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Barney Bubbles Knockout R&B t-shirt

Note that I independently write and research everything in this article. But it may contain affiliate links.

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Images (c) Reasons 2009

If you've got a copy of the excellent Reasons To Be Cheerful: The Life And Work of Barney Bubbles, you'll recognise this t-shirt instantly as the 1964 design for 60s R&B band The Muleskinners. And it's now been reissued in t-shirt form in very limited numbers.

Barney Bubbles was a graphic artist, working within pop culture between the 60s and 80s, but best known for his album artwork for the likes of Hawkwind, Stiff Records, along with his role in the late 60s counter-culture.

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This particular t-shirt design was originally a poster, created for the Muleskinners (the first band of the Small Faces' keyboard player Ian McLagan) as well as for a mods and rockers project and modelled in the poster by 'mod queen' Lorry Sartorio. The rear of the t-shirt features another Bubbles design – for a ticket for a Muleskinners Christmas gig.

A very small run of official reproductions has been made, some given to people connected to the project (including McLagan and Sartorio), the rest are being sold purely to covers costs – and in very limited numbers. A women's t-shirt is available in a medium size, with a male version in large, both selling for £25. If you want one, get in quick via the link below.

Find out more at the Barney Bubbles website

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