The Triple Skull Hoodie (2007): The Piece That Wouldn’t Stay Gone
I made the first Triple Skull Hoodie on a whim one morning in Las Vegas in 2007. Bert McCracken asked for it, and people have been asking for it ever since.
The Triple Skull Hoodie started in 2007, on a whim, while I was in Las Vegas working on production. That’s where I did all my screen printing back then, plus other production when I needed it, like mass dyeing or spray painting.I woke up one morning, did my morning routine, walked over to my spray paint table, and the hoodie just came out of me.
Andrew Hanson’s original Triple Skull Hoodie reborn in 2024
How it came togetherBefore this, if I remember correctly, I was printing directly onto the clothing instead of making muslin patches and sewing them on.I chose yellow because it’s a color I love. The red, well, that one’s obvious. It didn’t pop at first, so I added a third accent color, and boom, the skull had depth.I had just picked up a grommet press for another job (a story for later). I thought grommets would really bring the skulls to life. Living in Los Angeles, the Day of the Dead skulls made a big impression on me, and looking back, I’m pretty sure that’s where the inspiration came from. I wanted the eyes to have depth too, so I used three different grommet sizes.
The Triple Skull Hoodie by Andrew Hanson
Bert and the rest of itWhen I got back to LA, I wore it to Bert’s house. If I remember correctly, he asked for it, and the rest is history.The Triple Skull showed up in so much promo. It probably got more play than anything else I ever made.About a year later, I started offering custom colors online. Clients could choose the three print colors and the grommet finish: nickel, brass or gunmetal.
The Used wearing the Triple Skull Hoodie on the cover of Alt Press Magazine 2007
People kept lookingOver the years, old clients and people who always wanted one kept trying to find me. Eventually they did, and I finally gave in and brought it back.Today people share old photos of the Triple Skull Hoodies they’ve kept all these years. That’s what gets me the most. It’s really something to see that people held on to them. Some have even passed them down to their kids.
One of the best dudes I know wearing his custom Triple Skull Hoodie, 2008
Here to stayWhen I first brought it back, I planned to make it limited and never make it again. But people kept asking, and it was never really a limited piece to begin with, so I gave in again.That’s it in a nutshell. The Triple Skull Hoodie is staying.Every one is still made the original way, by hand, by me. See the Triple Skull Hoodie Still have yours? Send me a photo. I’d love to see where it’s been.
The Magazine That Kept Coming Back: Alternative Press (2004–2012)
My first Alternative Press feature ran in 2004, and I priced everything way too low. Then the features kept coming, and one editor made it all happen.
Alternative Press wasn’t my first magazine appearance, but it became the one that kept coming back.The first featureMy first AP feature ran in 2004, in their back-to-school buyer’s guide. It featured the “Revolution Tee” from my first collection, the Punk Is Dead Tour.
Alternative Press tear sheet featuring Andrew Hanson’s Punk Is Dead Tour collection, 2004
And I definitely priced everything way too low. Pure artist brain, zero business sense. Time fixes things.Buyer’s guides, covers, editorialsFrom there, the features kept rolling: buyer’s guides, covers, editorials. One of my favorites is “Head Shot” from 2005: a skull hand-printed with spray paint on a hand-dyed shirt.
“Head Shot” t-shirt by Andrew Hanson featured in Alternative Press, 2005
It picked up even more when The Used and I were thick as thieves. In July 2007, Bert McCracken wore the Triple Skull Hoodie in Alternative Press, and it’s still one of the most requested pieces I’ve ever made. More on The Used in a future entry.
Bert McCracken of The Used wearing the Triple Skull Hoodie in Alternative Press, July 2007
The confession, and the gratitudeLeslie Simon. None of this would have happened without her.She championed the work, pulled pieces for shoots and kept me in the loop.I wish I’d handled it better. Anxiety and overthinking got the best of me back then. It doesn’t excuse it, but it’s the truth.
Alternative Press tear sheet featuring Andrew Hanson’s “Kill Pop” hoodie 2006
I should have taken better care of her, and of Aaron (pretty sure that was his name), who put me up for a night in San Diego. I should have done more to thank them both. Young and dumb.Leslie, thank you. You made my 20s unforgettable, and I’ll always appreciate it more than I can express.
Alternative Press tear sheet, close-up of Andrew Hanson’s white skull hoodie 2008
Your turnWho opened a door for you early on, before you knew how to say thank you?Leave their name in the comments. It’s never too late to give someone their credit.
Alternative Press tear sheet, close-up of Andrew Hanson’s white skull hoodie and heART thermal 2007
Alternative Press tear sheet featuring Andrew Hanson’s white skull hoodie and “City of Devils” piece
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YRB picked me up at my first trade show in 2003. Two years later, I was running ads in their magazine featuring Bert McCracken of The Used, and getting regular product features.