Vintage 1977 KISS T-Shirt

file under: classic

super rare original KISS glitter iron-on t-shirt
year: 1977
tag: no company name visible
material: 100% cotton
size: large
condition: perfect vintage
value: $300
note: I've had this piece in my collection for sometime now and honestly can't remember where or how I acquired it. If my memory serves me...I got this off eBay years ago before "vintage" became so popular and you could actually find great vintage t-shirts for affordable prices. ~ This particular t-shirt in my estimate is actually very rare because I don't think too many kids were able to convince mom and dad to write a check for $12.99 and send it in to the fan club address with your order form. It's a glitter iron-on that has really held up over the years. It was basically "dead-stock" or "new old stock" if you like when i first got it, consequently the glitter iron-on is perfectly intact. it was never worn and sat untouched for 37 years! i have worn it many times and hand-washed it probably 2-3 times. thinking about it now i kinda wished i hadn't and just kept it dead-stock like it was when it first arrived in my mailbox many years ago. O' well live and learn. a collector's piece like this is always worth way more if it's in mint, never used condition. ~ In 1977 KISS were at the peak of their success and had become a world-wide phenomenon! Scroll down a bit for some killer images of that crazy, awesome period in time when KISS ruled the world! 

In the streets of New York 1977

1977's "Love Gun" album cover art  

Early days backstage circa 1975

Onstage during 1977's "Love Gun" tour

Early promo shot outtake circa 1975

Vintage 1983 Pyromania World Tour T-Shirt

file under: the best

rare & original Def Leppard tour t-shirt
year: 1983
tag: too worn to read
material: 50/50 cotton-polyester blend
condition: perfect vintage
value: $400
*acquired a few years back. to find this three quarter sleeve raglan tour t-shirt in this condition with no nasty stains, rips, etc...and in a wearable size is virtually impossible these days. Although there were thousands printed for what would be one of Def Leppard's biggest tours, the ones that have survived in this condition 30+ years later are already in the hands of collectors like myself. it's been reproduced countless times right up to 2014 due to it's popularity. even people who weren't there in '83 or didn't listen to Def Leppard's music can be seen wearing a reproduction because of it's iconic imagery. Mostly it will be referred to as the "Pyromania" World Tour t-shirt when it's actually the "Rock Til We Drop" tour shirt. It sits at the top of my pile of favorites and worn on a regular basis. They were amazing live back in the day! The first three albums are still in regular rotation on my turntable.

Front close-up

Back close-up

Polygram Promo Photo

"Photograph" video still

Iconic "Pyromania" cover art

Vintage 70's Hawaiian Tourist T-Shirt

file under: the 70's my favorite era

rare and hard to find original "Hawaii" tourist t-shirt
year: 1974
tag: "Crazy Shirts"
material: 100% cotton
condition: somewhat thrashed but nice distress
value: $150
*notes: just like if you were to take a typical "tourist" vacation in Hawaii today where you'd find an over abundance of "Tourist" souvenirs...back in the 70's the t-shirt seemed to be the souvenir of choice. Oddly enough it is actually quite difficult to find one that dates this far back that is in what I call "wearable" condition. This one happens to be an XL so despite it's hundreds of runs through the washer and dryer over the last 40 years it remains wearable. As I've mentioned in many previous posts the 100% cotton t-shirts shrank like crazy over the course of 4 decades rendering them mostly show pieces or one for the ladies. The screen printing job is really excellent which seems to be par for the course back then especially with "Crazy Shirts" who were responsible for printing a significant portion of these t-shirts back in the 70's. I love this era! It's probably my favorite because I was a surfer/skater kid growing up reading Surfer and Skateboarder magazine back in 1974. It's a nice  addition to my collection and I was able to pick it up from my favorite dealer a month or so back for only a few bucks which makes the find all the more sweet!

Beautiful 70's screen printing by Crazy Shirts

Not too many 40 year old cool vintage t-shirts floating around these days

Nice, colorful almost psychedelic artwork by Maier in 1974

Gerry Lopez at Pipeline in the 70's. An iconic image synonymous with this era

One fin was enough back in the day

The chosen mode of transportation in the 70's. Still looks good today!