The Bitchin’ Old School 1980’s Rocker Jean Jacket

If you grew up in the 1980's, chances are you made some regrettable fashion choices back in the day.  The pictures of my mullet have long since been destroyed, along with my acid washed jeans.  And while my short lived 14 inch rat tail doesn't seem nearly as cool these days, there is one old school accessory that will never go out of style...the super rad, completely gnarly, totally bitchin' rocker jean jacket.

Just like every chick carried a gigantic, ozone depleting bottle of Aqua Net in her purse, every rocker worth his salt rocked the jean jacket.  Usually torn, weathered and tattered, it provided more than just warmth.  That jean jacket was a uniform.  One that struck fear into the hearts of new wavers, preppy kids and jocks alike.

Of course, every real rocker's jean jacket had to be adorned with at least 5 or 6 band patches, some sewn on, others attached with safety pins.  Sure, you could have the king sized Twisted Sister back patch, but it wasn't complete until it was complimented with the requisite Ozzy, Maiden, Dokken and Anthrax patches on the sleeves and front lapels.

And we all knew that one guy who opted for a mammoth Slayer logo and pentagram drawn in black magic marker.  That dude was usually the 19 year old guy who was still a sophomore.  You'd see him in the 7-11 parking lot, selling nickelbags while your were waiting for your turn to play Street Fighter II on the arcade.

The rocker chicks had killer jean jackets too.  Typically slashed with razor blades, her sleeves were covered in Cinderella, Poison, Skid Row and Def Leppard patches with a portrait of Jon Bon Jovi stenciled on the back in Sharpie.  Those babes knew how to party too.  Ah, the good ole days.  When we rolled our pants up at the bottom, gathered by the hundreds in abandoned fields and shotgunned cheap domestic beers, pumping our fists whenever Quiet Riot's "Come on Feel the Noise" came on the radio.  I would describe what happened next...but I can't to seem the remember.