T-Shirt of the Week: Re:Boot Polo

Not a T-Shirt in the strictest of sense, here we have the "Re:Boot Polo."
This shirt was available for sale during the "Re:Boot Tour" back in 1998-1999.

It is heather gray cotton with collar and sports a nice modern Front 242 logo on the left breast pocket area.
This is certainly one way to bring a Front 242 presence into the workplace or when the instance calls for dressier clothes!
I actually where this shirt quite often! This particular shirt was purchased at the Atlanta show, which I have posted much about previously.

Re:Boot Polo shirt

Re:Boot Polo shirt detail

T-Shirt of the Week: Wax Trax! Retrospectacle

As most 242 fans know, Front 242 headlined the fantastic Wax Trax! 33 1/3 Retrospectacle on April 15 and 17, 2011.
The shows were phenomenal and I hope to eventually post some video and pictures of this fantastic once-in-a-lifetime event!

Here we have one of the many 242 shirts for sale at the event.
This is an homage to the "Official Warfare" shirt that was for sale in the Wax Trax! catalogue for many years. It features the helicopter that can be seen on the Kommando Remix shirt still available at Transmission 242 today.

The reverse features the 242 numbers forming the word "2HI4AG2" which is a clever variation of "CHICAGO".

Patrick reported to me that perhaps some of these shirts might eventually make it for sale on the 242 site or on the Wax Trax! Retrospectacle website.

Wax Trax! Retrospectacle "2HI4AG2" shirt (front)

Wax Trax! Retrospectacle "2HI4AG2" shirt (back)

T-Shirt of the Week: Traxx

After a little respite from the computer, I shall hopefully get back to the 242 blog!

242 excitement is in the air, as everyone is preparing for the once-in-a-lifetime concert experience that is happening next week: The Wax Trax! Retrospectacle.
If you have not heard by now, Front 242 will be headlining tribute concerts celebrating the greatness that was Wax Trax! Records, and the creative geniuses behind it.
More information can be found here: http://www.waxtraxchicago.com/

Here we have a beautiful T-Shirt that can still be purchased from Transmission 242.
This is the "Traxx" shirt. It has a very nice Front 242 graphic logo composed of songs from the entire catalogue from "Principles" to "Pulse."
The back has the classic line/song title: "Until Death (Us Do Part)"

You may still purchase it here:
http://www.front242.com/site/content/merchandise.asp?type=1&id=13

Traxx T-Shirt (front)

Traxx T-Shirt (back)

T-Shirt of the Week: Danger

Here we have one of the more modern and currently offered Front 242 T-Shirts, entitled "Danger." It can still be purchased from Transmission 242 here: http://front242.com/site/content/merchandise.asp?type=1&id=24

The front of the shirt features a red version of the pilot as seen on the "Moments" release on Alfa Matrix. The reverse features an almost washed-out red Front 242 logo with the quote "Danger Can Come From Everywhere..." Of course, this is a quote from the song "Red Team" from the album "Official Version." (Although correct me if I am wrong, the quote could be "Danger Can Come From Anywhere...")

Although I enjoyed the "re:booted" versions of the 242 material, it has been great to see Front 242 return to their imagery "roots" if you will. "It's Up To You, To Decide..."

Danger T-Shirt (front)

Danger T-Shirt (back)

(BTW Hope to get the blog a bit more regular back on course)

T-Shirt of the Week: Compact Tour 2000

Here we have another design available at shows during Front's "Compact Tour 2000". These shows continued to showcase the "Re:Boot Tour" material, adding a few more rebooted versions of 242 classics, such as "Funkadafi" and "No Shuffle". The tour hit most of the major North American cities, e.g. New York, Chicago, and L.A. as well as brief stops into Mexico.

The front of the shirt shows the "Rotor" artwork, with the reworked 242 logo. The back makes clever use of the 242 logo to include the year 2000, with all the relevant tour stops.

