POLL: TO WEAR THE BAND T-SHIRT OR NOT TO WEAR IT?
Tuesday, October 28th, 2008 at 10:49am by Vince NeilsteinConcert etiquette — Helping a fallen bro in the pit to his feet. Not standing too close to the person in front of you. Letting chicks stand in front of you so they can see. Not being that dickhead who pushes his way to the front. And that eternal question of the concert-going experience, reminded to us by MetalSucks reader Keith G… to wear the band’s t-shirt you’re going to see live or not? And the closely-related issue of bands wearing their own t-shirts on stage; cool or egotistical? As usual, we bring it to you, the people. Tell us.
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You need one more option for bands wearing their own shirts:
When you’re on the road sometimes it’s the only shirt that’s clean.
Depends on what band I’m seeing. Personally, I’m not looking around the crowd to see which douche bags decided to wear the band’s t-shirt. However, I have only worn the band’s t-shirt to see the band once in the numerous concerts I’ve been to.
@ ian
I think most bands would make a deal with other bands on the tour to take one of their shirts before wearing their own. I’ve seen a lot of shows were the smaller acts were each others t’s or hoodies.
I think it’s ok to wear the band’s tshirt if it’s NOT the tshirt off the current tour.
Can I add a piece of mosh pit etiquette, while we’re at it: guys, keep your shirt on. I don’t mind being pushed around a bit. Other people’s sweat is often part of the mosh pit experience. I fully accept that I’m gonna inadvertently have more up close and personal bodily contact with complete strangers than I would normally consider appropriate. But I *really* don’t wanna fall over because I’ve been shoved into you and slid off your slimy, sweaty, pimply skin.
^ Agree with Goatlady. I think it’s pretty cool when people wear band Tshirts from years past. It shows they’re a fan.
I usually take a look around to see what stuff everyone else is wearing, it gives you a feel for the crowd, an idea of who you want to go talk to.
I’m surprised at the amount of people who think bands wearing their own gear is alright. I think that is THE faux pas of a live show. Wearing your own shirt is pretentious and arrogant. Is it not enough that we can clearly hear your music and physical see your presence? You don’t need a shirt for further advertisement. People who dig you will seek out the merch table. Trivium wore their own shirts at Sounds ‘07. Soooo lame, lost all respect for them…plus their live show sucked.
^ I agree with “ughhhh.”
Like mentioned in one of the first comments – it’s a totally different thing when bands wear shirts of the other bands that they are touring with. That’s probably one of the only clean shirts they have AND it comes off more as supporting the dudes they’re touring with (even though they’re obviously supporting them by touring together).
And I think that list needs an addendum:
Not pounding your fists in the air so estatically that you’re humping the dude in front of you. I just saw the Faceless and I couldn’t help but laugh at the kid who was doing that to the kid in front of him. Dude looked like a total moron IMO.
I forgot to mention that it’s one thing to be in a crowd where you have no choice but to be pressed up against someone (like when I saw At The Gates). But at the Faceless show where there’s ample room, that shit’s homo.
It’s grand to wear a band’s own t-shirt to the concert, I think. I’ve never really understood why there’s even a debate on it. It’s just a t-shirt.
Bands wearing their own shit, on the other hand, is immensely stupid.
There should be a GWAR clause… At a Gwar show, by the end of the night every shirt is a Gwar shirt.
I saw an advert in a guitar mag w/ John Mayer wearing a ratty John Mayer shirt. That made chuckle.
Question: What’s the etiquette concerning long time bands (like Rush or Priest) and guys wearing the original 1982 tour tee when the guy was at least 30 lbs. lighter?
i don’t wear the t-shirt of the band i am going to see… EXCEPT when it is a local band. i feel that is a different level of support and makes a local unestablished band feel good to see people sporting there swag.
You guys should have mentioned that random idiot wearing a Tool shirt. No matter what show it is, there will always be a tool in a Tool shirt.
