Vintage Band Tees: The 35 Best From My Robust Rock Stack

Yeah, I know it's not a vintage band tee. But it's too cool not to share.

30 Amp Fuse was a pop-punk band from Knoxville, TN. They were on my fave indie label, Darla Records. And their first album featured Jon Davis, who fronted '90s alt-rock band Superdrag.

This tee was a promo item for the band's second album, 'Saturday Night At The Atomic Speedway.'

Atom And His Package is Adam Goren. He blends punk, synth, and comedy into a unique blend of rock. And he wrote a song about the metric system.

Atom's whole deal was how it's silly that the U.S. is the one major country in the world that doesn't use the metric system. His passion about the subject spurred me to buy this shirt at his show at the Launchpad in Albuquerque in 2002.

Atari Teenage Riot were a German act signed to the Beastie Boys' Grand Royal Records. They pioneered the Digital Hardcore genre in the late '90s.

I caught ATR at the Middle East Downstairs back in the day and it's one of the wildest shows I've ever seen. I bought this tee. Much like the Atom tee, I can't really wear it out.

This was probably from their 'Relationship Of Command' era in Y2K. But it could've been from the earlier 'Vaya' EP. I played 'em both on college and commercial radio.

The Fenway Recording Sessions was a series of live shows put on in Boston, dating back to 2004-2006, by local label Fenway Records. A couple years in, creator DJ Carbo did a run of commemorative tees.

Zoom in on the graphic. If you were an active participant in the Boston scene back in the mid '00s, you know a lot of these bands.

Florida emo band. This was Chris Carrabba's band before he formed Dashboard Confessional. But he wasn't their best singer. That would be Jon Bunch. RIP.

Gift Of gab was a Bay Area rapper. He's best known as half of the duo Blackalicious. And the dude could rap faster than any other rapper.

I caught Gift Of Gab (and copped this tee) when the Quannum tour came to Boston in the late '90s. DJ Shadow was part of the collective, and the whole show at Avalon went off.

My favorite indie rock band of all time. Props to Laurie Gail, WFNX Music Director and my mentor. She dug this out of a bin in her cellar years ago and gave it to me. It's from 1995!

In 2011, Robert Pollard reconvened GBV's '93-'96 era lineup. They played the Paradise. I bought this t-shirt.

Enjoy? You bet your ass I did. CHAMPION DUDE.

Yes, there are quite a few rap tees in my collection. Because I listened to quite a lot of rap back in the day. RIP Guru. Dorchester will always get to claim him.

Guru was one of a number of acts (The Roots, Us3) that pioneered the combining of hip hop and jazz in the '90s. I played jazz and loved hip-hop, so I was a huge fan.

Another rap legend. Cube dropped this album in '97, and the label dropped this tee on WRBB. I nicked it.

Look at that lineup. Late '90s hip-hop in full effect.

You could call them West Coast hip-hop. You could call them alternative hip hop. I called them one of my faves of the era. While my boys were goofing around with Puff Daddy & Mase, I was listening to the real stuff.

I thought this one was from the late '90s, too. But this album came out in '02. So clearly it's from that era.

Lenny Lashley is a Boston punk legend. He formed Darkbuster. He now preforms as Lenny Lashley's Gang of One.

Lenny did a run of these shirts for his 'All Are Welcome' album in 2019. I love the message on the front and the back.

When I was in high school, my younger brother Nate and his friends formed a band called Lunacy. They were only in middle school! This was one of the first t-shirts they made.

The crazy thing? My brother doesn't even have this t-shirt anymore! But I do! Har!

When lunacy released their album 'Zero Moment Point' in 1998, they did a run of baseball-style ringer tees. I still have mine!

Shortly after the release of the album and tshirt, Lunacy would change their name. We'll get to that in a little bit...

RIP Mark Sandman. Boston rock legend. Morphine man. Beloved by all who knew him.

Sandman died in 1999. I was on the air at WFNX when the news broke, and was interviewed on Fox 25. 10 years later, the memorial concert took place in Cambridge.

This is an old Mogwai logo. But it's a new Mogwai tee. I picked it up when the band came to Boston and played the Paradise in April of 2022.

Space rock at its finest. I've always loved the Magnet, and I love the logo on this tee.

This is from their 'God Says No' album, released in 2021. I played tracks from that on The Edge in Albuquerque.

The first band tee I ever bought with my own money. Mudhoney opened for Pearl Jam at Boston Garden in April of 1994. They blew my young mind.

Look, if you grew up as a fan of rock and/or hip-hop in the '80s and/or '90s, you kinda have to own one of these.

I mean, cmon. That logo is legendary. PE forever.

Remember I told you how my brother's band Lunacy changed their name? They changed it to Purity's Failure. What a cool-ass logo, right?

I always loved wearing the tees for my bro's band. He formed a metal band with Greenwood friends and they wrote great songs and had some success. I'm proud of them all.

When Quicksand announced their 2012 reunion tour, I copped tickets as fast as I could. They brought the house down at the Paradise. I bought this t-shirt. Wish I'd bought an XL!

Another classic, must-have tee. I've outgrown this one, so now it's in my youngest's drawer. He wears it with pride.

Remember Dave Tree? From Boston hardcore punk band Tree? Well, after Tree (and before Tree's current reunion), he had this band.

During the pandemic, Dave Tree sent me a care package of t-shirts to say thanks for supporting his See This World project. This one's gnarly.

The back is even cooler than the front! Love Dave's designs.

Boston's own. Their debut album 'New Parade' turns 25 in 2024. This tee isn't as old as that.

Slapshot played the Hometown Throwdown in 2008. I wasn't able to make the show, as my youngest had just been born. So my buddy Adam Blye grabbed this tee for me. Thanks, Adam!

I've been a Street Dogs supporter since Day 1. I got 'em on BCN, too. This tee comes from 2006, their 'Fading American Dream' era.

Love the whole design and concept of this shirt. Love the lyrics on there, too.

I caught The Strokes at Sunshine Theatre in Albuquerque in January of 2002. I completely forgot about this tee. Looks brand new!

Dave Tree, back again with the classic Tree tee design. Tree is back together again, FYI. Keep an eye out for them in your town.

Whenever I wear this shirt out, I get stopped on the street by people. Boston rock heads respect Tree.

I love this tee. But I'm not the type of guy who's going out in public wearing a tshirt with guns on it. If that's you, then pick one of these up from Dave Tree.

I do agree with the sentiment, however!

I wish I could remember the year for this one. Middle East Downstairs, late '90s, the legendary Ventures with my dad. An all-timer of a concert.

Such a classic logo. Oh, and sorry about the pit stains. I was using a bad deodorant.

Wrapping up this vintage journey with another great Boston indie band. I loved The Warren Commission. I wish this one still fit!