Last week the Animal Collective bros released an official mixtape for their new … sneakers. That is a thing now. Gotta keep fans on their toes (ouch, sorry). The shoes which you can see here benefit the Socorro island Conservation Fund, and they are cruelty free, except to your eyes.
I did some research, and it turns out that dozens of indie and punk bands have licensed sneakers. Most are quite ugly, and many -- Biz Markie Keds, Bad Brains flip-flops -- are hilarious.
A few fun facts to keep in mind while you browse our Complete Guide to rock footwear:
- In addition to Animal Collective's KEEPs, both No Age and Tegan & Sara's kicks are vegan/you can eat them.
- Three record labels have their own sneakers -- Sub Pop, Stones Throw, and Def Jam.
- Stephin Merritt was not involved in the creation of the Magnetic Fields-inspired Bluedys (thank god) so we didn't include it.
- The only major sneaker brand not represented is New Balance. Apologies to duped Joy Division completists.
- Honorable mention to these fan-made "Thriller" shoes, which look complicated.
- The most expensive kicks are Eminem's limited Jordan Retro 2, which sell for $2k on eBay. Kanye's Air Yeezys are a close second, unless you count the one-of-a-kind Air Yeezy Gay Fish. Also sought-after are Dinosaur jr's Nike SBs. Check out the video below to find out if you've got counterfeits.
[videoembed size="full_width" alignment="center"][/videoembed]
Check out the pics, then tell us in the comments which band's pair is ugliest.
Next week: 100 Greatest Scarves.
