Kerouac Text Tattoo

Alyssa got this large text tattoo of a Kerouac quote (from “On The Road“), done by Kim Durham at Prix Body Adornment in Hollywood, CA.

The only people for me are the mad ones, the ones who are mad to live, mad to talk, mad to be saved, desirous of everything at the same time, the ones that never yawn or say a commonplace thing, but burn, burn, burn like fabulous yellow roman candles exploding like spiders across the stars and in the middle you see the blue centerlight pop and everybody goes “Awww!”

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58 thoughts on “Kerouac Text Tattoo

  1. i think this is my favourite tattoo that i’ve ever seen. i’ve been toying with the idea of some bukowski text for a while but haven’t been quite sure about the suitability. this is just super 🙂

  2. i think this is my favourite tattoo that i’ve ever seen. i’ve been toying with the idea of some bukowski text for a while but haven’t been quite sure about the suitability. this is just super 🙂

  3. Well Marshall if you get to look at it in 30 or 40 years, then it matters what you think. Otherwise, why the frack do you care? (besides, it’s a great excuse for some black arm bands :-p )

    I love it. The quote is perfect. An awesome daily reminder.

  4. Well Marshall if you get to look at it in 30 or 40 years, then it matters what you think. Otherwise, why the frack do you care? (besides, it’s a great excuse for some black arm bands :-p )

    I love it. The quote is perfect. An awesome daily reminder.

  5. haha! awesome quote! it looks awesome, i’ve been toying with the idea of getting a modest mouse lyric on my shoulder for a while…

  6. haha! awesome quote! it looks awesome, i’ve been toying with the idea of getting a modest mouse lyric on my shoulder for a while…

  7. I love this quote.
    On a similar note, I’ve been thinking about doing the song “Rose,” by a perfect circle, only I’d want the words illustrated. Like a work of art about the song.

    Modest Mouse really lifts me.

  8. I love this quote.
    On a similar note, I’ve been thinking about doing the song “Rose,” by a perfect circle, only I’d want the words illustrated. Like a work of art about the song.

    Modest Mouse really lifts me.

  9. I;m not a big fan of lots of text in one area but this is amazing.
    It looks perfect

  10. I;m not a big fan of lots of text in one area but this is amazing.
    It looks perfect

  11. amazing! love it… i couldnt finish on the road (ugh, kerouac) but that quote is brilliant and beautiful.

  12. amazing! love it… i couldnt finish on the road (ugh, kerouac) but that quote is brilliant and beautiful.

  13. This is awesome, I dig it.

    Katie, I too have been trying to decide which Bukowski text I want tattooed on me.

  14. This is awesome, I dig it.

    Katie, I too have been trying to decide which Bukowski text I want tattooed on me.

  15. this is one of my favorite bukowski quotes from tales of an ordinary madness. absolutely fantastic tattoo.

  16. this is one of my favorite bukowski quotes from tales of an ordinary madness. absolutely fantastic tattoo.

  17. Wow. I am the biggest fan of Kerouac – I own all his works.

    I love this quote from On the Road; He has so many great quotes, I can think of several from the Dharma Bums alone.

    I have been planning on getting a portrait tatted on me, probably in blackwork.

  18. Wow. I am the biggest fan of Kerouac – I own all his works.

    I love this quote from On the Road; He has so many great quotes, I can think of several from the Dharma Bums alone.

    I have been planning on getting a portrait tatted on me, probably in blackwork.

  19. Marshall –
    Why dont you stop worrying what somethings going to look like in 30-40yrs and start LIVING!

    I think its fucking kick ass!

  20. Marshall –
    Why dont you stop worrying what somethings going to look like in 30-40yrs and start LIVING!

    I think its fucking kick ass!

  21. I tend to agree with Marshall. The medium of skin is a living, growing & dying thing, & there are rules to be followed. He’s not dissing the idea, he’s stating a fact that simple line work with nothing to hold it together is going to migrate, & it’s a completely valid point.

    Personally, I don’t think On The Road can hold a candle to Ernesto Guevara’s Motorcycle Diaries. If you haven’t read that, pick up a copy.

  22. I tend to agree with Marshall. The medium of skin is a living, growing & dying thing, & there are rules to be followed. He’s not dissing the idea, he’s stating a fact that simple line work with nothing to hold it together is going to migrate, & it’s a completely valid point.

    Personally, I don’t think On The Road can hold a candle to Ernesto Guevara’s Motorcycle Diaries. If you haven’t read that, pick up a copy.

  23. amazing. one of my favorite quotes from that author. i just finished reading the book for my third time. brilliant.

  24. amazing. one of my favorite quotes from that author. i just finished reading the book for my third time. brilliant.

  25. @JohnnyThief…Yeah, even though I love this quote, On the Road is not one of my favorites. I mean, Kerouac is my idol, but not because of this book in particular. I actually think it’s kind of sad that this is the book he’s known for.

  26. @JohnnyThief…Yeah, even though I love this quote, On the Road is not one of my favorites. I mean, Kerouac is my idol, but not because of this book in particular. I actually think it’s kind of sad that this is the book he’s known for.

  27. Wow. I was thinking about getting this exact tattoo. My favourite passage from my favourite book…

  28. Wow. I was thinking about getting this exact tattoo. My favourite passage from my favourite book…

  29. Love the quote, love the tat. My girlfriend E-mailed this to me because she remembered me reading her this passage. I think one of the interesting things about this quote, and the comments I’ve read here, is that the owner of this tat is saying, in no uncertain terms, that all of you folks who think enough of art and the artistic lifestyle to comment here are ‘the mad ones’ – his kind of people.

    Mine, too. Nothin’ but love.

  30. Love the quote, love the tat. My girlfriend E-mailed this to me because she remembered me reading her this passage. I think one of the interesting things about this quote, and the comments I’ve read here, is that the owner of this tat is saying, in no uncertain terms, that all of you folks who think enough of art and the artistic lifestyle to comment here are ‘the mad ones’ – his kind of people.

    Mine, too. Nothin’ but love.

  31. I have to say, if all the people I know who have this text tattooed on their body knew about each other, they’d probably be really disappointed.

  32. I have to say, if all the people I know who have this text tattooed on their body knew about each other, they’d probably be really disappointed.

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