Slayer

Countless rock bands have returned from the road decorated with tattoos mapping out their adventures, exhibiting the formidable power of sound and vision. Both music and tattoo art began thousands of years ago as vital forms of creative statement. So it was only a matter of time until someone noticed the strong bond between the two and organized a touring festival featuring some of today's best live acts with world-renown tattoo artists.

Tattoo The Earth, launching July 15 in Portland, OR, rejoices in a combination of ear shattering metal power and visually stunning body art. Festivals such as the diversity-celebrating Lollapalooza have featured body artists, but the alt-rock vibe at the now-defunct festival focused on many other interests besides music and fleshly adornment. This summer, TTE will celebrate a decidedly loud lifestyle in all of its colorful glory.

Motorhead, Motley Crue and others of their legendary ilk have brought the rock n' roll lifestyle into the public eye over the past several decades with thunderous power chords and brightly hued images on their torsos, limbs and other bodily areas. The TTE bands, a new generation of ax-slinging rebels, have joined up to further our rock heritage begun by our forefathers of decades past.

This summer's loud and proud - Coal Chamber, (hed) p.e., Amen, Full Devil Jacket, Hatebreed, Mudvayne, Nashville Pussy, Puya, Sepultura, Sevendust, Slipknot and venerable thrashers Slayer (say "Slaya!!!") - will join forces with radio staple heavy weights Metallica, Korn and Kid Rock for this highlight of TTE, one brutal display of metal power and decorated bodies at NJ's Giants Stadium on July 20. Throughout the tour, additional ink fans such as One Minute Silence, Systematic, Nothingface, Relative Ash, Cold and others will also join the tattoo-covered fray. Body artists Paul Booth, Sean Vasquez, Bernie Luther and other well-known artists will be waiting for you with needles and ink in hand.

Since TTE is the first of its kind, this assault on the senses should prove to be an interesting experiment on the rock n' roll lifestyle across the nation. But plans are already underway to take the show global. "Our goal is to tattoo the earth," explains festival producer Paul Zukoski on the TTE web site. "The whole earth." Lock up your pets and grandparents, kids.

If you feel so inclined, TTE presents the perfect opportunity to surrender yourself as an epidermal canvass to the professionals - whether you make your statement with henna, piercing or tattoos. You just may find yourself sitting next to your favorite band member while getting inked.

Slipknot

This feature originally appeared on Gigmania.com