabilly.
Characteristic are especially guitar, bass, drums and piano, as well as uptempo vocals with included swoops.
This change to previously known and published musical styles also expressed the feeling of the social mood of rebellion against the establishment and of longing and freedom, which is still shaping the Rockabilly scene
today.

classifying this in time with the social development of tattoos you‘ll notice the same thought of the rebellious moves. Not only that a tattoo was still afflicted with suspicion and a negative image at those time, also the musical
Rockabilly aimed at the outbreak mood of the youth. So it was only a matter of time until both subcultures met and formed a wonderful symbiosis. A picture says more than a thousand words and it has to be taken literally also in this case and seen with the
stylized appearance of Rockabella and Rockabilly in the overall picture. Displayed plate skirts, Victoria rolls, jeans, comb in the pocket, dotted dresses and the cherry red lipstick of the ladies: what underlines such a meaningful and consciously chosen appearance
even more than the matching, individual and life-describing tattoo!

With this prior knowledge, the meaning and intention behind the classic Rockabilly tattoos, if you really want to call them like that, can be recognized quick- and easily. playing cards mostly stand for fate and luck. Dice and
Eight Ball (the black eight of billiard) for readiness to an uncertain future as well as for general difficulties of life. also Pin-Up-Girls or Hot Rods like to decorate male bodies, whereas today also women wear the image of the Pin-Up-Girls under their skin
to propagate the alienation to the former image of women.

The well-known swallows stand for hope and love. Cherries, mostly in pairs, for temptation. These are only a few of the typical Rockabilly motifs engraved in the even more typical Oldschool tattoing style. The scene itself contains
much more than stereotypical images on the body. For example, portraits also belong to the classics and show, but mostly immortalized in a realistic tattoing style: Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Marilyn Monroe, Marlon Brando, Jerry Lee Lewis, Wanda Jackson,
Eddie Cochran, Gene Vincent or Betty Boop (in broadest sense).



Now you're probably wondering where is exactly the connection between Tattoo and Rockabilly, so our following statement:
We don't dare to make a concrete statement about both cultures or rumorually take an exact position towards them. Of course there is no denying evidence like the exemplary conspicuousness of the Rockabilly scene to certain tattoo
motives or the predominant style of their tattoos. Nevertheless, we are sure that both the Rockabilly scene and tattoos in general have a very individual and personal attitude to life and that each individual is protagonist of his own life; however he shows to his environment. So please don't wait for a conclusion, you can do on yourself by the given facts and mentioned conspicuities.


So you Rockabellas, Rockabillys and Tattooed:
Hey ba-ba-ba-ba baby tiddy whop ba bop,
Ah ba-ba-ba-ba baby tiddy whop ba-bop.
Oh, ba-ba-ba-ba baby tiddy whop ba-bop
Ba-ba-ba-ba baby tiddy whop ba-bop
Bottle to the baby