Showco Swag: History & Gallery
Showco crew shirts weren’t souvenirs—they were working gear and a badge of belonging. This page is a visual timeline of the shirts that identified the crew/family behind the music, from the early printing roots to the touring years, and into what I’m preserving today at Showco Archives.
A visual timeline of the shirts that identified the Family behind the Music.
Part of that story runs through Denton “Tom” Monogram—an early thread in the practical world of crew apparel and printing. I’m sharing a 1975 Denton Monogram print pricing sheet from the archive as a snapshot of that era: the real-world costs and choices behind the ink, the blanks, and the production that helped put crew identity on cotton.
Over time, these shirts became part of the culture of the road: a quick way to identify the crew, mark a tour, and carry a piece of the work home. Today, I’m documenting and preserving the designs and the stories attached to them—so the people behind the shows don’t get lost to time. If you have photos of Showco shirts that aren’t shown here, I welcome contributions to help expand the record.
Email your photos to indigo@showcoarchives.com with any details you know (approx. year, tour/artist, whose shirt it was, and where the photo came from).
By sending photos, you’re confirming you have permission to share them and that Showco Archives may display them with credit.
Showco Inc. Who Autumn Tour 1976 shirt (red on black; velvet flocking - courtesy Jason Gifford
Showco Who Autumn Tour 1976 shirt (red on black; velvet flocking - courtesy Jason Gifford
Showco Inc. Who '76 white on blue shirt - courtesy of Jason Gifford
Showco Who '76 white on blue shirt - courtesy of Jason Gifford
Showco Inc. Van Halen 1980 shirt
Showco Van Halen 1980 shirt
Showco The Jam jersey tee - courtesy of Mike Ponczek
Showco Inc. Alice Cooper '78 shirt
Showco Alice Cooper '78 shirt
Showco - Jackson Browne & The Section Summer Tour 1977 Parka - courtesy of Doc Gans
Showco Kool & the Gang jersey shirt
Showco Kool & the Gang jersey shirt
Showco Light CBS Convention San Diego 1976 STAFF shirt - courtesy of Lewis Lee
Showco Sound Sully's Jesus Christ Superstar ringer tee
Showco Sound Sully's Jesus Christ Superstar ringer tee
The Kinks 1980 Showco Super Ligger Tee - courtesy of Mike Ponczek
Showco Inc. Lynyrd Skynyrd Tour of Japan & Great Britain ringer tee
Showco Inc. Lynyrd Skynyrd Tour of Japan & Great Britain ringer tee
Showco Inc. Lynyrd Skynyrd Fall tour '76 shirt
Showco Inc. 1979 NARM Tee
Showco Sound Mahavishnu Orchestra shirt
Showco Mahavishnu Orchestra shirt
Genesis European Tour '77 SHOWCOKE Shirt - courtesy of Johnny Roberts/Indigo K-May
1982 SHOWCO RARE Rick James Throwin' Down Tour - courtesy of Mike Ponczek
1982 SHOWCO RARE Rick James Throwin' Down Tour - courtesy of Mike Ponczek
SHOWCO Smooth Vinnie & The Fabulous Beards 1975 -James Taylor - courtesy of Doc Gans
SHOWCO Smooth Vinnie & The Fabulous Beards 1975 -James Taylor - courtesy of Doc Gans
Showco Blues Brothers Band Road to Ruin Summer Tour 1981 shirt - courtesy of Jan Griffin
Showco Blues Brothers Band Road to Ruin Summer Tour 1981 shirt - courtesy of Jan Griffin
Showco Led Zeppelin 1977 Pink shirt with red velvet flocking - courtesy of Jan Griffin
Showco Led Zeppelin 1977 Pink shirt with red velvet flocking - courtesy of Jan Griffin
Showco Sound Led Zeppelin shirt - courtesy of Nicky Pannici
Showco Sound Led Zeppelin shirt - courtesy of Nicky Pannici
Showco The Steve Miller Band Summer Serenade 1976 shirt - courtesy of Buddy Prewitt
Showco The Steve Miller Band Summer Serenade 1976 shirt - courtesy of Buddy Prewitt
Showco - SAGA Heads or Tails - Vari-Lite - 1983 shirt - courtesy of Mike Ponczek
Showco - SAGA Heads or Tails - Vari-Lite - 1983 shirt - courtesy of Mike Ponczek
Showco-Genesis-The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway Tee - courtesy of Mike Ponczek
The Paul McCartney World Tour Showco Prism Sound System Vari-Lite polo shirt - courtesy of Mike Ponczek
SHOWCO – THE KINKS – VARI-LITE – 1983 Crew Shirt - courtesy of Mike Ponczek
SHOWCO – THE KINKS – VARI-LITE – 1983 Crew Shirt - courtesy of Mike Ponczek
Showco Bad Company 1976 Tour Shirt - courtesy of Lewis Lee
Showco Who 1976 Black Shirt with Silver Print -courtesy of Lewis Lee
Showco Genesis 1974 American Tour Original Vintage Tee - courtesy of Schertz estate
Showco Genesis 1974 American Tour Original Vintage Tee - courtesy of Schertz estate
Eric Clapton Tour '88 25th Anniversary Showco Vari-Lite Polo shirt - courtesy of Mike Ponczek