Adam Levine, the frontman of Maroon 5, recently shared that while he continues to work on new music, he has likely reached the end of his tattoo journey. In an interview with Today.com published on July 11, Levine revealed that his most recent ink—a refreshed sleeve on his left arm—may be his final addition. Though he once enjoyed the process, he now finds it too painful to continue.
Levine Calls Tattoo Pain Unbearable and Chooses True Love Ink as Favorite
Levine described his recent tattoo experience as especially grueling, jokingly calling himself “psychotic” for layering one sleeve over another. He admitted that the pain has become intolerable, stating, “Now, when I get a tattoo, I’m like, ‘This hurts so badly.’” Despite once embracing the tattoo culture, Levine concluded that he’s “kind of done with the pain.”
Adam Levine Says He’s Done With Tattoos as Pain Becomes Too Much, Focuses on New AlbumWhen asked to pick a favorite among his many tattoos, Levine said there were too many to choose from but eventually settled on the “true love” lettering across his fingers. Interestingly, this marked a significant change from his stance in 2013 when he told PEOPLE that his hands and legs were off-limits for tattoos, considering them “sacred.”
From His First Dove Tattoo to a New Album and Upcoming Tour
Levine also reminisced about his very first tattoo—a dove on his upper left bicep—which he got shortly after the 9/11 attacks at the age of 21. He explained the symbolic choice, saying he felt a strong desire to express peace during a turbulent time. That tattoo marked the beginning of a long, personal journey with body art.
While tattoos may be in the past for Levine, new music is definitely in the future. Maroon 5 is set to release their album Love Is Like on August 15. Levine first teased the upcoming project in April and confirmed during a Tonight Show appearance that a tour is also planned for the fall. The band’s fans can look forward to a new era of sound, even as Levine closes the chapter on body art.