Band T-Shirts...

[bennyhana22]

This debate has been had before on other forums (some rather vociferously...), but not here, to my knowledge.

So, what are your opinions on the wearing of Band T-shirts...

1. ...in general - good thing/bad thing?

2. ...to the gig of the artist you're seeing?

3. ...never to the gig of the artist you're seeing?

4. ...to the gig of the artist you're seeing only if it's an 'I was there at the begninning, first UK headline tour/album shirt'?

5. ...to the festival where that artist is performing but not on the day they're on?!

There seems to be a cultural divide, whereby the cognoscenti in the indie world are convinced that there are few greater fan crimes than wearing the artist's t-shirt to the gig, whereas for metal-heads you're practically precluded from the show if you don't have one on!

And, have ideas over this issue changed over the years? Afterall, one could get in free (or was it just not get in if you weren't?) to Morrissey's initial solo gigs by wearing a Smiths/Morrissey t-shirt...

So where do you stand, folks? For my own part, I like wearing a band's t-shirt to the gig, not as a sign of a 'true fan', but because it enhances the experience of 'connection' with that band, for me. Not all bands, just some that mean a lot to me. saying that I am VERY choosy over band t-shirts, both by design and by quality. For instance, I would never really consider buying a tour t-shirt with dates on etc. Just not me.

Your thoughts and, where possible, example pictures, please. WAKE UP BOARD, EOTR is 8 weeks on Thursday!!!!

Ben

[shoebox]

I haven't worn a band t-shirt in many, many years. During a time when these sorts of things weren't so heavily scrutinised, or at least I aware of scrutinisation.

I don't really have any strong feelings either way to be honest. I quite like seeing people in band t-shirts of the artist they are seeing. It does kind of show a bond towards the show, I guess. But it's not for me.

[ElGanzo]

Interesting - I wasn't aware of so many possible opinions on this! I don't think I've ever faced this issue bizarrely. I do buy band t-shirts, I think it's a good alternative income for many bands, particularly EoTR type bands. I nearly always buy t-shirts at gigs, so in most cases I haven't seen the band since to wear it again. Except once for Daniel Johnston, but I had bought that t-shirt a few years previously and the expansion of my beer belly in the interim period made me realise that nobody at the gig needed to see that

But I think I would wear one to a gig by the artist - it seems the natural thing to do.

Also, t-shirt spotting at festivals is fun! I remember watching The Wave Pictures in 2008 on the Main Stage and immediately after they played some guy went over to buy a t-shirt and immediately got changed into it while walking to another stage - I found this highly amusing!

In exactly two months we'll be recovering from Mogwai-induced hangovers - WOOP!

[ElGanzo]

So where do you stand, folks? For my own part, I like wearing a band's t-shirt to the gig, not as a sign of a 'true fan', but because it enhances the experience of 'connection' with that band, for me. Not all bands, just some that mean a lot to me. saying that I am VERY choosy over band t-shirts, both by design and by quality. For instance, I would never really consider buying a tour t-shirt with dates on etc. Just not me.

[Sipperana]

I've gone through various phases - buying lots of band t-shirts, then getting rid of them all and wearing none at all, back to where I am now which is selective purchases. It goes without saying that I will like the band whose gig I buy the t-shirt from (and this is the only place I will buy band t-shirts) so for me it has to be a good design, preferably one which isn't too blatant about the band. One of my favourites is a Youthmovies t-shirt which has a giraffe on it, and the band name in small letters at the bottom.

I never really feel the need to emblazon the name of the band I'm seeing on my chest - after all, I'm there, I've paid to see them, that's proof enough that I like them. I will on occasion put the shirt on that I've bought at that gig, mainly if the alternative is carrying it around all night.

The biggest t-shirt faux pas I think are:

- wearing a one-upmanship t-shirt that says "I knew this band before they even existed"

- t-shirts with tour dates (the exception to this would be a Half Man Half Biscuit t-shirt, where they've stamped "CANCELLED" over most of the dates, but that's more for the joke value than anything else)

- wearing a t-shirt for a festivel/gig/tour that you blatantly couldn't have been old enough to have seen.

On the last one, I do have (because my brother bought it for me) one of those "Led Zeppelin America 1977" t-shirts, which I see on many a scrawny shaver. I like it, but am very selective about where I wear it. I also have Batch Festival 1970 t-shirt, which was part of a rather nice box set that I had as a birthday present, but I'm not sure I would ever wear it. On the other hand, maybe I should wear it at EOTR for a laugh

And on the point above, if only the Ramones had sold as many albums as T-shirts they would have been the biggest band ever!

[Sipperana]

I should add that I do enjoy t-shirt spotting at festivals, but most of the ones that catch my eye are funny rather than band-related. And I have to say if I see any Sex & Drugs & Sausage Rolls, or I Facebooked Your Mum t-shirts at EOTR I will not be responsible for my actions.

[bennyhana22]

I absolutely LOVE t-shirt spotting! this is partly because I have a very deep love of the humble t-shirt, eschewing any other upper body covering for it unless genuinely 'forced' to do so by the inapprporiateness that it would create - T-shirt in Coroner's Court, anyone? etc!

But my love has also turned me into a bit of t-shirt snob. By this I mean by the criteria of quality of design, quality of manufacture, the artists bothering to make a product that they are proud of - i.e. why have the integrity to create a beautiful, gatefold-sleeved album, only then to fill your merch stand with poor quality shirts with a crappy, uninspired design? Dilemma - never loved Radiohead as I did/do other bands, so could never really get to the point of wanting to own one of their MAGNIFICENTLY designed t-shirts...ho hum

Ben

[Yokel Again]

It's funny how T-shirt wearing at gigs turns into a great debate (there was a thing on the Guardian about it with the 'Indie Doctor' column thing awhile back)... when really, who cares what someone wears!!

