Words cannot capture the awesomeness of this item, a beige 100% cotton t-shirt bearing the artwork from Blue Öyster Cult's under-appreciated 1973 album Tyranny and Mutation in - what else? - red and black. The original size Medium shirt dates from the mid-1970s and it has seen a lot; lately, it has seen extra duty as a contractor work shirt, which has primed it into ideal condition as the ultimate party or concert accessory. I can only imagine how cool this would look underneath a biker jacket, or on its own over a black bra, or whatever, you decide, but people will probably not take their eyes off you (this is mere speculation and not a guarantee). The shirt is fragile, yet clearly it has retained a few of its best outings yet to come, or at least one, depending on how rough it gets.
The artwork deviates from the Tyranny and Mutation album art primarily in the respect that the stylized "THE BLVE ÖYSTER CVLT: TYRANNY AND MVTATION" are missing from the black concentric circles in the upper half of the album design, replaced simply with 'THE BLUE ÖYSTER CULT" at the bottom of the shirt design. Go grab a copy of the album or search the image on-line to compare.
From that bottom part of the design, up to about two-thirds of the way to the neck, the fabric is not affected by holes, and that sector is not as worn as the areas above the chest and in the shoulders.
As mentioned previously, this 40+ year old t-shirt has lately been used as a work shirt. Consequently there's paint lightly streaked a little bit on the lower quarter. Rather than being a condition issue, this enhances it as the ultimate concert garb or party accoutrement. Truly it would be a challenge to look better than would this item underneath that leather biker's jacket or maybe that denim vest, or on its own over a skinny black bra as one does, or whatever, it's up to you. It could be made into flag, or a small curtain, or stitched onto another piece of clothing, I don't know. It's the Cult, you know? Tyranny and Mutation, man. Side one with "O.D.'d on Life Itself" and "7 Screaming Diz-Busters," and what a LIVE show. Those were great times. Anyway.
The neck ring has remained intact and sturdy while distributing the ring wear evenly. The largest hole in the panels is in the back at the left shoulder from the top seam, and it measures about 3" across. There are other, smaller holes in adjacent areas. Holes have also developed in front in the top of the design, especially at the edges of the heavier dark parts of the silk screen pattern. These are natural holes, however, that have developed over time - holes that look way more authentic than one finds with retail apparel or even something from a designer.
Measurements are in order, although this is not a clothing expert here (the numbers in this listing are approximations or guessing). As previously mentioned it was ordered as a teenager's size medium and has likely shrunk over time. It measures about 17" from armpit seam to armpit seam and it is 20" tall from the hem to the top front of the neckband, and 22" from shoulder to hem.