{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O301434"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O301434/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2014HE9542/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2014HE9542/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"low","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2014HE9542","copyright":"©Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":null},"record":{"systemNumber":"O301434","accessionNumber":"T.619-1997","objectType":"T-shirt","titles":[{"title":"King Kurt: Big Cock","type":"assigned by artist"}],"summaryDescription":"This T-shirt was printed for the rock-and-roll band King Kurt (active 1981-1988). It would have been sold to fans attending their concerts, tours and live performances, or through mail order. While many of the shirts feature artwork by Rory Lyons, the drummer for the original band, depicting his alter-ego \"Kurt the Rat\", this shirt was printed in 1986 to mark the release of King Kurt's 1985 album \"Big Cock\" with a picture of a large rooster above the album title and the band's name above.\n\nThis shirt was part of a large collection of T-shirts collected by Richard L. Velleman who died in either 1994 or 1995, which included many band shirts from his favourite rock and punk music groups. There are at least five King Kurt shirts, which indicates that Velleman admired the band. Other shirts in the collection featureskateboarding, surfing, partying, LGBTQ+ and safe-sex themes, and/or random amusing designs. \r\n\r\nWe do not know who Richard Velleman was or anything about him beyond that he collected and wore these shirts, many of which show clear signs of having formed part of an actively and enthusiastically worn wardrobe; and that the collection of shirts was donated to us in his memory. The choice of T-shirts is often deeply personal and subject to the wearer's individual taste, acting as a wearable billboard for their beliefs, tastes and other opinions.","physicalDescription":"White cotton T-shirt printed with 'King Kurt Big Cock' and a large chicken.","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Unknown","id":"A1848"},"association":{"text":"","id":""},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"cotton","id":"AAT14067"}],"techniques":[{"text":"printing","id":"AAT53319"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Printed cotton","categories":[{"text":"Clothing","id":"THES48975"},{"text":"Textiles","id":"THES48885"},{"text":"Fashion","id":"THES48957"},{"text":"Music","id":"THES253065"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"T&F","id":"THES48601"},"images":["2014HE9542"],"imageResolution":"low","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"005","id":"THES309397"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"T-shirt","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"Great Britain","id":"x32019"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"1986","earliest":"1986-01-01","latest":"1986-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"Donated by Andrew Shanahan in memory of Richard L. Velleman","dimensions":[],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[{"content":"'King Kurt Big Cock'","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"","position":"","script":"","translation":"","transliteration":"","type":"","note":"printed"}],"objectHistory":"Rock-n-roll band King Kurt (1981-1988) released their 'Big Cock' album in 1985. The band split in 1988, but a live act including three original members was active 1992-96 and the band also reunited in the 2010s.\n\nThe drummer for the original band, Rory Lyons, created the cover art and handwritten newsletters for the band which usually featured \"Kurt the Rat\" (also Lyons's alter ego with which he signed off the newsletters), a grotesque cartoon rat.","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Printed cotton T-shirt, probably by PWP London for King Kurt's music album Big Cock. London, 1986","bibliographicReferences":[],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["T.619-1997"],"accessionNumberNum":"619","accessionNumberPrefix":"T","accessionYear":1997,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2025-05-14","recordCreationDate":"2009-06-24","availableToBook":true}}