Die Kreuzen

My best friend’s name was Trevor Lanigan, and the band Die Kreuzen played a seminal role in our friendship. Trevor and I went to high school together, but we weren’t friends then. In fact, he hated me and took every opportunity to give me a hard time. He was viciously funny, especially with an audience. Let’s just say I took some direct hits. But it didn’t matter—I thought he was the coolest guy alive. The way he dressed, his attitude, the music he listened to, the way he played guitar, the fact that he was like a walking middle finger—all of that really appealed to me. Trevor used to wear a leather jacket, Ramones-style, and, on the shoulder, he painted some band names—it was sharp work, really artistic. I remember trying to get close enough to him, in school or at parties, so that I could read the names, but not close enough so that he’d rip on me. At some point I finally managed—without becoming collateral damage—to read them. One was Die Kreuzen. I was struck by it—had no idea what it meant then, but it sounded ominous. So I went to our local indie record store and bought as many of their records as I could find. This was 1987, so there were two—the self-titled debut and October File. The first LP is ripping and technical hardcore. One of the fiercest, blistering records I’ve ever heard. The second features some of that hardcore and what I came to think of as DK’s unique brand of post-punk. Which is basically a way of saying they played excellent rock music that wasn’t easily categorized. I loved both of them, especially October File, and listened to them religiously. Later, when Trevor and I started hanging out, he saw the Die Kreuzen records in my collection, and I remember the look of satisfaction on his face (that I had those records). I never told him I heard about them from him because I wanted him to like me. So… basically I used Die Kreuzen to trick him into being my friend. We eventually became band mates, and then (for all intents and purposes) brothers. We were friends for over 30 years. A lot of that time we spent playing music and touring North America. Every time Die Kreuzen put out a new record, we got it and listened with awe. They just kept getting better. We saw them whenever we could, and the live show was fantastic as well. When the opportunity came up to do this shirt, I couldn’t believe it. I was thrilled. I drew the shirt design based off the Cows and Beer EP cover art by Richard Kohl—always loved his artwork for Die Kreuzen. It’s a little bittersweet though, because Trevor passed away a couple of years ago. I wish he was still alive so I could give him one of these shirts. I think he would have been stoked. This band’s been a part of my life for three and a half decades. Every time I hear them I think of my best friend. Without Die Kreuzen, we might not have been friends at all. -Abe Brennan

LIMITED TO 300. Printed on Canvas soft cotton tees. Ladies tees printed in Bella Canvas “Favorite Tees”. Ladies’ sizes run small.