Custom and Brands t's
The music we listen to defines us and has done for some time now. Not only does it give a certain impression about the general demeanour of an individual but also governs how each and every one of us should look and behave. There are numerous stereotypes that are associated with different genres of music but in several of them you will find one common factor – band t-shirts. Commonly associated with punk and rock bands, band t-shirts have been an integral part of the identity of music fans for some time, but just how large is the part that they have played?
Band t-shirts are also known as concert t-shirts in some quarters but no matter how much the actual term is disputed, the origins of this particular type of t-shirt will always remain the same. The first band t-shirts were created in the 1960s at around the same time as the Woodstock Festival was initially held. We have all seen a Woodstock t-shirt at one time or another but those garments were not produced to commemorate the August 1969 crowning event in Rock ’n’ Roll history. They were actually made to promote the festival and make sure that as many people knew about it and turned up as possible. Some of the bands that performed, like The Who and Grateful Dead, noticed the effect that the t-shirts had and the band t-shirt was born!
Although band t-shirts were around during that era, they did not really begin to become prevalent in music until the 1970s and 1980s. However, there are some common formats that have been a feature of band t-shirts since the very start so we should look at those first.
A band t-shirt is one of the main promotional tools that every band uses to spread the word about their existence and new music in addition to being used to promote appearances and tours. T-shirts get a lot of interest because people have a natural tendency to read the writing on the shirts if they get a chance. It is one of the quickest and easiest ways to spread the word.
The vast majority of band t-shirts have one thing in common – their very dark colour. Black and dark blue are easily the most popular colours for those t-shirts because they generally fit in with the image created by the nature of the music. The t-shirts also usually feature a band logo or picture as well as the name of the band in big, bold lettering. If the garments are available for purchase to commemorate a specific gig or tour then they usually have a panel with tour dates and venues on the back of them. However, some bands sell them via the Internet all year round now so there may be a variety available at any given time.
Band t-shirts are usually made of a high quality material and the official merchandise t-shirts are also branded so they might not be the cheapest out there, but they do give you chance to demonstrate your allegiance to your favourite band as and when you like.
Although band t-shirts can be found in all genres of music, from pop to hip-hop to independent, they have become famous for their presence in two specific genres above all others. Those genres are punk and rock.
Band t-shirts have been first and foremost associated with rock bands, especially heavy metal bands like Metallica, Korn, Slipknot, AC/DC and Motorhead. In fact, they have become such an essential part of the genre that they are now part of the metal head style of dress. The look was pioneered by Judas Priest front man Rob Halford, who wore leather trousers, biker boots and a black t-shirt. When trying to emulate him, the fans substituted the black t-shirt for a band one. They would wear the t-shirt that corresponded to the band they were into at that time or indeed the last one that held a gig that they had attended. Either way, the style caught on quickly and rockers today still wear the same fashions and even the same band t-shirts they wore back in the 1980s and 1990s. Metallica, AC/DC, Kiss, Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath are still as iconic and popular as ever. Those band t-shirts are worn like a badge of honour today and show up who the true fans of this music really are.
Although the punk era came before the rock and heavy metal era, it is not quite as synonymous with the band t-shirt. Despite the fact that its lasting legacy has diminished a little, band t-shirts were absolutely essential during the punk era because of the messages they sent to the establishment. The punk era was all about rebellion and logos, signs and lettering on vests and shirts usually provided the forum for people to send their messages. Bands took this concept and ran with it. The Ramones, Sex Pistols and The New York Dolls all capitalized on the movement and wore their own band t-shirts for self promotion as well as promotion of their political goals.
As you can see by taking a quick look around today’s t-shirt trends, band t-shirts are still going strong forty years after their first appearance on the scene. The overall style has changed little with some of the early designs still being in high demand today, especially those that were popular amongst the metal crowd. Take AC/DC t-shirts for example. They still sell well today and many of the younger generations that were not even born in the early 1980s know of the band as a result of them. They have definitely proved to be useful tools in spreading the word about the band and will definitely continue to do so. After all, why change a promotional formula that has been proven to work time and time again?
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