About 2 1/2 years, some guy told me and my friend about this rule while we were standing in line. I’ve pretty much followed it, other than when I saw Slayer and when I’ve seen Lamb Of God (which I wore my Congregation shirt). I was surprised how many people comitted this faux pas when I saw Amon Amarth last week. I think people should wear different band shirts when they go to shows because it makes things interesting and varied, plus i think it’s cool to see somebody wearing a shirt that’s rare, like any Bolt Thrower, Sigh, Immolation, old school Cryptopsy, Cynic, or Death tour shirts.
I don’t know if this has ever been discussed on this site before, but I think kids who wear shirts with tour dates from before they were born are dumb.
I can’t believe that the people responding in this post are actually giving a crap about this. You must be very insecure and care about what other people think about you. Just wear your goddamn shirts and don’t give a shit.
I don’t know about you guys but, when I buy a shirt at a concert, the first thing I do is put it on.
And as for bands wearing their own shirts, it’s like was Ian said. Sometimes it’s the only clean shirt. But, Ryd1ZZ had a pretty good idea. I just don’t think every band thinks of that right off the bat.
I can’t believe how many people think it’s weird to wear a band’s t-shirt when you are going to see them. So it’s ok to wear a shirt and support a band when you’re out and about, but when you go to see the actual band live you can no longer show your appreciation for them? I don’t know what the argument is, but i have to assume that these are the people who are more worried about the fashion police than the actual music.
My husband gave me shit for wanting to do this.
He told me “everyone knows you’re there to see that band and that you like them. You dont need to display it like people are too dumb to understand that”
Or something to that effect.
I mean… If its a RARE shirt, Ill probably be a dick and show it off. But other than that, I can agree with him on this now.
1. I’ll give it a pass if you just bought the shirt that night at the merch booth. No real other place to put it than wear it.’
2. Gary Holt needs to stop wearing Exodus shirts for every gig.
“Iron Maiden is the only band who should be allowed to do this.”
I laughed my ass off on this one. They always wear their shirts and it’s somehow still cool even though no one else is allowed to do so. A strange, but awesome phenomenom.
But, seriously who cares what people wear? The show is about getting together and rocking the fuck out to your favorite bands. It’s the love of metal that is important, not whether you wore the correct T-shirt in front of a bunch of strangers.
I’ve been to a lot of shows and I have never seen a band where their own merch. There’s just something very wrong with that. Tatoos -okay. Decals on guitar/drums – okay. I can only picture a group of douches like Trivium being pretentious enough to wear their own shirts on stage.
Do not wear a band’s t shirt to their show. All you people who have posted here saying it’s ok, you’re assholes. Sorry. It’s just true. It’s even worse if it’s a shirt you got that night. The only thing worse than that is if it’s an actual tour shirt for a tour you didn’t even attend. There’s no debate here. Only queer little poser kids wear shirts they bought at that show.
Shirts, pants, shoes, these all suck. When you go to a show you should go butt ass naked.
If Jeremy Piven says its wrong, its fucking wrong.
“Keith G.” must be a Metal Martyr reader too, because I wrote this same article, sans the poll last Sunday.
Has The Unwritten Law Of Concerts Been Abolished?
Holy shit how can so many people approve of this abhorrent practice? Haven’t you guys ever seen PCU?
Fucking classic.
nah fuck that if i was going to see lets say death before chuck died i would of worn my shirt i dont give a fuck
the new shirt thing is ok too if you gopt no where to put it
put it on! thats being ridicously stupid
what if you loose the shirt?
money down the drain AND you didn’t even get to wear it
also bands wearing there own merch i dont really care
a shirts a shirt and im preety sure they get there own shirt for free so why not
pay attention to the music not what there wearing onstage
well.. if i’m going to a mini festival where there are like 7 bands. and i’m going to it, to see a band whos not that known or high up on the list, i’ll wear their shirt because i know that most of the other people may not have listened to them.. so its good to show support, and advertise them a bit. but wearing shirt of a band you’re going to see is just pointless.
i’ve never seen a band where their own merch, but its cool when they wear another bands shirt.
amon amarth became dead to me when i saw them wear their own shirts in a video.
This guy said he would pay me $20 to not wear a band t shirt a week but I was unable to because they’re the only kind of shirt I own
would it be acceptable if the shirt worn was a custom made one, not just a tour shirt? eg. I LOVE _________