The vintage Battle Jacket, or Kutte, was born when a metal fan disarmed his jean jacket and customized it with various sized band patches, studs, chains, ink and pins. Metal heads primarily preferred patches, while punks replaced or fused the denim with leather, adding studs and pins. Oh, and just so you know (because I didn’t), Kutte, or Kutten, is a German word that is specifically used to describe these jackets.
The jackets are always do-it-yourself, with each one personalized according to the tastes of the “gentleman” who creates it. The biggest patch is placed on the center of the back, usually representing the band the individual favors. Around this patch, many smaller patches are placed, sometimes in a sort of hierarchy, but most times in a random formation. According to legend, the status amongst a particular group of friends could be determined by the detailing of their jackets – especially if the patches represented a band the wearer saw live.
While they are still made to this day, the true era of the Battle Jacket has long since passed. In the early 1990s the metal melted in to a mass of multiple sub-genres, the fashion followed and the jacket eventually faded due to the popularity of long-sleeved shirts, military and army fatigues.
Where are all these jackets now, you ask? Most likely still possessed by their creators, who will eventually take the relic to their graves. The closest you’ll probably get to the real deal will be by visiting tshirtslayer for the metal versions, and oxbloodoi for punk. Or if you’re in a hardcore-artsy-crafty kinda mood, eBay has a consistent supply of both vintage jean jackets and vintage band patches.
July 16th, 2008 at 6:45 am
That’s a really cool design! It must take a lot of work to produce. Definitely a must have for any 80s fan.
August 13th, 2008 at 8:57 am
Thank you! Tell all your friends, tell the whole bunch.
November 4th, 2008 at 6:20 pm
That’s sick!
Where did you find that Vio-lence patch???
November 4th, 2008 at 10:07 pm
I wish I actually owned these, the images are from tshirtslayer.
January 24th, 2009 at 7:42 pm
hey brother did not sell this thrash metal jacket, contact me if I sell you my brother e-mail young_acdc_15@hotmail.com
contact me if you sell.
March 11th, 2010 at 12:00 pm
We all wore these in the early to mid eighties, and you forgot to document they had to be doused in petula oil, enough to leave a trace smell for years on snything these touched. Must be worn with bullet belt.
April 5th, 2010 at 9:14 pm
This is actually my friend daniel’s jacket O_o I was surprised to find this in google image returns while looking for patches online.
http://viewmorepics.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewPicture&friendID=11393627&albumId=1966735
Theres his pictures
April 7th, 2010 at 12:09 am
hey cool, my jacket! ive made it too the big time!
fuck yeah.
and to that dude wth the broken engrish, make one your damned self. its not that hard, and your a total poser if you buy some one elses.
up the irons, and all that cliche’ metal shit.
April 16th, 2010 at 1:12 pm
well Danny Thrash… your English isn’t too great either…it’s YOU’RE not your. ;oP
June 13th, 2010 at 7:38 pm
Holy shit where did you get that Sabbat patch over the backpatch?!