T-Shirt Collection: Charles Bukowski

It's hot in Marysville today. As in "Africa hot."

104°. One. Hundred. Four. Degrees.

The good news? It's down 2° from the original forecast. (As if a couple points are really going to make a difference when you get into the triple digits.)

So ... "Why Marysville?" you might ask. Obligatory dwarf car races on a Saturday night. Which means red shirts, complete with our racer's emblem, name, number. 

But, as noted, it's too damned hot for that shit. 

In other words a nice, cool, reflective white shirt is the torso covering of the event. Emblazoned with none other than Charles B.'s mug. 

"Some people never go crazy.

What truly horrible lives they must lead."

.......... Ruprecht ( STOP )

T-Shirt Collection: Gorillaz

Birthday present from my most recent celebration: A brand new Gorillaz shirt showcasing their 5th studio album "Humanz."

Another day, another addition to my T-shirt collection ...

.......... Ruprecht ( STOP )

T-Shirt Collection: Group Therapy

Last September is the last time I posted a selection from my T-shirt collection. And that's just been too, too long.

So ...

.......... Ruprecht ( STOP )

T-Shirt Collection: New York Press Tony Millionaire

And you thought my T-shirt collection entries stopped long long ago, didn't you? Fat chance. There's plenty more where those came from.

Such as this one featuring the New York Press, illustration by none other than comic artist Tony Millionaire of "Tony Millionaire's Sock Monkey" and "Maakies" fame, various album and magazine covers and more.

Can't tell you where I got it or how long I've had it but the reverse of the shirt denotes "1996."

.......... Ruprecht ( STOP ) 

T-Shirt Collection: Jack Kirby Marvel Characters (mostly)

It's pretty well-worn, I've had it for 15+ years and I still wear it.

Triton, Reed Richards, Captain America, The Silver Surfer, Luke Cage, Spider-Man, The Incredible Hulk, Karnak, Thor, The Thing, Black Bolt, Gorgon, Black Panther, The Human Torch, Wyatt Wingfoot and a funkified Wolverine as done by The King himself, Jack Kirby. 

(Though ... don't know who drew that Wolverine as Kirby never drew the character in his career that anyone knows of ...)

.......... Ruprecht ( STOP )
- with assistance from (El) Ken Herrera and Jim "Dr. Dim" Fitzsimons

T-Shirt Collection: No Hay Lucha

Shirt and background.

Just because.

P.S. Shirt translation: "There is no struggle without a mask."

.......... Ruprecht ( STOP )

T-Shirt Collection: Oakland Raiders

While technically not a T-shirt, it's part of the collection.


Because ... Raider Nation, baby.

.......... Ruprecht ( STOP ) 

T-Shirt Collection: Lyle Lovett

It's well worn and relegated to the "yard work wear" collection of shirts but this faded, thread-bare black Tee brings fond memories of attending Lovett's Park City, Utah concert in the summer of 2001 on the ski slopes of Deer Valley Resort under the stars.

And if you haven't ever seen the man in concert, it's well worth your time to do so. Everyone I've recommended his concerts to has become a fan.

.......... Ruprecht ( STOP )

T-Shirt Collection: The Unbelievables

One of the ultra-rare collector's shirts of that crime-fighting trio. 

What? You don't know of The Unbelievables? Well ...

One day, three altruistic rogues (Jeff Hickmott, Clark Brooks and myself) were lounging around the racquetball club when we decided to use our unique skills and senses of style to form a non-government affiliated, multi-jurisdictional, not-for-profit crime & injustice fighting organization.

On that day The Unbelievables were born. Originally, their adventures were chronicled in the top-secret files of The Kitsch Bitsch but now, we explode in your face (metaphorically speaking of course) on our own website thrice weekly and on other media outlets everywhere.

Interested in sexy, action-packed adventures of double-knit clad men? Polyester fashions accented with un-ironic mustaches? Does macrame underwear do it for you? Crime-stopping? Helping your fellow man? If so, you'll love The Unbelievables!

