T Shirt Retirement

A recent cleaning out saw the loss of a few old favorite t-shirts.  Some were so torn, thin, ripped and misshapen, that they could no longer live in the closet.  It's a little frightening how emotional it is to lose these T shirts, but there have been a lot of good memories attached.

I have had this t-shirt since I was 18 (1991).  It came with the Mixed Up CD when I purchased it.  It has travelled Europe & the US with me.  I actually wore it when I saw The Cure in Charlotte in 2016.  Alas it had so many holes it was hard to get in and out of.

I'm pretty sure this shirt came with the 7" single in Australia.  I've had it since 1992 - when everything was about Nirvana - I couldn't get enough.  Another shirt that was definitely value for money, even though I have no idea what I paid for it.  In the end in looked like a crop top on me.  And nobody needs to see that.

I remember taping "rage" back in the day and then playing it during the day, stopping when something came on I liked, but generally going about the weekend.  The moment I heard Fire In The Head, I dropped everything - then played video back over and over to hear the song again, until I could go and get some Tea Party.  I bought this the first time I saw them at The Metro in Sydney on 26 March 1996.  A jaw dropping show, and a band I still love today.  26 years is another good run for a t-shirt.

This one hurt A LOT!  This is a 23 year favorite.  Combining my 2 loves - music and travel.  From Festival Sudoeste in Portugal in August 1998.  It was never planned we go to this show, but after seeing billboards in Faro & Albufeira, we actually got tickets at a record store in Lagos (not to mention finding where Zambujeira do Mar was, and whether we could get a bus there).  The 4 nights of camping and 3 nights of music were amazing.  The Cure (my first show of theirs) were everything I ever dreamed of.  Everyone we saw we were seeing for the first time and they were all amazing, except Sonic Youth, who to this day were the worst show I've ever seen.  I bought this shirt outside the venue (not an official licensed shirt) and wore it out.  It left the house in tatters and off color.  A ton of great memories in that shirt.  (Actually couldn't bring myself to throw it out - so it's now with all the rags.)

The last misshapen shirt is from Me First & The Gimmes Gimmes show from the Manning Bar on 19 January 2008.  Took Regs & The Barneses for a fun night out while I was home.  A 14 year shirt which leaves behind some very happy memories from a riotous gig.