The Go-Gos shirt original vintage single stitch Blondie Pussy Riot Grrl Donnas

Description: "I've actually gotten in arguments with trolls online about it, like, 20-year-old white guys: 'Go-Go's aren't punk!' Like, oh my GOD, shut up! (laughs). I'm real happy to clear that up, because being a part of the Hollywood punk scene is one of the most important things to ever happen to me. I'm not happy when people dismiss it."--Jane Weidlin So, is it time to let the Go-Go's out of "punk rock jail" or not? I'm of two minds here. For starters, their punk rock bona fides are well established. They came out of the original scene in LA, gigging at the Masque and the Whisky alongside the likes of Fear, X, the Germs (whom Belinda Carlisle briefly fronted, believe it or not), Black Flag, etc. Go to YouTube and type "we got the beat demo" and you'll find the demo recording they did for Stiff Records in the UK in 1980. It sounds as good as anything that was coming out of New York or LA or London at the time. An all girl group, gritty as they were, cutting and shopping their raw demos, gigging at the grimiest of clubs and holding their own in the "boys club" that was (is) the music business--this should be enough, in my estimation, to solidify their place in the firmament of punk rock. Now, as for their inevitable evolution into "power pop" (or whatever you want to call it), can we really begrudge them that? To begin with, the "dirty little secret" of punk rock is that everyone pretty much wanted to be a "rock star" anyway, and if we can forgive The Clash, Social Distortion, X, Nirvana, etc.--shouldn't we, then, be able to forgive The Go-Go's? They do lose a few "cool points" for declining to participate in Penelope Spheeris' great doc, The Decline of Western Civilization, though. (And Spheeris herself earned additional cool points for turning them down when their reps reached out about participating belatedly in a special edition of the doc, long after it became legendary. Sorry ladies, too late.) But even if you go back and listen to the hits, they still hold up ("Head Over Heels" is a personal favorite: give it a download, listen to that bass!). So are they "punk" or are they not--I don't know. It's kind of a lame question, but it seems to me that they did what they wanted to do every step of the way, up to and including breaking up over "creative differences." If it were all about the fame and the money (which I'm sure was substantial), I'm sure they could've held it together; but they went their separate ways and they've worked admirably ever since. (Carlisle, for one, hosts a show on Sirius, spinning old punk tunes and telling stories. She's smart and witty and still pretty hot.) Now, about the shirt: authentic merch from the reunion tour, 1990. And here's the thing: the photo is funny because it's meant to be. The band was well aware of the "bubble gum" image that their handlers were pigeonholing them into, and they both leaned in and--as the brits would say-- "took the piss" (look at them: you can read the smartassness on their faces). So would I rock this baby unironically? Bet your ass I would. And the tee itself is top notch: a large vintage Hanes--doesn't get much doper than that--that old school fit and feel (think Marlon Brando, James Dean). Flawless, and it's going cheap. Punk-rockingly dope!

Price: 99 USD

Location: Westwood, Massachusetts

End Time: 2024-11-29T02:41:04.000Z

Shipping Cost: N/A USD