Beatle boots. No question about it. If you were a band guy you wore Beatle Boots. These boots were much like black cowboy boots cut off above the ankle and there was usually a zipper on the side. Like long hair, many parents - including mine - associated these kind of boots with “greaseballs” and forbade their kids to have them. The Simpsons - or Eaton’s - catalogue had a version called “Mustang Boots” which had a small, chromed version of the vaunted Ford pony logo on the side. They were still taboo to my folks. I would have to be happy with suede shoes that went shiny on the toes after three months.

The early band guys - 1962 to 1967 - wore suites with ties. There was no getting around it. For their dances the Legions and other service clubs demanded this attire and, until late 1965, the British bands did too. Paul Revere and the Raiders were one of the first “theme” bands, even before Brian Jones of The Rolling Stones bought his first frilly shirt and velvet jacket. Even the Beach Boys and Jan and Dean had the surfer look to go with their image. Although, when you think of it, this was probably the everyday dress in California only multiplied for each band member - red candy-stripes, white pants and white crew shoes. Whereas, I bet the boys in the Raiders never wore their tri-corned hats to a drive-in movie.

Around the time of Sergeant Pepper bands were completely rid of their uniforms - with the exception of the showbands. Page-boy hair caused a stir and led to the demise of many a barber shop and bands sported the latest in Carnaby Street wear, which was a lucrative rip-off of the second-hand stores where Mick, Brian and Keith used to buy their wardrobes. Hell, I even had a “Monkee Shirt,” a velour pull-over with a double-breasted patch whihc was buttoned down like Roy Roger’s shirt. Check out an early Monkees album. (My paisley necker is still in one of my drawers.)

In the ’70’s, higher-classed clubs began to demand the uniform look again and in one of our bands wore these light, crepe-material shirts with ballon sleeves and cuff with so many buttons it took you five minuest to do up each one. The front took ten minutes. I called them “Neil Diamond shirts” ’cause he wore them. And I found out later that the chemical composition of these shirts was very close to that of napalm. Then Richard Pryor was almost roasted to death while trying to execute a “speedball.” His butane lighter got too close and his shirt went up like a torch. So ended this style. I bet if you analyzed one of these shirts today it’s composition would resemble toxic waste.