The All-Time Greatest Punk, Rock and Metal Sneaker Collaborations
We know the connection between has been apparent from the earliest incarnations of the genre, but real heads will know that footwear has also had a profound influence on the , rock and metal scenes over the years. Whether it’s Joe Strummer in or Dave Mustaine in , finding killer sneaker moments in among the genre's rich histories doesn’t take much digging. Hell, it’s even easier to spot ‘em against all that black. The actual collaborations have been few and far between, but there have certainly been some heavy-hitters in recent times. So, let’s sift through the noise to uncover some of the best punk/rock/metal sneaker collaborations ever.
Bad Brains x Supreme x Vans Sk8 Hi (2008)
The mother of all hardcore acts, Bad Brains were formed in Washington DC in the late 1970s. Known for channelling a wide range of musical influences, from heavy metal to funk, Bad Brains teamed up with and to pay homage to their much publicised love of reggae, the trio of proving that black-on-black is not necessarily standard issue when it comes to hardcore.
Launched alongside two t-shirts and a Harrington jacket, the collection landed in 2008, when the band's members consisted of guitarist Dr. Know, bassist Darryl Jennifer, and drummer Earl Hudson (the Bad Brains lineup has changed consistently over the years).
Of course, the legendary skate label have had a long history in the US hardcore scene, with bands adopting silhouettes like the Sk8-Hi for on-stage durability and skate stylings. Previously, punk had favoured loud looks typified by punk godmother Vivienne Westwood and the indomitable .
Shinedown x Air Jordan 1 'Attention, Attention!' (2018)
Inspired by the band's 2018 album Attention Attention, an exclusive Air Jordan 1 colourway was created for Jacksonville radio rockers Shinedown. Guitarist Zach Myers could be the biggest sneakerhead in rock today, so the Jay certainly ended up on worthy feet.
Featuring an exclamation point on the heels, a homage to the classic album artwork, the Air Jordan 1 borrows its blocking from the legendary ‘Black Toe’ colourway, which has its roots in the 1980s. The fan-favourite model is once again expected to make a return this year, the ‘Black Toe Reimagined’ reportedly landing late 2024.
The sixth studio album by Shinedown, Attention Attention was a concept album detailing the experiences of overcoming negativity and becoming reborn as an individual. The album was certified Gold by the RIAA and Music Canada.
Released as a family and friends drop, even the ultimate groupies probably missed out on these.
Nike Dunk High ‘Deftones’ (2003)
Formed by high school friends Chino Moreno, Stephen Carpenter, Chi Cheng, Frank Delgado and Abe Cunningham in Sacramento during the late 1980s, Deftones are arguably more popular now than they’ve ever been. Known for their haunting, avant-garde sound, the Deftones also broke the mould by becoming the first nu-metal band with a Nike collaboration. First glimpsed in 2003, the Nike ‘Deftones’ was rendered in black and green with full-grain leather and tonal canvas. Stamped with white Deftones branding on the heel overlays, these chimeral Dunks were made exclusively for friends and family, with only 43 pairs rumoured to be manufactured. Occasionally, pairs find their way onto the secondary market, the collaboration most recently appeared online for an ear-splitting $45,000! (shipping ignominiously not included).
A celebration of their fourth (self-titled) album, the record was the last album produced by Terry Date, until Deftones linked up with him again in 2020 for Ohms. An eclectic mix of musical genres and influences, Deftones debuted at number two on the Billboard 200.
Nike SB Dunk High 'Dinosaur Jr,' (2007)
Designed by Dinosaur Jr. frontman J Mascis, the Dunk High collaboration landed in 2007. With their albums long providing the thumping soundtrack for skaters across the US, it was only fitting that Nike SB would tap the rock legend J Mascis for the partnership, the Massachusetts musician and creative polymath unleashing a memorable SB Dunk of the Black Box era.
Inspired by the gargantuan boots emblematic of 1970s glam rock, the space-age, silver-coated leather Dunk was not for the faint-hearted, the gaudy collaboration complete with Dinosaur Jr.’s Art Nouveau logo and peace sign flashing mascot. The colour purple also features predominantly on the SB Dunk, as it does across much of Dinosaur Jr. 's album artwork and merch, the colour a favourite for frontman Mascis.
Generating cult appeal through three classic albums of the 1980s (Dinosaur, You’re Living All Over Me, and Bug), Dinosaur Jr. continues to hammer home raw hits and tour widely, the latest album, Sweep Into Space, landing in 2021.
Sub Pop x Nike SB Blazer High (2009)
Immortalised by inking deals with Seattle grunge godfathers Nirvana, Soundgarden and Mudhoney, record label Sub Pop is in a league of its own when it comes to popularising the once underground genre. Founded in the hallowed ground of Seattle in 1986 by Bruce Pavitt and Jonathan Poneman, Sub Pop landed their first sneaker collaboration in the late 2000s, hooking up with Nike SB for a remix of the Embroidering ‘SP78’ on the heels, a nod to the record label’s catalogue number, the Blazer does a good job sticking out with a blaring yellow palette emblematic of the Sub Pop visuals.
