A comprehensive resource of defunct t-shirt labels manufactured prior to the year 2000.
Vintage T-Shirt Collective
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Showco Showcase Pt. 1
January 28, 2012 by Max · Leave a Comment
Showco shirts. We’ve all seen these legendary tops that were a staple at any given rock concert in the 70s. Their gritty quality and blue collar wearers helped amplify bands worldwide. All the road warriors proudly wore these shirts and occasionally you would see a band member wearing one as well. But where did they come from? Who made them? Why in the world are they so expensive collectible?
Meet Jason Sprinzen. He’s a native New Yorker, Led Zeppelin junkie, guitar playing music lover. Oh yeah, he also owns the world’s largest and most comprehensive collection of Showco shirts. His knowledge and dedication to preserving these illustrious shirts are unparallelled.
Tell us about you, your music tees and interest in collecting?
I’m the author of a book yet to be released documenting the history of Showco 1965-1981, the legendary concert sound and lighting company from Dallas, Texas. I also play guitar in two bands, the first is CABB; an all original outfit with an amazing actress fronting the group, and second is Electric Magic, my Led Zeppelin tribute band.
I also have a deep interest in vintage clothing. Rock n’ roll swag and Vietnam War era military uniforms are where it’s at for me. As far back as I can remember I always wanted to dress like the rock stars whose posters hung on the wall of my room. There was a photo and poster that for years when I was a kid always grabbed my attention: A shot of Led Zeppelin’s mighty drummer John Bonham aboard their private jet Caesar’s Chariot in 1977, a converted Boeing 720. “A fookin’ flyin’ shag carpeted gin palace”, according to one Led Zeppelin inner circle member I interviewed.
The other was a sepia poster of Lynyrd Skynyrd. You know the one…Ronnie Van Zant, southern rock’s “Simple man” seated directly in front. Looking confident, focused and in control, he was flanked by his confederate band of bad assed, hell raising, bar brawling rabble rousers. I came to realize over time that Bonzo and Ronnie were resplendently wearing the same shirt with SHOWCO emblazoned proudly across their chests.
What’s Showco??? Was it a club? A bar? A gang? I needed to find this out. It wasn’t until years later that I discovered Showco from Dallas, Texas was the premier sound, lighting, and full rock n’ roll production company that started the concert touring industry. So yes, I was right. They were a gang. A gang of engineers, roadies, truck drivers, logistics staff, shop technicians, and visionaries that had a lot of swagger. That’s how it started for me.
Jason Sprinzen photo courtesy of Jonathan Troll.
- Check out Part II….
Putting The T in Pinterest
January 27, 2012 by Jimmy J · Leave a Comment
Please join us over at Pinterest. Pintawhat? It’s a burgeoning social virtual scrapbook network. Women are the heaviest users because it’s basically crack when you want shopping inspiration. Many ladies are claiming they need a pintervention after only a few hours of use.
But there’s a nifty men’s apparel category and that’s where you’ll find the Defunkd profile. We’re gonna plug in all things vintage t-shirt we dig up while surfing that doesn’t get coverage on our blog. Click through to the story behind the infamous “Wild Thing” tee and how Marshall Lester bootlegged the design. Shame on him.
Give the page the Facebook thumbs up, or sign-up, follow us and tune in.
Marshall Lester
January 18, 2012 by Jimmy J · 1 Comment
Brand #27: Marshall Lester
Circulation: Common
Era: Late 1950s-?
Information: With Britain suffering from U.S.A.mania the t-shirt explosion was felt across the pond. Scott Lester made a healthy living manufacturing flags and patches for retailers while fathering his boy Marshall. In his early twenties Marshall started doodling all things American: cities, cars, you name it. Then he had them printed on tees and sent them out for sale just to see what would happen. Well, some serious sh*t happened. As the story goes a few days later the first of the Brighton Mods-and-Rockers riots went down. Marshall Lester watched it on television and noticed the Mods were wearing his t-shirts.
Despite the blood stained hooligans who popularized the shirts each one contained delicate washing instructions “by hand using mild soap flakes in luke warm water. Squeeze gently – do not rub.”
It quickly became the t-shirt for those in the know. Marshall designed, his father’s operation manufactured and the blanks became a destination for discerning European screen printers. Many of the rarest vintage rock tees bear the Marshall label. The slogan on some of the labels made their success clear: “The World’s Leading T-Shirt Printers.” Exactly how long the brand lasted is unclear.
If you have any additional info on Marshall Lester please comment below.
Have a photo of a tag design we missed? Please share it by clicking on “+image” below the comments field!
- View the previous Crazy Shirts brand.
Play Deep
January 16, 2012 by Jimmy J · Leave a Comment
The vintage t-shirt model seems to be going the way of extinction on eBay so from time to time we’re going to showcase a few live ones. Meet one of the many models from eBay store DanceSportProShop. She’s sporting a vintage tee from The Outfield‘s debut album “Play Deep” which was released in 1985 and contained their hit, “Your Love.” Their tour t-shirts aren’t all that common, but not particularly in demand either.
We’re not big fans of yellow based tees or the front design – but it’s never looked as interesting that’s for sure. Are those tassels inspired by Macho Man? Ohhhhh Yeeeeahh!
Please let us know if you stumble on a vintage t-shirt model (girl or boy) who catches your eye.
He’s On a Boat!
January 15, 2012 by Jimmy J · Leave a Comment
The Captain’s vintage has just dropped over 100 vintage t-shirt auctions all starting at $9.99. No high priced starting bid or buy-it-now bollocks, just old school eBay auctions – where magic happens.
Check them out here.