Punk rock and reggae realized they knew one another around 1977 - three years after bands like Death and Suicide started recording demo tapes in their garages and attics. That's when Bob Marley and the Wailers released "Punky Reggae Party," while The Clash debuted its eponymous album that featured the Junior Murvin song "Police and Thieves." By the following year, The Sex Pistols' Johnny Rotten was on a plane headed for Jamaica, where he spent nearly a week scouting reggae artists for Virgin Records.
But intersections between Rasta and punk essentially stemmed from the jump - both genres share fundamental ideals of self-reliance and rejection of mainstream lifestyles. Messages promoting the Rasta way of life were put out through reggae music, while punks explained their turn away from authority through shows, zines - pretty radical channels at that time.
RockersNYC's latest collection of t-shirts and sweatshirts tells this story - one of rebellion, anti-establishment and an unlikely connection between religious, political and musical movements.
The yellow Eek-a-Mouse t-shirt throws tribute in the direction of the "Ganja Smuggling," musician, while the Mad Max jawn bows at the feet of the original Nightrider leather jacket. The Depth Charge tee suggests weed is just as dangerous as a submarine-seeking explosive. God knows blowing shit up is about as punk as it gets.
Cop these t-shirts, priced between $37 and $75, here.
[via RockersNYC]
