For most college students, music plays an essential role in daily life. From the playlist that keeps you going at the gym to the club bangers blasting at house parties, everyone finds different ways to support their favorite band, artist and love of music.

Robert Roth, a senior English and textual studies major, chose to take the passion for his best-loved band to a different level — permanently branding himself with a symbol that represents the group’s music. Roth’s affection for the rock band Coheed and Cambria is now publicly displayed.

Sporting a dragonfly on his right calf, Roth chose a symbol from the group’s illustrious comic-book narrative. Unlike other bands, Coheed and Cambria’s music chronicles a heroic story that is driven by its music and illustrated through the comic.

“The dragonfly represents the creation of Silent Earth,” Roth said. “In the band’s comic, the dragonfly is a symbol for a needle that turns those bitten into monsters. Overall it’s a symbol for overcoming a great obstacle and beating the monster within.”

Roth said that his English-and-textual-studies background played a role in his ability to appreciate the literary elements incorporated in the band’s comic.

This summer, in preparation for a string of concerts the band was to perform upstate, Roth received his ink at Raven Well Tattoo in Clinton, N.Y. Tod Delduca, seasoned artist and Coheed fan, inked the tattoo at an extreme discount for a fellow fan.

There are others that get tattoos representing their favorite bands, but few actually get to show off their tattoos to the artist themselves. Roth, at the last of four shows he attended, met Claudio Sanchez and the rest of his band mates, all who were eager to see Roth’s tattoo.

Said Roth: “Josh Eppard, the drummer, said he noticed my friends and I at the previous upstate shows and wanted to thank us for being devoted fans. The chance to show them our band tats was just a great bonus.”

Published on October 9, 2012 at 12:33 am

Contact Ian: imfeiner@syr.edu