70s If It Ain't Stiff It Ain't Worth Documentary t-shirt Small

Chest 16 in.

Length 24 in.

Content: Feels like 100% Cotton

Tag Brand: No tag

This amazing vintage shirt pays tribute to Stiff Records a British, independent label that was created by Dave Robinson and Jake Riviera. The shirt reads, "If It Ain't Stiff It Ain't Worth a Fuck", which was the title of a 1977 film documenting a package tour featuring a collection of Stiff Records artists. Both the tour and the subsequent film featured Elvis Costello and the Attractions, Ian Dury and the Blockheads, Larry Wallis's Psychedelic Rowdies, Nick Lowe's Last Chicken in the Shop, and Wreckless Eric and the New Rockets. This was a collection of some of the best British punk rockers from the time period, and the tour, which was dubbed the 5 Live Stiffs Tour, helped to drum up interest in the fledgling record company. 

Stiff had actually signed all of the named artists as individuals, which meant that bands had to be formed to go on to tour. Stiff wound up selecting a collection of 18 band members, taking mostly from the session musicians that were used on each artist's solo records. There was quite a bit of crossover between the performers, for instance Dave Edmunds, Terry Williams, and Pete Thomas were all selected to play in multiple backing bands on the tour.

Stiff later released a live album that was recorded during the tour. It was released in 1978 under the title Live Stiffs Live, and the album managed to enter the UK charts in 1980, peaking at the No. 28 spot. While Elvis Costello and Ian Dury emerged as the two main attractions on the tour, the live album features selections from all of the artists featured, and the final track is a recording of Dury's hit "Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll" performed by the tour's entire lineup. 

Fits like a modern unisex adult small. There is a spot on the front and a repair on the back, see pics. The black marks over the graphic are for censorship purposes. These do not appear on the actual t-shirt.






23-03-117648