Skillet on Wedding Ring Tattoos: Today’s Culture Doesn’t Value Loyalty
'The Needle and the Damage' done is a tattoo series produced by Loudwire and presented by the Inkcarceration Music and Tattoo Festival. Each episode was shot on site at the festival's location in Mansfield, Ohio, at the Ohio State Reformatory, which is also where scenes from the 'Shawshank Redemption' were filmed. Here, artists reflect on the artwork scrawled into their flesh, recollecting their first tattoos, the most painful ones, deeper meanings and, of course, the stories behind them all. Enjoy while you anxiously await the announcement of next year's lineup. Keep an eye out because tickets go on sale in December!
Skillet's John and Korey Cooper are an anomaly of the music industry, which has a dastardly reputation of wrecking the relationships and marriages of touring musicians. What makes their 22-year-long marriage even more impressive is that they've managed to maintain it all while playing in the same band together.
As a symbol of their ever-lasting commitment to each other, they each have a wedding ring tattooed on their finger, furthering the permanence of their partnership. "Not to get on a major soap box here," began John, "but commitment and loyalty is not something that our culture really values anymore in general. I'm not talking about just marriage, but faithfulness to an ideal, faithfulness to a conviction or to someone."
Regarding his favorite tattoo, John highlighted the word "forgiven," which is written in script across his forearm. The idea of redemption is central to the frontman, who expressed that everyone can relate to the idea of getting a second chance. The butterfly on Korey's arm holds a similar value, which symbolizes rebirth.
Watch the full episode at the top of the page to learn more about the Skillet duo's tattoos. Follow the band on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram and get their new album, Victorious, here.
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