When I was young I used to buy a t-shirt for every gig I went to. This soon stopped the more I started to more regularly, and because you always end up wearing them as pyjama's anyway as trying on them on at the merch stall is annoying.

That said, there is something annoying about people wearing t-shirts for gigs they've never been to.

[shoebox]

There was a famous(ish) moment on Soccer AM when Martin Freeman asked Tim Lovejoy, upon noticing the t-shirt festooning his torso, what his favourite Ramones song was. Cue embarrassing silence.

[bennyhana22]

There was a famous(ish) moment on Soccer AM when Martin Freeman asked Tim Lovejoy, upon noticing the t-shirt festooning his torso, what his favourite Ramones song was. Cue embarrassing silence.

[wackojackohighcliffe]

It's funny how T-shirt wearing at gigs turns into a great debate (there was a thing on the Guardian about it with the 'Indie Doctor' column thing awhile back)... when really, who cares what someone wears!!

[ljsawyer]

That said, there is something annoying about people wearing t-shirts for gigs they've never been to.

[SweepingTheNation]

The one thing that does slightly annoy me about band t-shirts are the ones that are absolutely everywhere. Where it has become a fashion thing rather than anything to do with the band really. Or at least that's the impression I get. e.g. the Sonic Youth Goo t-shirt or the Rolling Stones tongue one. I wonder do more people have that that Sonic Youth t-shirt than have actually bought that album?!

[steve1878]

Don't have many and rarely wear - though I did make an exception and wore my HMHB Achtung Bono shirt to Glastonbury on the Friday. Ok, and the Saturday too.

[Sipperana]

Good to see HMHB t-shirts being worn! And loving the Tim Lovejoy thing - might have to try and find a YouTube clip for that.

The bizarrest t-shirt I have must be one I bought from a gig by the Dreadnoughts. I bought it because I liked the pirate ship design, even though I wasn't actually that impressed with the band. So that's had relatively few outings.

Looks like I've got my choice of t-shirts for EOTR sorted then - Bath Festival 1971, Led Zep 1977 and the Dreadnoughts. Who else is joining me in the 2011 EOTR Bad Form Band T-Shirt Fancy Dress?

[acstalker]

At festivals I make a point of wearing t shirts entirely at odds with the prevailing musical style. So this time it will be the Grateful Dead, Allman Brothers Band and Dave Matthews Band tie dyed jobs.

[Stuey_P]

I was just pitching my tent last year when Steve Adams walks past and goes into a tent twenty metres away. My BFB shirt stayed in my bag for the entire weekend.

[MrSimonW]

My gig t-shirts tend to fall into 1 of 2 camps:

1) Those I bought because I liked the design - post rock seems to be good for this, Mogwai and EiTS recently

2) Those I bought because at the end of the gig I was sweaty/soaked in beer/it was pouring outside and I wanted a change of clothes. SJ&TDK, Easy Star All Stars, Jim Jones Revue etc.

[perfectpassion]

Bumpitie Bump

[MrSimonW]

Bumpitie Bump

[bennyhana22]

Oi, stop bump-hijacking my t-shirt thread!

Sitting at home in my iLiKETRAiNS 'I am Murdered' t-shirt contemplating which ones will get an airing at EOTR. I think Richmond Fontaine is a shoe-in, EITS might come back to support Mogwai and my very old Hope of the States favourite might make the cut. But competition is fierce, so it's likely to go down to the wire, this one...

...Oh damn - I'd pretty much decided that my t-shirt honouring the much loved but never-seen-by-me Morning Runner was in the rucksack. I guess I could bring more than 3, but that would be approaching decent personal hygiene, so I'm not sure...what am I saying - I'm a doctor for crying out loud. All correspondence to c/o GMC, London, please. It'll get there.

Ben

[perfectpassion]

You have a Morning Runner Tshirt??? I loved them and yes I did see them, got the Tshirt and now lost it in the house move (

I used to think it was so naff to buy tshirts, but now I guess if I have some spare cash and its a small band who rely on all the merch to actually generate some income and I really love them I might buy one. My fav is still my pristine and never worn but lovingly preserved Gene tshirt from 1998 lol....

I don't ever remember bands selling tshirts in the good old days, but how I wish I had actually got some from when I did see the Ramones in the 80's, or the Clash, or Joy Div.....

[Infinite Jest]

I will be mostly wearing my Wilco New Zealand tour shirt from 2008, my EoTR (green, peacock/gramaphone) from 2008, and maybe my EoTR (yellow/bear) from 2009 - which started a conversation for me at Hop Farm a few days ago with a fellow EoTR'er and Fall fan, which was nice.

Currently have designs on a Joy Division Curtis & Hook & Morris & Sumner shirt, because it's obscure, innit?

[bennyhana22]

You have a Morning Runner Tshirt??? I loved them and yes I did see them, got the Tshirt and now lost it in the house move (

I used to think it was so naff to buy tshirts, but now I guess if I have some spare cash and its a small band who rely on all the merch to actually generate some income and I really love them I might buy one. My fav is still my pristine and never worn but lovingly preserved Gene tshirt from 1998 lol....

I don't ever remember bands selling tshirts in the good old days, but how I wish I had actually got some from when I did see the Ramones in the 80's, or the Clash, or Joy Div.....

[bennyhana22]

I will be mostly wearing my Wilco New Zealand tour shirt from 2008, my EoTR (green, peacock/gramaphone) from 2008, and maybe my EoTR (yellow/bear) from 2009 - which started a conversation for me at Hop Farm a few days ago with a fellow EoTR'er and Fall fan, which was nice.

Currently have designs on a Joy Division Curtis & Hook & Morris & Sumner shirt, because it's obscure, innit?