This week, we release a special collection of vintage t-shirts owned by the bassist of Foghat, Craig MacGregor. Like us, MacGregor was a t-shirt enthusiast. He collected thousands of t-shirts from Foghat tours and appearances, and the places along the way. They range from obscure gas stations, shirts made for MacGregor and worn by MacGregor himself, hockey jerseys from cities across the country, souvenirs from bygone nightclubs and record stores, and so much more. Whether you're a Foghat fan or not, this collection exhibits vintage t-shirts as cherished pieces of history and memory.
For those who don't know, Foghat is a rock band formed in London in 1971, originally made up of Dave Peverett, Tony Stevens, Rod Price, and Roger Earl. Stevens left the group in 1975, and Nick Jameson filled in for a year, but was then replaced by Craig MacGregor.
Their most successful albums include Energized, Rock and Roll Outlaws, Fool for the City, Foghat Live, and Stone Blue.
For many fans, the band is remembered for its hit singles, "Slow Ride," "Drivin' Wheel," as well as a cover of Willie Dixon's "I Just Want to Make Love to You."
The early 80s saw the band's shift from hard boogie towards heavier new-wave influences. Guitarist Rod Price was replaced by Erik Cartwright in 1981, playing lead and slide guitar on Foghat's last three major label releases, including Girls to Chat & Boys to Bounce, In the Mood for Something Rude, and Zig-Zag Walk.
In this collection you'll find tee's from legendary venues, bars, and music shops that cultivated the culture of rock 'n roll through the 70s and 80s.
One of which was Tuey's, known as the "Ace of Clubs." Located in East Setauket, New York, the club has hosted numerous rock bands including Foghat and Zebra. Hundreds of photos shared on their Facebook page reflect the nostalgia felt by anyone who visited the club in its heyday.
The Satelite Lounge in Cookstown, New Jersey was once a major venue for rock n roll bands from the 1960s through the 90s, including concerts by Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band, Kiss, Chuck Berry, Ben E. King, The Platters, Jay & The Americans, Sly & The Family Stone, Steppenwolf, Molly Hatchet, The Young Rascals, Anthrax, and Twisted Sister. At its peak, Satelite could accommodate up to 2,000 people, once the largest bar in New Jersey.
Much of what Satelite is remembered for centers around the owner of the club, Carlo Rossi, including one story about Rossi threatening to kill Bruce Springsteen if he didn't play at Satelite on the agreed upon date. When Foghat played at Satelite, they ignored Rossi's requests to turn the music down, and he responded by pulling out his gun and shooting the amps.
Satelite Lounge, abandoned, 2018
Another historic souvenir in MacGregor's collection comes from the Fillmore West, a famous rock 'n roll venue in San Francisco, California.
Since it's initial opening in 1910, the venue has existed in many forms. From a dance hall to a skating rink, to a venue for emerging black musicians. In early 1968, during the height of the hippie counterculture, a couple of bands from the San Francisco rock scene took over the space for a musical/social "laboratory experiment."
The collective lasted only six months, but these bands would later return to perform when the Fillmore West was under the direction of Bill Graham. These bands were The Grateful Dead, Quicksilver Messenger Service, Jefferson Airplane, and Big Brother and the Holding Company.
What started out as a platform for smaller, emerging artists turned into the epitome of success and fame. From Jimi Hendrix to The Who, dozens of established artists of that time graced the stage at the Fillmore all within the two and half year time frame.
Of course, nowhere saw the culture of rock 'n roll better than the Sunset Marquis.
The legendary hotel and rock-and-roll haven, located just off the Sunset Strip in West Hollywood, California was conceived as an escape for celebrities from the craziness of the nightlife along the Strip.
The peaceful facade, however, was obliterated by the hotel's infamous bar. The Whiskey Bar, as it was once known, attracted hordes of people nightly, all wanting some part of the rock 'n roll lifestyle. Frequented by Elton John, Bruce Springsteen, Bob Marley, The Clash, Blondie, the Ramones, Metallica, Iron Maiden, Kiss, Guns 'N Roses, Courtney Love, and so many more.
Another artifact among MacGregor's collection is a raglan tee from Tracks Records and Tapes. The record and tape superstore in Norfolk, VA first opened shop in 1977 located on historic Wards Corner. Beginning in the 50s, Wards Corner billed itself as, "The Times Square of the South," offering shops, restaurants, and a vibrant social center. Tracks was part of the Record Bar, a former retail music and entertainment store chain with 180 stores primarily around the South, owned by the Berman family of Durham, North Carolina.
In the 90s, Record Bar's reign came to end. The company was sold to Blockbuster Video, who rebranded all stores as Blockbuster Music.
These are just a few highlights from the collection, artifacts of a life well-traveled and stories that would otherwise be buried.
Shop the full Foghat collection here!