Music

Read an oral history on music's favourite shoe, the Converse Chuck Taylor

by Nicole Villeneuve

SPIN has put together something really awesome that’s not about a band but just on the tangible edge of this whole music thing, which is sometimes the best stuff to read about: an oral history on every band’s favourite staple shoe, the Converse Chuck Taylor.

From its time as a shoe for pro basketball players to stomping the stage at CBGB, the Chuck Taylor has gone been through an unlikely transition and had a long, long life that’s still going strong.

DENNIS RODMAN (Basketball Hall of Fame inductee, former Converse endorser) Growing up in Texas, I wore Chuck Taylors till they fell off. I was poor. I had nothing, but I felt like I had something in those shoes. Janis Joplin. Jimi Hendrix. Kurt Cobain. Bill Russell. Dr. J. I don’t know if they all wore Chuck Taylors, but in my head, they did. Know what I mean? They’re the shoe. So thanks, Chuck Taylor, whoever the fuck that is.

Read the full thing here.