Tattoo artist obsessed with Prince since her teens inks record number of tributes on skin
Do you have a favourite singer or band? For Lisa Marshall (Canada), the music of Prince has been “the soundtrack to her life” for as long as she can remember.
A passionate tattoo artist, Lisa owns her own private studio in Ontario, Canada, called Apollonia Ink, which takes its inspiration from Prince’s Purple Rain era.
Her love for the music legend goes far beyond simply listening to his songs, Lisa has dedicated much of her body to celebrating his artistry, and on 21 January, she inked her name into the history books by taking the title for most tattoos of the same musician on the body (female), with 22 different Prince designs.
A love for all things Prince
Lisa said: “The thing I love most about Prince is that he is absolutely timeless.
“The music I fell in love with when I was 13 years old still resonates with me just as deeply today, over 40 years later.”
No matter what kind of day Lisa is having, she can listen to Prince’s music and find comfort and happiness in his songs.
After the iconic singer's passing in 2018, Lisa has grown up with his music and still values him deeply.
She added: “He wasn’t just a musician. He was a musical genius, a songwriter, a performer, a visionary and an extraordinary multi-instrumentalist. His creativity was limitless, and he was always unapologetically himself.
“To me, there will never be another Prince. He was, is, and always will be my number one musician in the world.”
Lisa became a fan at the age of 13, and it all started when the Purple Rain album was released. Her school locker was decorated with photos of the singer that she had cut out of magazines.
She added: “There wasn’t an inch of space left on my locker! While other teenage girls had their crushes, I had Prince!”
Four decades on, Lisa’s Prince passion is still as strong as ever, with her favourite song being “I Wish U Heaven”.
Check out our Human Body page for more stories about record-breaking body modifications.
A living tribute to Prince
Lisa, who has more than 250 tattoos in total, has transformed much of her skin into a tribute to the artist who has inspired her for so much of her life.
She said: “My body has become a living tribute to his music, his artistry and his legacy.
“I have portraits, song titles, lyrics, album references, symbols and imagery inspired by different eras of his career.
“I have the titles Graffiti Bridge, Sign O’ the Times and ‘Positivity’ tattooed on my leg.
“Across my back, I have the famous opening words from ‘Let’s Go Crazy’.
“Surrounding the lettering are flowers inspired by the Purple Rain album cover.”
“I even have a portrait of his first wife, Mayte Garcia,” Lisa added.
“Every tattoo represents something meaningful to me. They’re not simply images on my skin - they’re pieces of music, memories and moments from my life.”
With 22 Prince tattoos already on her skin, her desire for more hasn’t stopped just yet!
Lisa aims to add two more Prince-themed tattoos each year, although finding room for them is becoming increasingly difficult!
With so many designs to choose from, deciding on a favourite is another challenge, but her Purple Rain tattoo holds a special place in her heart.
She said: “I currently have 22 portrait tattoos of Prince, which earned me my Guinness World Records title for the most tattoos of the same musician on the body.”
Lisa also has things like the design from the Love Symbol album, a “Little Red Corvette”, a purple banana inspired by “Let’s Go Crazy”, some of his guitars and his distinctive gun-shaped microphone.
She said: “My tattoos are almost like a visual autobiography, with Prince’s music representing different chapters of my life.”
It wasn’t Lisa’s intention to break a Guinness World Records title, but with a strong love for Prince, she has made history.
“I simply wanted to celebrate Prince and carry his music and image with me forever.
“The record is an incredible honour, but the real reward is being able to express my love for his music in such a permanent and personal way.”
Some of Lisa’s most-treasured moments have come from her travels to Paisley Park, Prince’s former estate and recording studio in Minnesota, USA.
During these trips, Lisa has met other Prince fans from around the world and even had the opportunity to tattoo some of them from her hotel room!
She added: “There’s something very special about being surrounded by people who understand exactly what Prince meant to you.
“He brought people together through his music, and even after his passing, he’s still bringing us together.
“I miss him dearly, and I always will.
“But as long as I’m alive, I’ll continue celebrating his music, his artistry and his legacy.
“Prince may be gone physically, but his music, his spirit and his influence will live forever.”
Lisa’s collection may be running out of room, but her love for Prince shows no signs of fading, and if she has anything to do with it, there’s still plenty more purple ink to come!