This t-shirt has significance as a record of the 'Stop the Drop' concert held at Melbourne's Myer Music Bowl on Sunday 13 February 1983. The donor Kevin Fewster was one of the organisers of two 'Stop the drop' concerts, this and another held in 1984. Both events featured Australian rock bands and raised funds for People for Nuclear Disarmament.

The 1983 concert was attended by 8000 people. The bands that appeared were INXS, Midnight Oil, Goanna and Redgum. Midnight Oil helped to organise the concert and were the headlining act. The band has supported other groups promoting environmental awareness and social justice, such as Greenpeace, Rock Against Racism, Aboriginal Land Rights and the Wilderness Society. In 1984 the band's singer Peter Garrett ran for the Australian Senate in NSW for the Nuclear Disarmament Party but was not elected.

Also at this concert, members of Goanna, Midnight Oil and Redgum recorded an impromptu song to protest the proposed damming of Tasmania's Franklin River. Released as 'Let The Franklin Flow' by Gordon Franklin and the Wilderness Ensemble, it reached number 15 on the charts in May that year.

The 1983 concert was televised by Network Ten and simulcast nationally on FM radio, including 2MMM in Sydney. The organisers of the concert and telecast were awarded the United Nations Media Prize. A video recording of the 1983 concert was released as 'Stop the Drop: a Concert for Nuclear Disarmament', directed by Bernie Cannon and produced by Andrew McVitty. It was later released on DVD.

Taking advantage of the publicity surround the 'Stop the Drop' concert, J&B Records released an LP record titled 'Stop the Drop But Don't Stop the Bop', featuring songs recorded by Cold Chisel, INXS, Mondo Rock, Radiators, Rose Tattoo, Redgum and others.

People for Nuclear Disarmament (PND) was an Australian community organisation of citizens seeking an end to the nuclear arms race and wanting Australia to play an active role for nuclear disarmament. Formed in 1981, it was part of an international movement that included Britain's Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament. It opposed the export of uranium, the ANZUS treaty and US bases in Australia such as Pine Gap that were perceived to contribute to the preparation for nuclear war. In the mid-1980s, nuclear disarmament rallies on Palm Sunday and Hiroshima Day attracted crowds in Sydney and Melbourne larger than any demonstrations since the movement against the Vietnam War.

According to correspondence with the donor, the 'Stop the drop' logo was designed by 'a small graphic design office in Melbourne who the Oils were using then for tour posters'. Maker unknown.

The donor Kevin Fewster was one of the organisers of the 1983 'Stop the Drop' concert. He wore the t-shirt on the day of the concert.

T-shirt, nuclear disarmament, 'Stop the drop', polyester / cotton, maker unknown, worn by Kevin Fewster at the 'Stop the drop' concert, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 1983

Cream-coloured short sleeve t-shirt made of polyester cotton jersey. Text on front in yellow and black lettering: 'Stop the drop / Disarm now!'. With a red illustration of a peace sign on musical stave. Text on back in yellow and black lettering: 'INXS / Midnight Oil / Goanna / Redgum / 3pm Sun. Feb.13 Myer Music Bowl'.

Made: Unknown; Australia; 1983

Used: Fewster, Kevin; Melbourne, Victoria; 1983

One tag on back of neck with text: 'Size 20 / Chest 105cm'. Other tag on back of neck has washing instructions plus text: 'Polyester / cotton / Made in Australia'.

2008/42/1

1983

460 mm