{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O301477"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O301477/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2014HF5468/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2014HF5468/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"low","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2014HF5468","copyright":"©Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":null},"record":{"systemNumber":"O301477","accessionNumber":"T.576-1997","objectType":"T-shirt","titles":[],"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. The artwork on the front was created by Rory Lyons, who was the drummer for the original band, and depicts a rodent-like cartoon character called \"Kurt the Rat\" which was also Lyon's alter ego with which he signed off the hand-writtten newsletters that were photocopied to be sent out to the band's fan-club. King Kurt split up in 1988, but a live act including three original members was active 1992-96 and the band also reunited in the 2010s.\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 some 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 the Kurt the Rat character dressed as Elvis with an Elvis belt buckle, purple drape suit, blue suede 'brothel-creeper' shoes and a huge blue quiffed hairstyle. The word \"Billy\" between the rat's legs.","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Rory Lyons","id":"AUTH407726"},"association":{"text":"artist","id":"AAT25103"},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[{"name":{"text":"PWP London","id":"AUTH407723"},"association":{"text":"manufacturers","id":"AAT25230"},"note":""}],"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"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"T&F","id":"THES48601"},"images":["2014HF5468"],"imageResolution":"low","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"011","id":"THES306508"},"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":"1985","earliest":"1985-01-01","latest":"1985-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"Donated by Andrew Shanahan in memory of Richard L. Velleman","dimensions":[],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[{"content":"'King Kurt Billy'","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, printed by PWP for King Kurt with \"Kurt the Rat\" artwork by Rory Lyons. Great Britain, 1985","bibliographicReferences":[],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["T.576-1997"],"accessionNumberNum":"576","accessionNumberPrefix":"T","accessionYear":1997,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2025-05-13","recordCreationDate":"2009-06-24","availableToBook":true}}