Most music lovers have purchased a T-shirt at a concert to take home as a keepsake.
But years later, that vintage tee could be worth a fortune.
Experts sifted through thousands of sales for the clothing with music legends and artists printed on the front to uncover treasures collecting dust in your home.
The prized shirts date from the late 1980s to the early 200s and include rock n roll legends like Grateful Dead and Metallic.
What may surprise some music lovers was that even recent musical stars like Kanye West have a price tag of more than $1,300.
Louisa Rogers, assistant professor of Fashion Communication at Northumbria University, said: ‘There are two layers which determine the value of an item. The first relates to its ‘intrinsic’ (product-based) value.
‘This means what materials is it made of? What is craftsmanship like? How many of these pieces are surviving/out there in circulation?
‘The second consideration relates to the external factors that will influence the value of a piece: what is the ‘hype’ around the item? Is the brand name or designer covetable?
‘Has a celebrity been seen in the brand or a similar design recently, which has increased popular demand for it? Has it become a status symbol?’
Experts sifted through thousands of sales for the clothing with music legends and artists printed on the front to uncover treasures collecting dust in your home
What may surprise some music lovers was that even recent musical stars like Kanye West have a price tag of more than $1,300 (left)
Rock bands like Metallica can fetch a high price, along with classics like Nirvana
Topping the charts
The team at Spreadshirt, a clothing e-commerce platform, analyzed over 84,000 sales of music artist and band T-shirts to uncover the most valuable.
1. Grateful Dead: Panther tour tee (1994) – $2,750
2. Nirvana: In Utero tour tee (1990s) – $2,000
3. Bjӧrk: Post tour tee (1995) – $1,895
4. Bjӧrk: Bjӧrk tour tee (1990s) – $1,400
5. Soundgarden: Louder Than Love tour tee (1989) – $1,350
6. Kanye West: Late Registration tour tee (2000s) – $1,300
7. Prince: Untitled tour tee, all-over print (1993) – $1,299
8. Bjork: Army of Me single tour tee (1995) – $1,250
9. Metallica: Load tour tee (1996) – $1,250
10. Nirvana: Silver tour tee (1992) – $1,200
Generations and genres
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Not all classic band T-shirts are worth thousands, but plenty are could sell for hundreds or more.
● The Gen X music crowd can expect to rake in the most from their era. Bands and artists from the ’70s and ’80s have the most valuable tees, selling for an average of $153.
● Favorites from the ’90s and 2000s aren’t too far behind. Authentic band tees from that era sell for an average of $152.
Which musical genre is the most valuable?
Rock n’ roll, baby.
Tees from acts like Oasis, Pink Floyd, Metallica, Ozzy and AC/DC go for between $102 and $160 a pop.
Top shirts in the Pop category sell for an average of about $144.
Paul McCartney shirts sell, on average, just shy of $180.
Prince tees go for $157 and Abba tees fetch around $134.
More of a hip-hop and R&B fan? Average T-shirt prices in this genre fetch an average of $116.
If you have a tee from the late rapper XXXTentacion, you may get around $163.
Jay-Z tees go for an average of $111.
You probably don’t want to part with your Boyz II Men tee, but if you’re in need of some extra dough, list it for $116.
Pre-loved pro tips
Wondering if your closet’s full of cash? Here’s how to tell if your old band tees are worth a pretty penny.
● Research how many band tees of a particular run are in circulation. The rarer, the better. Look for similar listings on resale sites like Vinted, Poshmark and Depop.
● Here’s a search shortcut: Snap a quick pic and use Google Lens to dig up listings.
● Check how well your T-shirt is made. Well-crafted tees made of high quality materials sell for higher prices.
● Was a celeb recently spotted wearing your tee? Any current hype around a particular artist? That could drive up the value.
● Look for unusual tees in funky prints or cuts. They typically hold the most value since collectors love the rare stuff.