.......... Ruprecht ( STOP )

T-Shirt Collection: Dan Bois

A couple years ago, during San Diego Comic-Con in 2013, I picked up this pretty spiffy T-shirt from my good friend and artist Dan Bois who has been showing and selling at The Con for more years then I'm certain he'd care to admit. (Maybe not.)

It's one of my prized T-shirts with nifty graphics perpetrated by Dan himself. And printed in unique positions you don't often see on a shirt: on the sleeve and on the lower torso. Yes ... that makes it a bit difficult to photograph while you're wearing it ... but I took the challenge for what it's worth.

You can find his stuff for purchase here and frequent his (not all that up to date) blog here. (Hey ... the man's busy selling his wares and drawing -- he doesn't have time to keep his blog updated.)

.......... Ruprecht ( STOP )

T-Shirt Collection: The Man Of Steel

Granted: Kal-El's "hope" emblem on my shirt has seen better days ...

But it's still worn with pride.

It's Superman, after all.

.......... Ruprecht ( STOP )

T-shirt Collection: Bob Marley

Musical guy that I am (claim to be), don't you think I would sport a Robert Nesta "Bob" Marley shirt in my collection?  Why but of course.

Get Up, Stand Up.

.......... Ruprecht ( STOP )

T-shirt Collection: Ralph Lauren / Polo Jeans

I'm particular about the things I wear, just like anyone else.

(Which begs the question from many people: "Seriously, Michael? Because we've seen what you wear sometimes. 'Particular' is the furthest thing describing your choice in wearing apparel. Take that gaudy, soft porn Cramps shirt you parade around in. You're not fooling anyone, Bub ...")

Well sir, the person (people) who might say that about me might have a point. But it daunts me not. So I'll revise the above statement with: Sometimes I'm particular, other times I'm not.

Which leads me to today's posting: A clear-cut boast of both Ralph Lauren (who I could give a rat's ass about) and Polo Jeans (of which I do not own a pair and am pretty certain you won't ever see me doing so).

So ... why do I wear this blatant promotional chunk of garb? 

Because it's comfortable. Rarely is it worn outside the house - it's mostly donned as an indoor shirt for lying around lazily or as a first-thing-in-the-morning-while-imbibing-morning-coffee kind of shirt. 

And there you go ...

.......... Ruprecht ( STOP )

T-Shirt Collection: The Cramps

One of my favorite concert shirts boasts an image of The Cramps' Poison Ivy Rorschach in her "Bikini Girls With Machine Guns" guise.

It's old, faded and the back of the shirt emblazoned with "The Cramps" is faded and continues to fade with each wearing.

You can just make out the fading of "Cramps" on the back.
(Hey ... I never promised you were going to get good pictures ...

Long ago, I was at a Cramps show in support of their Flame Job tour. At that show I picked up a tour long-sleeved shirt I don't think I ever once wore ... as it got confiscated by a friend of mine, who I still believe has it to this day. It's been a joke for years, my asking him wear my Cramps shirt is with the response "I don't have it."

But that's okay ... I like this short-sleeve classic much better ...

.......... Ruprecht ( STOP )

P.S. I wrote about The Cramps some six years ago when leadman Lux passed away. Give it a looksy.

T-Shirt Collection (another in an undetermined number)

You pick up some pretty spiffy stuff at garage sales, you know ...

... and this one was a neat find that brought back memories of the first car I ever remember my folks owning: A 1960s Chevy Impala, complete with rear bullet lights not unlike this one ...

.......... Ruprecht ( STOP )
 

T-Shirt Collection (first in a series*)

As a diehard Los Angeles Dodger fan (which is sometimes a a difficult and burdensome proposition in the neck of the woods I'm in, let me tell you) it's hard to let things go when it comes to The Boys In Blue.

Take this shirt for example:

Working in the garage one afternoon, a can of paint "decided" to go from a table top to the ground, arcing swashes of paint in places it never should have gone in the first place. Including my shirt.

The result? Instant work shirt.

No need to toss the thing - it's still in good condition wearability-wise.

It's just got more character now ...

.......... Ruprecht ( STOP )

*An occasional series showcasing the T-shirts I own