Compact Tour 2000 front

Compact Tour 2000 front detail

Compact Tour 2000 back

Compact Tour 2000 back detail

T-Shirt of the Week: Pulse

Front 242 came back on the scene in a big way in 2003 with the release of new material with the album "Pulse" and the EP "Still & Raw"

Here we have a T-Shirt featuring a new version of the 242 Logo, as featured on the album and ep artwork, as well as print material for this release. This logo and the dramatic reds were also played to full effect on the Front 242 website as well.

The front of this shirt features a new 242 logo in a simple, but elegant-in-a-restrained-way, in the form of lines or dashes.
The reverse features a "red swirl" with the names of the tracks from the Pulse album.

This shirt at one time was available from Transmission 242. I still wear it quiet often...it is just another wonderful 242 shirt!

(Apologies for the poor scans here, my lighting source was an epic fail!)

"Pulse" T-Shirt Front

Detail

"Pulse" T-Shirt Back

Detail

T-Shirt of the Week: UP EVIL TOUR 93 (Black Long Sleeve)

Here we have another variation of the 1993 UP EVIL TOUR "Gargoyle" shirt. This is the long sleeve version that was sold at the shows during the North American Tour that followed Front 242's stint on Lollapalooza '93.

It is a beautiful shirt with excellent detailed screened work with the very striking "242 Gargoyle" in orange, yellow and red hues. (Some mistakenly think of this as a devil or demon, but it is in fact a gargoyle and was used extensively throughout the design process of the album and tour, including the giant backdrop that was seen on stage.)

This shirt is long sleeved and has gold "242 swirls" on the sides of each arm. The Tour dates are listed on back. And the 242 logo stands out in nice gold tones as well.

This particular shirt was purchased at the St. Louis show and is in excellent shape and occasionally still worn today!

UP EVIL TOUR 93 Front

UP EVIL TOUR 93 Detail

UP EVIL TOUR 93 Sleeve Detail "Swirls"

UP EVIL TOUR 93 Reverse

UP EVIL TOUR 93 Reverse Detail

T-Shirt of the Week: Punish Your Machine (Original)

Here is another one of those iconic Front 242 T-Shirts...another original purchased in the early days of Transmission 242.
This shirt was released and for sale during and following the Tyranny Tour. It sports the screened "Tyranny" symbols on the front, with a play on the "For You". It is a nice light-weight heather gray and the use of yellow also made it "pop." (Although time has faded this one!)
The reverse also sports a favorite Front slogan/theme: "Punish Your Machine"

This was often a favorite of mine to exercise/run...a literal "Work 242"

This shirt is offered today on Transmission 242, although it does tend to sell out quite often. Fortunately its popularity has kept it in print!

Punish Your Machine T-Shirt (Front)

Punish Your Machine (Front Detail)

Punish Your Machine -Shirt (Reverse)

Punish Your Machine T-Shirt (Reverse Detail)

T-Shirt of the Week: Official Warfare (Original)

This one goes waaay back. Here is my original "Official Warfare" T-Shirt. This shirt was purchased from one of the original Wax Trax! catalogues/flyers that were inserted with copies of Front 242 12" vinyl albums and singles. Long before the internet and Transmission 242, this was the only way you could get your hands on 242 Merchandise.

This was my "Official attire" for any and every 242 concert I could attend. I wore this shirt everywhere, and still wear it sometimes today! It has held up well, despite it being almost 24 years old!!! It has faded but the screening work has retained most of its shape.

This is an iconic 242 piece. The helicopter and Russian typography are quintessential 242. In fact, you can still purchase this T-Shirt today via Transmission 242: http://front242.com/site/content/merchandise.asp?type=1&id=14

Official Warfare T-Shirt circa 1986

Detail

T-Shirt of the Week: Front 242 Group Shirt (Wax Trax!)

