Vintage T-Shirt Forum & Community Authentication Appraisals

Long story short I got a few tees off a guy who’s uncle had been a roadie in the late 80/90s, and he was clearing his house.
I got this Santana shirt in the lot, but I’m struggling to find it anywhere in this colourway. It needs some stain removal, but just wondered if anyone had any info. He did say quite a few of the shirts had been given to the crew so not sure if they had limited run ones for the crew?

Editing to add, I also got several other tees from him dated 1989-1995, all seem very much worn/legit.

Super sick! Unfortunately I can't help with LC but if it's good and you're willing to sell please let me know. Super interested!

BQ.vintage wrote: ↑Sat Jun 21, 2025 9:45 am Super sick! Unfortunately I can't help with LC but if it's good and you're willing to sell please let me know. Super interested!

I’ll let you know- I’m gunna try clean it up a little first, as I did buy it for personal but I’m keen to find out a little more out about it- currently I can only find the panther print on a red tee and the print background is different too

Very cool. Yeah, I can't find one like it. Even the red-based ones have a different background. It's totally possible this was for the crew—or it was a test print that was given to the crew. OR, it's a vintage bootleg that was confiscated at the gig and given to the crew.

When I run just the Santana logo through lens, there's no match. That kinda makes me lean toward it being a bootleg.

But doesn't matter either way I don't think, it's vintage, it's awesome.

jimmyj wrote: ↑Sat Jun 21, 2025 9:55 am Very cool. Yeah, I can't find one like it. Even the red-based ones have a different background. It's totally possible this was for the crew—or it was a test print that was given to the crew. OR, it's a vintage bootleg that was confiscated at the gig and given to the crew.

When I run just the Santana logo through lens, there's no match. That kinda makes me lean toward it being a bootleg.

But doesn't matter either way I don't think, it's vintage, it's awesome.

Thanks Jimmy, I’ve lensed everywhere I can and can’t seem to find another. He did say he thought most of them were T-shirts he’d be given as crew, rather than he’d actually purchased as all artists he’d work crew on in the past it but yeah it’s a really cool tee! Not sure what kind of value for something like this- probably going to achieve it myself but also nice to know.

BQ.vintage wrote: ↑Sat Jun 21, 2025 9:45 am Super sick! Unfortunately I can't help with LC but if it's good and you're willing to sell please let me know. Super interested!

So far I’ve found out that it’s an art print for Santana by Michael Roman. This one seems to be much rarer than the red variant (same panther but on a different background) from ‘99, and I still cannot find another on the white Tshirt. I’ve had a few offers on this without actually putting it up for sale, so I am assuming it’s a rarer piece with some value

glittersailor wrote: ↑Thu Jun 26, 2025 4:08 pm

BQ.vintage wrote: ↑Sat Jun 21, 2025 9:45 am Super sick! Unfortunately I can't help with LC but if it's good and you're willing to sell please let me know. Super interested!

So far I’ve found out that it’s an art print for Santana by Michael Roman. This one seems to be much rarer than the red variant (same panther but on a different background) from ‘99, and I still cannot find another on the white Tshirt. I’ve had a few offers on this without actually putting it up for sale, so I am assuming it’s a rarer piece with some value

Nice sleuthing - you might even be able to ask him directly - find out of it was him or someone copied his other tee: https://www.michaelroman.net/bio

Nevermind, I just read he passed away, but someone there might be able to help.

jimmyj wrote: ↑Thu Jun 26, 2025 4:30 pm Nevermind, I just read he passed away, but someone there might be able to help.

I did the same thing, got excited when I saw an instagram page for his work, then read he passed away. I posted in a few groups (Reddit mostly) and whilst no one seems to have much information, I have had a few interested collectors/resellers so I’m guessing someone knows something I don’t

Yet more digging .. I’ve been in contact with the person still running Michaels website, and several collectors/friends of Michaels.
It’s definitely his work, and he was a friend of Santana and he made a lot of clothes for him over the years. No one yet seems to have seen another one of this specific T-shirt (a lot were one offs- apart from red Santana 1999 tshirt that was produced in quantities for the tour) so there is a possibility this T-shirt was made for Santana himself by Michael- I shall continue my research