Band-ing together: How students bond over music t shirts

The Rolling Stones. The Beatles. Journey. These bands define an older generation, so why do college students today still proudly display their names on T-shirts?

 “For me, I grew up hearing a lot of music from the 80s that my parents would play,” Liberty student James Callister said. “I grew to love that era of music, and it is part of what I listen to today. Some of the shirts I have are actually souvenirs from concerts that I have attended, and I enjoy incorporating them into my wardrobe on a regular basis.”

Some students, like Callister, have a true love for the bands and the music they play, and that is why they have chosen to weave some of the biggest musical giants or indie garage bands into their personal style. For other students, the clothing is all about the aesthetic. 

“I shop at stores like Pac Sun and American Eagle, and a large amount of their graphic tees have bands on them that I don’t necessarily listen to, but I like the way the shirts look and they are comfortable,” student Kristen Mendoza said. “They (look) perfect paired with a jean jacket, and they match my personal style very well.”

This trend represents a large and diverse sub-culture of the student body and is among the trending styles across campus. There is a certain identity associated with wearing black skinny jeans and having a musical group displayed proudly across the chest. Students find their niche wearing vintage, unique or off-the-wall shirts that in some way represent their personal and musical styles.  

“I prefer to find shirts with bands that no one is familiar with on them,” Matt Farr, a student at Liberty, said. “It will spark a conversation with people about what my shirt says, and I often receive compliments. I have found new bands that are now some of my favorites due to shirts that I’ve discovered at thrift stores and bought just because they looked cool.” 

Perhaps one of the most popular band shirts that is seen around campus is the large red tongue representative of the Rolling Stones. Though many students may not listen to these bands on a regular basis, they still recognize the contributions each band had on modern American music.

“I honestly can’t name one member of the Rolling Stones, and I have never listened to their music even though I am wearing their shirt,” Liberty student Hannah Oakley said. “I just like the way it looks and I got it on sale.” 

Whether those who sport band T-shirts are avid fans or just appreciate vintage looks and designs, the style is becoming more and more popular and exposing students to these classic bands. 

As the Beatles said, “We all wanna change the world”  – one band T-shirt at a time.

Drexel is a feature writer. Follow her on Twitter.