For its part, the Nike Blazer carved out a space on the hardwood in the early 1970s. Etymologically linked to the Portland Trailblazers, the silhouette was later retooled by the team at Nike SB, who long lauded basketball silhouettes for their performance durability.
Pearl Jam x Vans Sk8-Hi (2011)
Not many bands can rival the staying power of Seattle’s Pearl Jam. With a career spanning 12 studio albums, 23 live albums, three compilation albums and 42 singles, Eddie Vedder's 90s juggernaut continues to recruit new members to their dedicated fanbase.
In 2011, Pearl Jam paid homage to the 20th anniversary of their debut album Ten, linking up with Vans for a double pack of Sk8-His. Featuring a plaid rendition (traditional punk rock garb) and green/yellow colourway, the collaboration was a throwback to the halcyon days of 90s grunge. Over on the heels, Pearl Jam logos also provided a little extra fanfare.
Of course, Ten has since gone down in rock and roll hall of fame. Remaining on the Billboard 200 for nearly five years, the record went on to become one of the highest-selling albums ever, going 13 times platinum in the US. Pearl Jam’s sophomore LP Vitality didn’t do too badly either, becoming the second-fastest-selling CD in history at the time (with more than 877,000 sold in the first week).
Melvins x Nike SB Dunk High (2005)
Washington’s premier purveyors of sludge since 1983, the Melvins x Nike SB Dunk High is still one of the most metal collaborations we’ve ever seen. Coming in both a blood-splattered white iteration and murdered-out black, the design was even emblazoned with a Chinese symbol that translates to ‘blood’.
Landing just before the band’s much-anticipated Fall 2005 tour of the US, the two colourways feature skull and crossbones iconography as well as the Melvin’s classic logo. Another head-banging collaboration from the team at Nike SB, the Melvin’s duo belonged to the Pink Box era, a loaded year that included other highly prized classics like the Futura ‘D.U.N.K.L.E’ (2004) and the Rayguns (2005).
Most recently, the lords of Pacific Northwest sludge hooked up with Supreme for the Spring 2024. The collection took various aesthetic cues from the band’s album artwork, specifically the two-headed dog synonymous with the classic 1993 LP, Houdini.
Iron Maiden x Nike SB Dunk High (2003)
A tribute to indomitable Beasts from the East, the Iron Maiden x Nike SB Dunk High still lives in sneaker folklore to this day. Limited to just friends and family, the model featured a transparent Swoosh in order to highlight Iron Maiden’s ghoulish mascot beneath, while the band’s iconic typography was stamped across the heels.
A member of the beloved Silver Box era, the design took aesthetic cues from the self-titled debut LP of Iron Maiden, which featured the classic ‘Eddie the Head’ mascot. Appearing on the artwork of Iron Maiden’s entire discography (and nearly all of the band’s mountains of merch), the design was originally illustrated by British artist Derek Riggs. Most commonly seen in his zombie-like form, ‘Eddie the Head’ has also appeared in various other diabolical guises like samurai warriors, lobotomised mental patients, and cyborgs.
Rumoured to have a production run of just 24 pairs, these are still some of the most sought after SB Dunks in existence. In the words of Iron Maiden, ‘Oh the dreamers may die, but the dreams live on.’
Grateful Dead x Nike SB Dunk Low (2020)
One of the great Striped Box-era Nike SB Dunks, the Grateful Dead x Nike SB Dunk Low collaboration landed in 2020. Coming in a trio of psychedelic neon colourways, the model was manufactured in fuzzy-as-hell panels taking cues from the iconic GFD bear logo. There’s also a hidden zip stash pocket if you know where to look.
‘I spent a lot of time sketching different Swooshes and working on the zipper tongues’ Nike SB designer Bryce Wong last year. ‘It was just so fun to dig into the details. We actually put the name Owsley Stanley on the shoe. He was an audio engineer that used to make the acid for the band.’
The original bear design was actually illustrated by Bob Thomas on the back cover of the album, History of the Grateful Dead, Volume One (Bear’s Choice) in 1973. The dead never die!
Korn x adidas (2023, 2024)
Hailing from Bakersfield, California, Korn is still a favourite among nu-metal heads across the globe. Longtime fans of Team Trefoil, Korn even recorded the song A.D.I.D.A.S in 1997, a record that belonged to their second studio album, Life is Peachy. When queried about Korn’s connection to the brand, frontman Jonathan Davis told Kerrang! magazine. it was ‘about breaking the mould… it was about going against everything that metal was supposed to be.’
Flash forward to 2023 and Korn finally hooked up with Three Stripes for a collection including the and Supermodified, the collaboration replete with classic Korn typography and monochromatic metal stylings. In terms of apparel, the capsule also included nu-metal remixes of adi’s classic tracksuits – a favourite item for Korn band members. Davis even customised his own adidas tracksuits with sequins!
For those that missed out, don’t reach for the tissue box just yet. adidas launched a on May 15, this time featuring the Campus 2.0.