Top 10 most iconic band T-shirts of the last 50 years

Top 10 most iconic band T-shirts of the last 50 years
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  • Post published:May 4, 2021
  • Reading time:12 mins read

If you’re a fan of music, odds are you have some type of band T-shirt hanging in your closet right now. If you don’t, well, we’re sorry to hear that. 

Band tees are iconic. From the vintage tees produced in the 70’s, 80’s and 90’s to the mass produced versions of today, band tees are always in style. With so many great options, we decided to form our own Top 10 list of the most iconic band tees of all-time.

10. Metallica

 Metallica debuted as a band in 1981 and is incredibly still touring to this day.

Cracking the list at No. 10 is Metallica, one of the most famous bands world wide. Metallica debuted as a band in 1981 and is incredibly still touring to this day. Whether you’ve heard any music of theirs or not, Metallica’s logo is recognizable even to the most novice of music lovers. 

Photo: Target.com

9. Grateful Dead

When it comes to band T-shirts, it is only right to include Grateful Dead’s, “Steal Your Face” logo to the Top 10 list.

When it comes to band T-shirts, it is only right to include Grateful Dead’s, “Steal Your Face” logo to the Top 10 list. Depicted with a red, white and blue color scheme, known to others as the “lightning skull” shirt, this Grateful Dead T-shirt stands out. The logo was developed in 1973 and began appearing on Grateful Dead merchandise that same year. 

Photo: Newburycomics.com

8. Red Hot Chili Peppers

The story behind how the Red Hot Chili Peppers logo came to be is a reason in itself for it to be worthy of the Top 10 list.

The story behind how the Red Hot Chili Peppers logo came to be is a reason in itself for it to be worthy of the Top 10 list. It was created by the band’s lead singer, Anthony Kiedis, who hand-wrote the logo on a piece of paper. Today, the logo is easily one of the most recognizable in the business and is one of the most sought after T-shirt’s in the market. 

Photo: Newburycomics.com

7. Misfits

When it comes to picking a Top 10 list for iconic band T-shirts, the band Misfits and their ultra-popular skulls T-shirt was a no-brainer to add to the list.

T-Shirts with skull designs have always been popular no matter what the meaning behind them is. So when it comes to picking a Top 10 list for iconic band T-shirts, the band Misfits and their ultra-popular skulls T-shirt was a no-brainer to add to the list. This famous logo dates back to 1979 when it first appeared on the band’s single, “Horror Business.” 

Photo: Amazon.com

6. Run DMC

There is no simpler, in-your-face T-shirt design on this list than Run DMC’s iconic T-shirt, but that is what makes it easily recognizable amongst the masses.

There is no simpler, in-your-face T-shirt design on this list than Run DMC’s iconic T-shirt, but that is what makes it easily recognizable amongst the masses. When the group formed in the early 1980’s, it quickly became one of the most famous Hip-Hop groups and to this day, remains one of the most famous band T-shirts worn by today’s youth 40 years later. 

Photo: us.sportsdirect.com

5. Ramones

You can’t have an iconic band T-shirts Top 10 list without including the Ramones. The Ramones logo screams American Rock and Roll.

You can’t have an iconic band T-shirts Top 10 list without including the Ramones. The Ramones logo screams American Rock and Roll. Inspired by the U.S. Presidential Seal, The Ramones logo features the bald eagle holding a baseball bat. What’s more American than that? This is without a doubt a band T-shirt that you have seen worn before. 

Photo: oldschooltees.com

4. AC/DC

Hailing from Sydney, Australia, the band AC/DC should be a group that you’ve heard of even if you’ve never listened to any of their music.

Hailing from Sydney, Australia, the band AC/DC should be a group that you’ve heard of even if you’ve never listened to any of their music. And when it comes to their logo and top-selling T-shirt, there aren’t many other shirts more recognizable than this one. The lightning bolt design was created nearly 40 years ago and is still relevant today. 

Photo: Hottopic.com

3. Pink Floyd

Pink Floyd’s “Dark Side of the Moon” T-shirt simply put - Iconic.

Pink Floyd’s “Dark Side of the Moon” T-shirt simply put – Iconic. The ultra-popular record was released in 1973 and the T-shirt design that followed has since transcended the band T-shirt community. Walk into any Hot Topic today and you’ll likely find someone wearing this shirt. Pink Floyd’s triangle prism logo was and still is a genius combination. 

Photo: Amazon.com

2. Rolling Stones

You have to go back 50 years to find the birth of one of the most famous logos ever created.

You have to go back 50 years to find the birth of one of the most famous logos ever created. The Rolling Stones logo was created way back in 1971 and it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to see why this logo has achieved superstar status. When it was put on a T-shirt, it transcended world wide in no time. You can’t go wrong with a bright red lip and tongue on a T-shirt.

Photo: Amazon.com

1. Nirvana

Whether you like rock music or not, the band Nirvana and its lead singer Curt Cobain are names that you absolutely have heard, unless you’ve been living under a rock.

Whether you like rock music or not, the band Nirvana and its lead singer Curt Cobain are names that you absolutely have heard, unless you’ve been living under a rock. Nirvana’s logo, who many believe was created and drawn by Cobain himself, is one that you have definitely seen on a T-shirt more times than you can count. The logo is simple, yet so recognizable. It’s worn by today’s youth with reckless abundance and will go down as one of, if not the best band T-shirt ever created. 

Photo: Newburycomics.com

That wraps up our Top 10 list on the most iconic band T-shirts of all-time. How did we do? With so many great options, odds are one of your favorites didn’t make the list. 

Let us know what your Top 10 list would be down below in the comment section! Should the Rolling Stones be ahead of Nirvana? Is Metallica too high or too low? Let us know what you think! 

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