12
Issue 78 / 2015
FASHION
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Fashion timeline: Band tees
The band tee, a wardrobe staple is ever there was one. Everyone loves a bit of merch, some people love merch so much
that they don't even like or know the bands they're repping on their torsos. Whether you buy them at the show or on the
high street, whether you wear your dad's old one or dig them out of a charity shop bin, you've gotta have at least one.
Show your allegiance
1950s– The t-shirt becomes a stand-alone
garment for the first time, thanks to Brando and
Dean rocking the plain white on the silver screen.
They quickly become used to make a statement.
1971– Art designer John Pasche creates
the lips logo for The Rolling Stones,
originally for their Sticky Fingers album.
It has been seen on shirts ever since.
late 1970s – NYC artist designs the
famous Ramones tee. The band become
more famous for the tees than for their
records. Even people who have no idea
who the Ramones are have one.
1984 – Relax' by Frankie Goes To
Hollywood is banned by BBC Radio
for explicit lyrics. "Frankie Says Relax"
t-shirts fly off the shelves.
1989– The Stone Roses feature
lemons on their debut album
cover as a homage to the 1968
Paris riots (lemons were used an
antidote to tear gas). The fruit
makes its way onto a tee.
1992 – Garth wears an Aerosmith tee in the
cult classic Wayne's World, giving the shirt
iconic status.
1999– Instead of
promoting themselves,
Mogwai proclaim their
disdain for the Britpop
icons with their "Blur: Are
Shite" tees. They sold out
in one day.
2009 – Miley Cyrus is photographed
numerous times in an Iron Maiden tee. She
claimed "I actually do like Iron Maiden".
2014- Following the release of their last
album, Kasabian's Serge Pizzorno sports
various slogan tees, including ones
reading "Les-Tah", "48:13", and "Jalfrezi".
2015– Expect many a band tee to make an
appearance at the late summer festivals,
particularly Reading & Leeds.
