| Since rock music first began, every fan has looked | | | | rock t-shirts were not screen printed but actually |
| for a way of commemorating their attendance at | | | | appliqués that had to be steam pressed onto |
| some of the best concerts in history. T-shirts | | | | the fabric. This is one reason these shirts are so |
| became one of the first forms of memorabilia to be | | | | valuable. The appliqués that were used would |
| sold at rock concerts and was quickly followed by | | | | begin to bubble up and peel after a number of times |
| many other merchandising ideas such as hats, | | | | in the washer and dryer. To find one that is pristine is |
| glasses, charms and pennants. Many people | | | | a treasure. |
| purchased these things to keep as souvenirs and | | | | When screen printing t-shirts was used, the shirts |
| other purchased them solely for the excitement of | | | | became much more common. Screen printing allowed |
| having a piece of history in their possession. Today | | | | the ink to be absorbed by the fabric so they were |
| collectors look for many of the vintage classic rock | | | | less likely to fade and peel away from the fabric. This |
| t-shirts such as The Beatles, Led Zeppelin, the Rolling | | | | also allowed the merchandise to be mass produced |
| Stones and the Grateful Dead. These shirts can bring | | | | and much more readily available. Bands that were just |
| a hefty price if kept in pristine condition. In November | | | | beginning their journey to stardom sold these for |
| of 2007 an auction house sold a collection of vintage | | | | advertisement purposes in the beginning. Later they |
| and retro classic rock t-shirts. Each shirt brought | | | | became a symbol of loyalty to the bands that were |
| between $1500 and $4500. | | | | emblazoned on the front. Today the same classic |
| The classic shirts that are being offered online at | | | | style of t-shirts can be purchased online with the |
| many of the t-shirt stores are not vintage they are | | | | names of many of the old classic bands on them. |
| reproductions. Some may even be official t-shirts that | | | | They were such a novelty in the early years of the |
| are screen printed with the permission of the bands | | | | bands that many still have a soft place in their hearts |
| themselves. But the real vintage and retro t-shirts | | | | for these fashion statements. The unique designs of |
| that collectors are in search of are the ones that | | | | the shirts allowed the wearers to make their own |
| many of the crew and stage hands were given. | | | | fashion statement while they donned the sometimes |
| These were rare and usually only given to people | | | | questionable apparel. Some of the new t-shirts are |
| who helped them out on road trips. Some were shirts | | | | even printed to appear as if they are vintage, with a |
| that were never put into print for one reason or | | | | faded look to them. Because of the novelty of these |
| another and others were the first of their kind | | | | products and their popularity, many can be purchased |
| before revisions were made. Many of the first classic | | | | in local department stores. |