Metallica superfan extends tattoo record by almost doubling his ink tributes to the band

A Metallica superfan who had a record number of tattoo tributes inked on to his skin has added even more.

Tom M Engelbrecht (Norway) first broke the record for most tattoos of the same band (male) with a total of 43 Metallica tattoos in 2023.

Just one year later, he’d upped his total to 72, and with plenty of canvas space left, it’s possible he’s kept going since then!

Tom has tattoo portraits of the band members as well as nods to their songs inked down his arms, sides, legs and feet.

Adding numbered stickers to them as he went, he counted them all up in a video so he could officially extend his record title.

He previously told us: “From my ankle to my knee is Metallica’s history: album covers, DVD covers, letters, newspaper clips, and some lyrics.”

When his tatts totalled 43, Tom estimated he had spent over 250,000 Norwegian kroner (£19,000; $24,100) on his artwork.

So, after almost doubling the number of tattoos, it’s likely the bill has grown just as much.

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Many of the designs were inked at New Roots Tattoo & Art Collective in Bergen, Norway, by tattooist Bjarte Nødtvedt.

Tom is very into heavy metal but said that Metallica was the only band he liked enough to pay tribute to them in such a permanent way.

He’s seen the band live over 20 times and even got up on the stage and sang into the microphone at a gig in 2009.

Tom isn’t the only record breaker to have earned his place in history with his tattoo tributes.

Mark Owen Evans (UK) has his daughter’s name Lucy tattooed 667 times, earning the record for most tattoos of the same name on the body.

And Tara Berry (USA) has 18 tattoos of Madonna, earning the most tattoos of the same musician on the body (female) title.