Seller 26andcounting has been there and done that. He’s been up and down. He’s played in some famous bands and is still down for the core.
My name is Jeremy Smith and I am 35 years old, Straight Edge and pretty boring for the most part. I think my new moniker is that I’m funny, but not “fun.”
I used to play in Halfmast, Plagued with Rage, No Reason, The Control and Dead Hearts, to name a few. Currently I am in a new band called REASON (straight edge) and our demo should be online in a week or two.
1. How did you get started in the punk/ hardcore scene?
Well, growing up, I was a metal dude who liked some punk, like the Pistols and Ramones. But mostly I listened to Maiden and Priest and Sabbath and stuff. Around 1988 I got into thrash metal, then crossover and death metal, then Hardcore and Straight Edge. By 1991 I was going to Hardcore shows on the regular in Buffalo.
2. How did you amass all these amazing tees?
All the shirts I’m selling were purchased in the past 7 years or so. In 2001, I started putting on a lot of weight and clicked up from a xl to a xxl (at some point in the late 90’s I was wearing a large however, especially my judge schism shirt that I traded many moons ago) and how it works is, if I like a band, I want a shirt or maybe a couple, from said band. Also, I learned that not too many bands or labels make xxl shirts on the regular or in large numbers, so I was constantly on the look out online for xxl’s sometimes buying them, even when I really couldn’t afford to. I was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes earlier this year and have completely changed how I view exercise and nutrition and have lost 60 pounds to date, so it’s goodbye size xxl!
3. What’s the strongest memory attached to one of these shirts (like a great show, or a funny merch table discussion)?
Honestly, it’s with the Danzig sweatshirt. It’s not even a direct memory with the hoodie (my ex-wife bought it for me) it’s just a Danzig memory. My friend Joe was doing merch for Danzig one tour and I thought that was fucking awesome, cuz I wanted to inside scoop on how ‘ole Glenn lives his life. So I asked Joe: “what’s Glenn like?” and he replied, “All he does is talk about tits, or himself!” so I’m standing there thinking “wow, that sounds A LOT like me!” Then later that same night I was right up front during Danzig’s set and he puts his foot up on a monitor… and there’s a rip in the crotch of his stage jeans. Well, the ‘zig man was freeballing that night, cuz his left ball was poking out the hole! I didn’t know if I should laugh, or cry! I pretty sure I did both!
I don’t know about you, but I like a great, positive story like this. Up the PMA — Notice how he played in a band called No Reason and is NOW in a band called REASON. Now that’s pos! Good luck with those auctions, Jeremy.
