Stitching the Scenes: Building Metal and Punk Communities One Patch at a Time Flash Exhibit by Paola Salazar, LSC Collection Management Student Assistant

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Battle Vest Breakdown: Battle vests or jackets originated during World War II (WWII) when fighter pilots decorated their flight jackets with patches of their squadrons, drawings of pin-up girls, and cartoons. After the war, many airmen joined motorcycle clubs and they continued to decorate their jackets, except this time they cut the sleeves off and added patches of their motorcycle clubs' insignias. The term “battle vest” became popular in the 80s when patches were sold at heavy metal concerts. Fans called them “battle patches,” in reference to the WWII origins of the battle jacket. The battle vest is something very personal in the heavy metal community as it represents dedication to the scene. A battle vest typically involves stitching a large patch of your all-time favorite band on the back center of the vest and adding smaller patches of bands from the same scene. Metalheads often accessorize their vests with studs, spikes, safety pins, and buttons.

Hailing from East LA . . . Armando Rollice’s Statement on his battle vest. Collection of Heavy Metal Music Material (Collection 2269).

4.17.14

I started making this vest about 2 years ago because it is a hobby I enjoy. I have several metal vest/jackets that I have made since the 1980s. This vest in particular is made with a Levi vest I acquired in the 80s. I wore it many times but started to add patches about 2 years ago using various patches from my collection box which include Saxon, Black Sabbath, Krokus, MSG, Scorpions. Others were acquired through pen pals from the 80s, local record stores, and others I purchased through eBay.

Each patch was sewn on by hand and using a sewing machine. The studs were also all done by hand. It took me about 2 years to complete the vest. This vest was made from my heart and is hard to part with.

Heavy metal music is the music I grew up with. In the late 70s, I listened to Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath, Van Halen, and AC/DC. Then, in the early 80s, bands like Judas Priest and Iron Maiden just blew me away. I attended my first Slayer show in 1983 and that gave me a whole new meaning of Metal. it was loud, fast, and powerful, and since that point, my friend and I seeked [sic] out metal shows all around L.A. and record shops. We would take the bus or get rides to see shows like Motorhead, Mercyful Fate, Exodus, Savage Grace, Armored Saint, Steeler, Metallica, and many other bands.

We were at the local record store almost every day buying fanzines, records, buttons, and anything metal. We even had penpals from all over the United States, trading tapes, trading flyers, patches, shirts, anything and everything Metal!

No other music can bring people together like Heavy Metal! Some 30 plus years later, I still go to shows and it is still my favorite music. It is instilled in my heart. You can say Metal Music flows through my veins!

Heavy Metal Muthas For Life! --- Armando

Punk U Quilt: Quilt inspired by the Library Special Collections Punk Archive and created by students enrolled in Professor Jessica Schwartz's Musicology seminar, Punk U at UCLA in Spring 2017. Punk zines and ephemera collection (Collection 2276).

Wanda Coleman the “the unofficial poet laureate of Los Angeles”, photographed at the Whisky-a-Go-Go from the Wanda Coleman papers (Collection 2282) surrounded by punk flyers from the Janet Cunningham papers (Collection 2355), The American Hotel and Al's Bar Project records (Collection 2305), and the Max Ward collection of powerviolence material (Collection 2345).

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UCLA Library Special Collections

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Photos by Paola Salazar