Allowing for my poor Photoshop cropping, here is one of the early T-Shirts that were offered by the Wax Trax! mail catalogue. Back in the day, Chicago was a mecca for all things industrial and Front 242 were instrumental in bringing that sound to the masses!
Along with label mates, Ministry, KMFDM, RevCo, Laibach, And One, Frontline Assembly, and many, many more, Wax Trax! was a "who's who" of ebm, industrial and darkwave.

Wax Trax! initially offered this shirt and the "Commando" shirt by mail order.
The graphic is quite striking and is one of those iconic 242 images. It can also be seen as one of the prints from "A Selective Retaliation."

This particular shirt has seen better days, but holds a special place in any 242 wardrobe!

Front 242 Group Photo T-Shirt

Detail

Detail

T-Shirt of the Week: Re:Boot Rotor

Here we have an example of the Re:Boot Rotor T-shirts. Sometimes these are still offered for sale by Transmission 242, often in different colors, or with slightly different variations of the 242 logo.

This particular shirt was purchased way back in 1998 during the Re:Boot Tour. It was my first shirt that sported the new 'modernized' electro 242 logo. The star is a nice touch and I still occasionally find myself wearing it, as I favor these "ringer" T-Shirts...

Re:Boot "Rotor" T-Shirt

Detail

T-Shirt of the Week: 2005 Tour

Here we have a nice shirt sold at shows and online at Transmission 242. The front  features a slightly "skewed" updated 242 logo, while the reverse lists the 2005 North American Tour Dates, with graphics that were on the website at Front242.com during that time period. (I apologize for the grainy nature of the photos!)
This shirt is no longer available for sale on the Front242.com website.

2005 Tour Shirt (Front)

Front Detail

2005 Tour Shirt (Reverse)

Reverse Detail

T-Shirt of the Week: Tyranny Symbols

Here is another favorite shirt which I still wear quite often. This shirt features the "Tyranny" symbols in a metalic silver screen design, with "Front 242." on the reverse. Despite its high quality, I believe it to be a "bootleg" designed shirt.

Tyranny Symbols shirt (front)

Detail

Back

T-Shirt of the Week: Tyranny Tour Target Shirt

Here we have another shirt from the Tyranny Tour. It is almost identical to the Tyranny Tour Crew Shirt (See August 7, 2010 post)
The front features the "Target" Tyranny symbol. The reverse reads the dates for the 1991 Tour. (Recalling the Crew shirt reads "Crew >Under Tyranny<"

Tyranny Tour Target Shirt front

Tyranny Tour Target Shirt front detail

Tyranny Tour Target Shirt back

Tyranny Tour Target Shirt back detail

T-Shirt of the Week: Sputnet 2000

Here we have a shirt that can still be seen on the Transmission 242 shop at front242.com
( http://www.front242.com/site/content/merchandise.asp?type=1&id=5 ) known as the "Sputnet" shirt. This particular shirt was obtained on the "Compact Tour" in 2000. It has the same design as the one sold on the site, but I think the shop shirt lacks the tour dates on the reverse.
I also have a long-sleeved version which is identical in all regards.

The "Compact Tour" was a short series of shows that followed on the heels of the "Re:Boot Tour", virtually identical as far as the material presented.

Does anyone understand what the characters on the shirt exactly are? I have tried looking at the negative space, etc. and am unable to make them out, if they are letters at all! Comments welcomed and appreciated!

Sputnet T-Shirt Front

Sputnet Front Detail

Sputnet T-Shirt Back

Sputnet Back Detail

T-Shirt of the Week: 242 "Sphere"

Here we have another nice Front 242 design, this time featuring the spheres as seen on the catalogue re-releases. This particular shirt has a US label and as such, I suspect it is either a promo shirt or else a bootleg.

The shirt itself is multicolored, primarily black, white, and red-screened on a heather gray cotton T-shirt. I actually still occasionally wear this one...

242 Catalogue "Sphere" Shirt

Detail

Detail