A black-and-white photo of a person mid-air in a Superman-style body suspension pose, supported by multiple hooks in their back and legs, smiling joyfully toward the camera. They are suspended horizontally in a large indoor space with high ceilings and visible rigging. A group of onlookers—some seated, some standing—watch with expressions of admiration, amusement, and support. The atmosphere is lively and communal, capturing a moment of shared experience and transformation.

Never Sleep


“I’m a programmer,” says Exciteableboy, he of the above knuckle tattoos, “it’s what I am.” Oh yeah? Well, I LOVE PIES, but you don’t see me bragging about it.

…Oh, who am I kidding? I brag about it all the time. Go forth, good sir.

Actually, let’s open it up to the floor: Favorite knuckle tattoos of all time, whether you’ve actually seen them or just had wonderful dreams about them. Let’s hear ‘em in the comments.

(Tattoos by Slim at Studio City Tattoo in Studio City, California.)

See more in Geek Tattoos (Tattoos)

Comments

126 responses to “Never Sleep”

  1. Quoll Avatar
    Quoll

    My favourite is mine, but I’m biased. =) Mine is DASY URID. Dasyurids (Family Dasyuridae) are my absolute favourite animals, so…

    I’ve had a grand total of maybe four people know what it was though *shrugs*. I don’t mind!

  2. Quoll Avatar
    Quoll

    My favourite is mine, but I’m biased. =) Mine is DASY URID. Dasyurids (Family Dasyuridae) are my absolute favourite animals, so…

    I’ve had a grand total of maybe four people know what it was though *shrugs*. I don’t mind!

  3. Xalia Avatar

    “good cake”

  4. Xalia Avatar

    “good cake”

  5. OcnGhst Avatar

    I can’t find an image, but the singer from the band Gallows, Frank, has “Blue Eyes” on his. I’ve always loved how soft the phrase is and how hard knuckle tattoos are.

  6. OcnGhst Avatar

    I can’t find an image, but the singer from the band Gallows, Frank, has “Blue Eyes” on his. I’ve always loved how soft the phrase is and how hard knuckle tattoos are.

  7. cuntcumber Avatar

    As mentioned before, “SANDWICH”.

  8. cuntcumber Avatar

    As mentioned before, “SANDWICH”.

  9. Niki Avatar
    Niki

    PLAN AHEA

  10. Niki Avatar
    Niki

    PLAN AHEA

  11. dannzilla Avatar
    dannzilla

    mine say “tape deck” but i almost went with “nerd life”, i worked with a piercer once who was sort of planning on getting “empl oyed” or “igot ajob” after he’d passed the 10 yr mark in the industry

  12. dannzilla Avatar
    dannzilla

    mine say “tape deck” but i almost went with “nerd life”, i worked with a piercer once who was sort of planning on getting “empl oyed” or “igot ajob” after he’d passed the 10 yr mark in the industry

  13. Briny Deep Avatar
    Briny Deep

    my ex used to work on a tallship, recreating the daily life of a sailor in the 1830s for scads of schoolchildren. many of his fellow shipmates had the traditional “HOLD FAST” knucks, but he was the cook, so he would occasionally write “MAKE STEW” across his knuckles in Sharpie just for a laugh.

    now he’s in culinary school, and i think he should make it permanent.

  14. Briny Deep Avatar
    Briny Deep

    my ex used to work on a tallship, recreating the daily life of a sailor in the 1830s for scads of schoolchildren. many of his fellow shipmates had the traditional “HOLD FAST” knucks, but he was the cook, so he would occasionally write “MAKE STEW” across his knuckles in Sharpie just for a laugh.

    now he’s in culinary school, and i think he should make it permanent.

  15. allie Avatar
    allie

    rootbeer.

  16. allie Avatar
    allie

    rootbeer.

  17. gogo_savvy Avatar

    Mine say CHOW DOWN. But they read top to bottom so that when I eat the appropriate foods they’re still visible and readable.

    🙂 LOVE FOOD.

  18. gogo_savvy Avatar

    Mine say CHOW DOWN. But they read top to bottom so that when I eat the appropriate foods they’re still visible and readable.

    🙂 LOVE FOOD.

  19. RJH Avatar
    RJH

    I (heart) SL AYER

  20. RJH Avatar
    RJH

    I (heart) SL AYER

  21. jayd Avatar

    the glove idea is amazing #7

  22. jayd Avatar

    the glove idea is amazing #7

  23. miss dev Avatar
    miss dev

    now i want one that says i love pie!

