What Your Favorite Band T-Shirt Says About You

Let’s face it: the band tee is a universal language. From baby onesies with The Rolling Stones logo to your grandma’s surprisingly authentic Grateful Dead merch, everyone—and I mean everyone—has rocked a band tee.

But let’s talk about what’s really going on here. Why did you pick that shirt? And what does it say about you? Whether you’re a die-hard fan or just think it looks cool with your ripped jeans (hello, Urban Outfitters girlies), your favorite band tee is basically a personality test you wear on your chest. Let's have some fun and read what we think your choice reveals:

You’re probably a chill person… like, suspiciously chill. People might assume you just got back from the beach, even if you’ve never seen the ocean in your life. You talk about how underrated Bradley Nowell was at least once a month, and there’s a 75% chance you own a ukulele. If you’re wearing this tee from Urban Outfitters, you’re likely pairing it with a beanie, oversized flannel, and some deep musings about “what Santeria really means.”

Let’s get one thing straight: you’re probably not here to discuss Kurt Cobain’s genius, but you’ll defend Nevermind as the greatest album of all time. Your Nirvana tee—most likely featuring the iconic yellow smiley face—says, “I’m effortlessly cool,” even though you 100% stressed over which distressed jeans would match. And to the Urban Outfitters crew? You’re giving very “my dad had this shirt, so I thrifted it” vibes. I love to see it and I love even more when you follow through with the lie and I believe it's actually from your dad's closet.

Oh, you’re nostalgic? And you probably romanticize road trips and summer romances? That’s cute. The Beach Boys fans exude sunny optimism, but your band tee is likely serving irony—you’re wearing it in the dead of winter with Doc Martens and a leather jacket. If someone asks you to name three songs that aren’t “Surfin’ USA” or “Kokomo,” you’ll dodge the question with a laugh and a perfectly timed sip of your iced oat latte.

You’re cultured… or at least you want people to think you are. Your Led Zeppelin tee signals that you’re here for epic guitar solos and metaphors you don’t fully understand. You can’t name every track on Physical Graffiti, but you will 100% turn up “Stairway to Heaven” when it comes on shuffle. Urban Outfitters shoppers, we see you pairing this with bell-bottoms and a headband, channeling “I’m from the wrong decade” energy. Bonus points if you’ve been to a Greta Van Fleet concert. (I'd also like to collect my bonus points, as I've been to a GVF show).

Oh, you’re deep. You’re philosophical. You totally “get” The Wall… or at least you think you do. Your Pink Floyd tee—probably featuring the iconic prism design—says you’re here for the vibes. You’ve absolutely tried to convince someone that listening to Dark Side of the Moon while watching The Wizard of Oz is a life-changing experience. Urban Outfitters folks, you’re pairing this with platform sneakers and a faux leather jacket because you’re edgy but approachable.

Whether your band tee is a tribute to your all-time favorite group or just a cool aesthetic choice, it’s a badge of honor. And hey, as someone who works in radio and owns more band tees than regular shirts, I’m not judging. The world is your stage, and your shirt is the headliner. So rock it—even if you’re just here for the vibe.

Keith Richards celebrates his birthday today (December 18), and it goes without saying that rock and roll needs more characters like him.

Seriously, very few people in rock history are as iconic as Keef. From sheer stage presence, to fashion, to the fact that he'll just say pretty much anything, he's just the best. He's a guy that's difficult not to love or, at the very least, respect. After all, you have to be a cut above the rest if you've managed to have a music career for over 60 years. Not to mention, he shows no sign of stopping. 

At the same time, Richards has shown that he's also pretty "Salt of the Earth," even though he's a legend. For crying out loud, he admitted to being just like all of us during the pandemic. In November 2020, he told GQ that his pandemic style had been "Very baggy soft things." Also, he says he calls sweatpants "comfies," which is rather adorable. Sure, back in the '80s, he alluded to wanting to stab Donald Trump, but calling sweatpants "comfies"? That's just charming!

With this in mind (and more), here is a brief look at five reasons why we think Keef is basically immortal and will live forever.

Oh, and happy anniversary to Richards and his wife, Patti Hansen! The couple wed on the guitarist's 40th birthday in 1983. (Fun fact: Hansen noted in a 2011 Harper's Bazaar interview that when she and Richards first started dating, he "was constantly making me mix tapes." She noted, "That was his method of communication." How sweet is that?! Also, wouldn't you love to know what Keith Richards put on a mix tape?!)

There a plenty of examples to point to for this, but let's just focus on the year 2015. In 2015, Keith said a number of wild things, from calling The Beatles’ Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band “rubbish” and referring to Black Sabbath and Metallica as “great jokes.”  Regardless if he said those things simply to get attention during the lead-up to his solo album Crosseyed Heart, one thing’s for sure:  He clearly doesn’t give a damn, and we love him for it.

Keef is one tough S.O.B.

On The Rolling Stones’ Zip Code Tour in 2015, Keith took a tumble during a show in Indianapolis and cracked a rib. Keith said, “I thought, ‘Sh*t, if I let them know how much I’m hurting, the doctors and the insurance companies will be like, ‘Cancel the next gigs. F-ck it. I’ll live with it. After 50 years on the stage you’re going to fall over occasionally and take a knock.”

From the way he tells a story to what he wears, Keith is just one cool mofo.  What proof?  Listen to the answer he gives to Jimmy Fallon about why he wears his Courts and Hackett skull ring and chain cuff bracelet. (Spoiler: One answer is surprisingly touching, while the other is unsurprisingly hilarious.)

If you haven't watched Keith Richards: Under the Influence yet, shame on you! There are many stories shared in this incredible film, but the biggest takeaway is Keith’s passion for what he does. He loves music, and he loves to perform. To see that that fire still burns bright after his decades-long career is nothing short of inspiring. Whether you want to watch this film under the influence is up to you. We won’t judge you, and we doubt Keith would either.

While all of the stories of rock and roll excess are incredibly fascinating, make no mistake that at the end of the day, it’s the music Keith has helped create that makes him the force he is.  For over 60 years, the world has had the pleasure of taking in all of that incredible music, and long after he’s gone physically, he will continue to live on through the stellar catalog beloved by the masses.