Photos courtesy of John Varvatos

It’s no secret that JOHN VARVATOS has a long-standing love affair with rock ’n’ roll, featuring such legends as Cheap Trick, Jimmy Page and Iggy Pop in his ad campaigns. The latest to literally jump in front of legendary photographer Danny Clinch’s lens is rhythm and blues re-invigorators Vintage Trouble. Led by singer Ty Taylor, Vintage Trouble has been energizing audiences with its guitar-powered brand of R&B since 2010, when Taylor joined forces with guitarist Nalle Colt, in turn recruiting bassist Rick Barrio Dill and drummer Richard Danielson. They have since opened for The Rolling Stones, The Who and AC/DC and their following continues to grow; I became a lifelong “Troublemaker” last year, when I saw them live and was hooked by the band’s electric stage presence and music.

The collaboration between Varvatos and Vintage Trouble is particularly well suited because their look is married so completely to their sound. “I have always been a fan of the indisputable fire that rises when music and fashion collide in the purest and most primitive of ways. What I wear completely affects not only my motion, but also my emotion,” says lead singer Ty Taylor. The band has cultivated a hip, retro style featuring three-piece suits, vests, hats and lots of rock attitude—a style lending itself to the Varvatos aesthetic. Says Taylor, “From the moment we met John a few years back, we had a connection that reminded me of the way artists from different mediums melted into each other’s vibes during the beatnik period. We had a deep interest in what the other did and immediately found common ground in our mutual respect.” Varvatos adds, “Shooting this campaign with my good friends from Vintage Trouble was a special treat. This is a band that gives 200 percent at every show, and this shoot captures their incredible energy, talent and style.”

Their charismatic combination of fashion and music took center stage when Clinch filmed the band for the spring/summer 2017 Varvatos campaign at the iconic Kings Theater in Brooklyn, N.Y. Arriving for sound check, the band performs their new song “Knock Me Out,” with Taylor, dressed in all-white John Varvatos, going airborne showcasing his signature kicks and spins. Taylor wears John Varvatos style 510 from De Rigo Rem in the print campaign, and an additional video focusing on the eyewear collection can be seen online in 20/20’s video village.

–Iris Johnson