  24. miss dev Avatar
    miss dev

    now i want one that says i love pie!

  25. Treehopr Avatar
    Treehopr

    In the past, on Modblog I believe, I saw two that I liked “SOUS CHEF” and “HAUS FRAU.”

  26. Treehopr Avatar
    Treehopr

    In the past, on Modblog I believe, I saw two that I liked “SOUS CHEF” and “HAUS FRAU.”

  27. chez Avatar

    COMP GATE is what my knuckles read. I love it but it’s probably not funny unless you are an audio nerd like me.

    KNUC KLES is also a favorite. Labeling body parts is great!

  28. chez Avatar

    COMP GATE is what my knuckles read. I love it but it’s probably not funny unless you are an audio nerd like me.

    KNUC KLES is also a favorite. Labeling body parts is great!

  29. crazy eyed goat Avatar
    crazy eyed goat

    dead baby?

  30. crazy eyed goat Avatar
    crazy eyed goat

    dead baby?

  31. Tattoo-Tokyo Avatar

    Some great suggestions, I like ‘sand wich’ but ‘beer now!’ also sums up how I’m feeling haha

  32. Tattoo-Tokyo Avatar

    Some great suggestions, I like ‘sand wich’ but ‘beer now!’ also sums up how I’m feeling haha

  33. Havoc Avatar
    Havoc

    I just thought of this while looking over this thread.
    Tattoos of trench knives on the back of hands then DUST THIS on knuckles. 🙂 I’d be happy.

  34. Havoc Avatar
    Havoc

    I just thought of this while looking over this thread.
    Tattoos of trench knives on the back of hands then DUST THIS on knuckles. 🙂 I’d be happy.

  35. steev skwid Avatar
    steev skwid

    that is bad ass.

    I want LESS SELF.

    🙂

  36. steev skwid Avatar
    steev skwid

    that is bad ass.

    I want LESS SELF.

    🙂

  37. aivi Avatar
    aivi

    #26, Well I at least learned what the animal is called in english, apparently in finnish it’s called a “pocket devil” (pussipiru) 😀

    I don’t have any real favourites as far as knuckle tats go, but I prefer to have one word/hand, so you don’t need both hands to complete the word. And of course originality is appreciated.

  38. aivi Avatar
    aivi

    #26, Well I at least learned what the animal is called in english, apparently in finnish it’s called a “pocket devil” (pussipiru) 😀

    I don’t have any real favourites as far as knuckle tats go, but I prefer to have one word/hand, so you don’t need both hands to complete the word. And of course originality is appreciated.

  39. Tera Avatar

    I have black leather gloves with CUNT LIFE painted across the knuckles.

  40. Tera Avatar

    I have black leather gloves with CUNT LIFE painted across the knuckles.

  41. Synie Avatar

    My favorites by far are Jacoby Shaddix’s “Love Hate” and MickDeth’s “Life Less”, and Synyster Gates’ “Marl Boro”

    Jacoby: http://b5.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/01078/59/27/1078597295_l.jpg (Can’t find a good one of both together)

    MickDeth: http://b0.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/00332/05/17/332837150_l.jpg

    Synyster: http://c3.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/95/l_cbfa6556ddef46e0bac3a42fba6af6f2.jpg (Only one hand cause I’m too lazy to look for the pic I have with both showing)

  42. Synie Avatar

    My favorites by far are Jacoby Shaddix’s “Love Hate” and MickDeth’s “Life Less”, and Synyster Gates’ “Marl Boro”

    Jacoby: http://b5.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/01078/59/27/1078597295_l.jpg (Can’t find a good one of both together)

    MickDeth: http://b0.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/00332/05/17/332837150_l.jpg

    Synyster: http://c3.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/95/l_cbfa6556ddef46e0bac3a42fba6af6f2.jpg (Only one hand cause I’m too lazy to look for the pic I have with both showing)

  43. LaLa Avatar
    LaLa

    RENT BEER is what im thinking of getting, maybe an OR on the thumbs, my friend has FIST FUCK the dirty bugger

  44. LaLa Avatar
    LaLa

    RENT BEER is what im thinking of getting, maybe an OR on the thumbs, my friend has FIST FUCK the dirty bugger

  45. joel Avatar
    joel

    ‘WHO’S NEXT’

  46. joel Avatar
    joel

    ‘WHO’S NEXT’

  47. Random Avatar
    Random

    30, you totally killed me.

    SMAR TBOY

  48. Random Avatar
    Random

    30, you totally killed me.

    SMAR TBOY

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