Blogcritics Comments on Is the Concert Tour T-Shirt Era Over?

Comment by Sonya Barrows on Is the Concert Tour T-Shirt Era Over?

Wed, 13 Jun 2007 06:35:23 EDT

You guys should get a hold of Crash at www.roadsideroom.com. He's the guy who makes all the limited signed/ numbered tour hoodies for Pearl Jam, The Stooges, The Police etc.. A few months back I sent him a few of my old PJ concert tees that didnt fit me anymore which he cut up and re- designed, applied, sewed, embellished etc. etc.....basically made me some truly One- of - A -Kind hoodies using my favorite concert shirts. Im so stoked that I can wear them again. Anyway, check him out!!

Comment by Keith on Is the Concert Tour T-Shirt Era Over?

Thu, 31 May 2007 15:24:15 EDT

I have been going to concerts since 1978 and used to buy shirts all the time...back when they were 10 to 12 bucks. Now I very rarely buy them because they have gotten so damn expensive ! I did make an exception for Roger Waters Dark Side of the Moon tour shirt...It was $35, and looks great, but 35 bucks for a t-shirt. Somebody's making a killing. My wife game me hell about that one !!

Comment by Shirt Guy on Is the Concert Tour T-Shirt Era Over?

Thu, 24 May 2007 03:22:44 EDT

Speaking of creating a site to archive band shirts, here is one that does just that and more. Band Shirt Archive.com

Comment by David on Is the Concert Tour T-Shirt Era Over?

Fri, 11 May 2007 12:57:19 EDT

P.S. In the world of Heavy Metal the shirts still sell like hotcakes. I went to a Heaven and Hell/Megadeth show and the Megadeth t-shirts actually sold out in size XL. All the aging Metal Heads have gotten bigger it seems!!

Comment by David on Is the Concert Tour T-Shirt Era Over?

Fri, 11 May 2007 12:52:29 EDT

I used to wear all concert t-shirts in high school. I was into Metallica and Heavy Metal. Buying a shirt was "proof" that you went to the concert and you wore them to school the next day to rub it in the face of the kids who did not go!! I wish I had saved all those shirts!! I think they went out of style because people are more fashionable these days and lets face it a lot of the t-shirts were tacky and ugly!! Plus it is now not cool to be a fan-boy and worship a band. There are no rock stars any more it seems. It is now hip to not like music and say all new music sucks(which it does!) so why would you be caught dead wearing one of their t-shirts??

Comment by Douglas Mays on Is the Concert Tour T-Shirt Era Over?

Sun, 25 Feb 2007 15:45:58 EST

Hhhmmm...The whole problem from the beginning is the price and the lousy quality. I would rarely buy a concert shit because it will shrink, rip apart, etc... Back in the 80s when I managed the Burning Spear reggae band, I would also control the merchandising instead of farming the job out for a tour. The rules were: 1) high quality shirt. 100% cotton/Beefy-T. Could play football in it. 2) Quality 4 color design printed. 3) not outragously priced. I would just charge an amount that would give us some profit and cover the venue's percentage. #6 Hung Nguyen, your point is good. When the band plays well, the shirts do sell. Good design and quality go with it. And good price. I have sold thousands and thousands under this principle. 1989 got me a top 10 concert shirt design notice by Reggae Beat magazine. Alpha Blondy. Guess what? It was high quality and affordable.

Comment by J.J. Hunsecker on Is the Concert Tour T-Shirt Era Over?

Sun, 25 Feb 2007 14:30:32 EST

Hell, you should have known you had gotten old just from going to a PMG concert.

Comment by Michael Neal Morris on Is the Concert Tour T-Shirt Era Over?

Sun, 25 Feb 2007 13:55:20 EST

I knew I had gotten old when I went to a concert a few years ago (Pat Metheny Group) and decided to buy a coffee mug instead of a t-shirt because I knew the mug would probably last longer and I could relive the memories of a great show a bit more often. I also have realized that of my concert tees, I can only fit into the one I got at a Kansas show a few years ago. Scary!

Comment by Ray Ellis on Is the Concert Tour T-Shirt Era Over?

Fri, 23 Feb 2007 19:48:07 EST

only $1oo for a Pearl Jam concert t-shirt? That's not much more than some of the hawkers wanted at the time of some shows! Seriously, my absolute favorite concert tee was the New Barbarians from 1982(?) That show was basically the Rolling Stones without Mick Jagger. Anybody else remember that tour--or that very punky tee?

Comment by Hung Nguyen on Is the Concert Tour T-Shirt Era Over?

Fri, 23 Feb 2007 19:09:24 EST

I'm a big fan of the tour t-shirt, but I always buy them after the concert. They have to give me a worthwhile experience before I plunk down the dough to get something to say that "I was there", but this happens more often than not. ...says the man with the Peter Gabriel 2003 mug on his desk at work.

Comment by Anna Creech on Is the Concert Tour T-Shirt Era Over?

Fri, 23 Feb 2007 16:23:38 EST

Peter: You should photograph and catalog them on Squirl. I'll bet that would be a fascinating collection to browse! I have a few band shirts, but most of the shirts I've bought at shows weren't tour shirts. I think the current trend is towards general band merch that has a market after the tour is over. Might be an indicator that shirts aren't selling like they used to.

Comment by Connie Phillips on Is the Concert Tour T-Shirt Era Over?

Fri, 23 Feb 2007 16:09:23 EST

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Comment by Peter on Is the Concert Tour T-Shirt Era Over?

Fri, 23 Feb 2007 13:57:04 EST

Maybe I'll post some of them on my own personal blog... then I'll give you all a link when they're up.

Comment by Triniman on Is the Concert Tour T-Shirt Era Over?

Fri, 23 Feb 2007 12:58:19 EST

I buy shirts at all the shows that I attend. It's a way for me to remember the event. I actually have one that I've never worn (a Kiss shirt)and I'm really disappointed when there's no merch on sale at all (hello, Brighteyes.) Over the years, I've noticed that the quality of the designs have fallen off drastically. The last time Dylan came through town, the shirts didn't even have tour dates on them, just a pic of Bob. You should do a post with pics of your favorite shirts. One of my favorites, which is not a concert T, is one of the Grateful Dead with the Taj Mahal. I always get compliments when I wear it.

Comment by Chris Beaumont on Is the Concert Tour T-Shirt Era Over?

Fri, 23 Feb 2007 12:50:10 EST

Don't have many concert shirts, and only a few band shirts, but I love'em. If only I could fit into the ones I have....