A few days back, a commenter noted that we “whine” about bootlegs. I’m not sure why he thinks that, really. For one thing, bootlegs suck. The quality shit 99.9% of the time. Either the graphic is tweaked or pixelated, or the shirts are burlap sacks. Nobody needs that. Secondly, when you buy bootlegs, you support terrorism … ok, that may just me RIAA propaganda … But when you buy bootlegs, you definitely aren’t supporting the band or artist that created the tshirt. You are supporting some kid in Italy who is making shit bootlegs. For example, the latest newcomer to shitville boots is violenzaviolenza. Below are two “schism records” related shirts. Please note, the Schism Records bootleg is of a Bridge 9 design. Do you think Chris Wrenn is seeing any of that money? Do you think Slam or Kid Hard are seeing any of that money? Fuck no. And to top it off, the graphics make me want to gauge my eyeballs out. They are just BAD.
And after that botch Schism/Bridge 9 tee, don’t even get me started on this Wide Awake tshirt.
So kids, don’t support this dude. Stop buying and wearing shitty bootleg tshirts. If you don’t buy them, they’ll stop making them. And the world will be a better place.
IN GERMANY, SHIRT BOOTS YOU
but nobody from the band sees the money when an original sells for $200 either.
I’m not saying bootlegs are right or wrong. I’m just saying.
Boardy
True to that. But then again, it’s not like someone is sitting on 200 original shirts. Bootlegs are made for profit only. Originals were made to spread a message, walking billboard style.
Bootlegs are not baller, plain and simple.
agreed with poster above. unless you buy a shirt DIRECTLY from a band on tour, none of the money goes to the band/graphic designer anyway. and this thing about quality – you’re saying the shirts these bands screened in their van on the way to shows in the late 80s are high quality?
I mean I’ve got a 15 year old Straight ahead boot!
thunderlizard did good “boots” although they weren’t really boots I guess!
Bought an Outburst boot from violenzaviolenza. $20 too expensive, and the worst fit ever. A “burlap sack,” if you will.
chill man bootleg shirts are fine…as are bootleg antidote records. i have quite a few of those jobs from the italboys, and they do the trick. all of the shirts ive bought from paolo are great. take it from me…i like OG shirts…and i like good bootlegs. this is your site so you can take a hard stance, but the fact remains that bootlegs will always be a part of shirt/record market for a reason.
“bootlegs are not baller” +1
Putting aside the profit motive of the bootleggers themselves, I don’t think kids who want a rare 80’s hardcore shirt that is no loger sold by the band that broke up 20+ years ago should have only the option of “Pay hundreds of dollars for an original” or “You’re just fucked.” There is a certain demand for such product. If the bands—even if broken up—or labels don’t make and sell (or reissue) these shirts, then nobody has any other choice but to buy bootlegs.
And as far as the bands/labels not getting money from the bootlegs, if they no longer produce these items they’re not getting money from them anyway—if they want money for the designs and want to control the quality, then they should make them themselves and keep selling them.
The only way to lower the proliferation of bootlegs is to increase the supply of well-produced, officially licensed merchandise, not to say “lower the demand!”, cause that just ain’t realistic.
If your gonna sell bootlegs they should be 10$ max
what guav said.
so when a bootlegger makes and sells shirts, he’s making big money but it’s not enough for bands, no matter when they broke up to reprint them officially?
if the bands don’t care…, tough beans.
you don’t like bootlegs? don’t buy ’em. i like to wear a shirt and spread the message, not hide my $150-shirt that was printed and sold when i was nine or ten years old and that’s falling apart in the closet.
I agree…$10 boots or no boots. I’ve seen good quality boots at shows for $10 ss and $15 ls. That is how it should be. You wear a band because you like them and are proud. If you can’t afford the genuine article, a boot just has to do.
Plus, old bands don’t care as long as people aren’t trying to pass the boot off as the real thing.