The black band T-shirt is one of the most iconic symbols in heavy metal culture.

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Across the metal community, people come from completely different walks of life. Different ages, backgrounds, careers, beliefs and experiences. The one thing that connects them is the music that shaped who they are, and the shirt they chose to represent it.

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This ongoing portrait series explores that connection through photographs of real metalheads wearing the band shirt that means the most to them. Each portrait is a glimpse into a personal story. A memory, a turning point, a lifelong passion, or a sense of belonging found through music.

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More than a project about clothing, it is a celebration of the people, identities and communities behind the black band T-shirt, a shared symbol that unites us despite the incredible diversity we represent.

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Click on each portrait to hear the voice behind it, as participants share what the music, the band, or the shirt means to them.

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Started in 2019, the project continues to document the people and stories behind the black band T-shirt.