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Minor Threat have caused controversy by allowing fashion retailer Urban Outfitters to sell their t-shirts.
The politically consciencious punk band have never sold any official clothing, giving way to bootleggers. Now frontman Ian MacKaye has given his approval for the clothes chain to stock their shirts. Urban Outfitters will begin selling Minor Threat t-shirts featuring an adaptation of the album cover for Out Of Step for $28.
MacKaye owns and runs Dischord record labels, and thus has always held the rights to make clothing but has until now always taken a stand against it. MacKaye told the Washington City Paper: "It's not a political thing for me. It's fucking absurd the amount of bootlegs [that] are out there."
Having spent a great deal of time and energy into tracking down bootleggers, MacKaye describes the process as 'a complete waste of time'. Despite his efforts, he also puzzlingly added: "I just don't give a fuck about T-shirts."
Now MacKaye has set up a manufacturing deal with the Californian company TSURT in order to produce offical t-shirts. He now considers the issue of bootlegging to be TSURT's problem, adding: "My time is better spent doing other things."
Watch Minor Threat perform 'In My Eyes' below:
He continued: "Do I think it's absurd? Yes, I certainly do. Motherfuckers pay $28 - that's what they wanna pay for their shirts."
The singer was reminded of how much people will spend on flashy shoes, commenting: "I guess it makes their feet feel fuckin' rich."
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