PUMP UP AND AIR OUT.

one of the most iconic hi-tops of all time was released by reebok in 1989 - it was called THE PUMP.

no words needed for this beast. one look and you know why this hi-top had to rule the land.

reebok pump twilight zone ad (ca. 1990)

reebok pump bringback were rereleased for their 20th birthday

i remember getting a pair of pumps on x-mas in 1990 when i was playing basketball as a kid. putting these boots on and pumping 'em up for the first time put me in a frenzy of childhood happiness. the happy kid wearing a MEGADETH shirt in this video must have felt the same:

reebok went completely mental promoting the pump with plenty of commercials. 

reebok pump tv commercial (ca. 1990)

attacking the most powerful rival on the market, reebok recruited NBA pros dennis rodman and dominique wilkins who dump a pair of nike air command force for the pump in these two 1989 tv spots.

reebok tv spots introducing the original pump 1989

the reebok pump just complete any crude look: whether you sport 'em with a backwards hat and shorts or underneath your acid washed trench coat, the pump just adds instant crudeness.

reebok pump collection ad (ca. 1990)

here's a shot of phil collen, guitarist of hard rock gods DEF LEPPARD, displaying the pump in bright denim and purple singlet.

def leppard promo shot (ca. 1990)

def leppard - i wanna touch u (music video 1992)

USE YOUR ILLUSION I & II.

record store midnight release party for GUNS 'N ROSES use your illusions I & II (1991)

22 years ago right on this day, two of the best albums ever made were released. check out the crude diehards rushing their local record store at midnight to be the first to unwrap the cd longboxes and blast killer tracks like "back off bitch", "right next door to hell" and "you could be mine" on their stereo. acid wash denim jackets, backward hats and mullets all over the place. only letdown: the albums arent't even playing at the store - idiots! 

AXL CONVERSE ERX IN BLACK.

axl on stage ca. 1991

one ultra-rare shot of axl wearing his custom converse hi-top in black.

a day in the backstage life of w. axl rose

WINGER CAN'T GET ENUFF HI-TOPS.

nike jordan V catalogue picture (ca. 1990)

kip winger's preference of jordan V has already been depicted here - and it goes on. winger guitarist reb beach also wore the jordan V's during winger's "in the heart of the young" era.

jordan V tracksuit catalogue ad (ca. 1990)

kip wearing the jordan V on a poster (ca. 1990)

kip winger & german fan in 1990

on a rare 1990-1991 winger world tour shirt, reb wore a pair of nike air flight high's.

winger world tour shirt 90-91

close-up of reb's air flights

reb also sported a pair of jordan V's in this damn cool unplugged session on MTV with slaughter.

winger & slaughter at mtv unplugged 1991

UNDER PRESSURE.

vintage nike air pressure 

the plastic case and hand-pump

the nike air pressure was released in 1989 and came with a inflatable hand-pump to pump up the shoes and a plastic case and shoulder strap to carry these spacecrafts around. it was a reaction to reebok's pump release in the same year - unfortunately not as successful. the most wicked thing nike ever made. 

nike air pressure ad (ca. 1989)

  dave mustaine wearing the air pressure live on stage (ca. 1990)

nick menza was endorsed with a pair of pressures as well

REEBOK COMMITMENT.

reebok commitment mid ad ca. 1989

another look at the reebok commitment

the reebok commitment was released in 1988 and has been worn by nba/ncaa player danny manning and EXTREME bass-player pat badger on the cover of their debut record and their video for "little girls" - highly recommended song, watch & listen below.

extreme - extreme (cd cover 1989)

extreme - little girls (music video 1989)

AXL ROSE CONVERSE ERX.

axl rose on the use your illusion tour 1992-1993

promo shot of axl wearing his erx for rip magazine 

on the last picture, axl shows you how to wear a pair of killer hi-tops: shorts that go 5 inches minimum (!) above the knees, plain white knee-high socks and the tongue sticking out to the max. having your name at the top of the tongue - king of kings.

converse erx stage worn by axl

guns 'n roses - estranged (music video 1993)

one of their very best songs and one hell of a video if you're into insane godlike over-the-top guitar solos or dolphins.

see the axl erx in motion at 09:26 min.

NIKE AIR FLIGHT 89.

nike air flight hi ad ca. 1989

nike air solo flight & nike air flight hi ad ca. 1990

nike air flight high 1989

pictured above is the original 1989 NIKE AIR FLIGHT model.

ultra cool. 

nike air flight 89 (2012 retro)

the mid version has been retroed several times over the years, the original high version at least celebrated a return on a t-shirt this year:

nike sportswear t-shirt 2013

IRREVERENCE. JUSTIFIED.

nike air tech challenge II ad ca. 1989

tennis legend andre agassi in his signature shoes

the nike air tech challenge II seem to have been a favorite of MEGADETH's dave mustaine.

dave mustaine in his prime sporting the air tech challenge II

... and some more shot of dave with his tech II's

megadeth - no more mr. nice guy (music video 1989)

ROBOCOP & KIP WINGER IN NIKE AIR JORDAN V.

kerrang! magazine 1990

kip winger of WINGER wearing jordan V's posing next to ROBOCOP in the british metal and hard rock magazine kerrang! for a ROBOCOP II promotion - so good.

nike air jordan V ad 1990

another ad with jordan nerd spike lee

winger - can't get enuff (music video 1990)

WHITE MEN CAN'T JUMP.

nike air command force

WHITE MEN CAN'T JUMP (1992)

NIKE TRAINER SC VNTG.

nike air trainer sc vntg retro 2013

1989 illustration of the nike air trainer bo jackson

nike cross training ad ca. 1989

back when nike made ultra cool sportswear like crop tees. 

nike bo jackson commercial (1989) - BO KNOWS!

maximum respect to the venice beach guys at 00:40 min. 

BO KNOWS WEIGHTS!

WELCOME.

footlocker ad ca. 1989

welcome to HIGH LIFE IN HI-TOPS.

this presentation is dedicated to the 1987-1992 hi-top sneaker culture, to white leather above the ankles and over-exaggerated sneaker tongues sticking out.

because they just don't make 'em like they used to.

ENJOY.