Gene Simmons tried to get them a record deal and wanted them to change the name of the band to daddy longlegs. That's more of a boogie rock band kinda name, than a heavy metal band name, though. So they were already on the scene in 77, and Dave had lots of NYC connections from way back. But I don't know if they would have had their own band t shirts already, that was a bigger deal back then. Now you can have everything DIY, make your own album, t shirts, posters, etc. You don't need a big shot like Gene Simmons, hitting on your girlfriends, telling you what to do.