My house is a relatively merch-free zone, but I plumped for my four-year-old son's first guitar, acquired from a charity shop, not so much because of its easy action or pleasing tone, but because it's plastered with Grand Funk Railroad stickers.

One day, he'll thank me.

collection Of British TEA Power mugs. Canvas shopping bags seem popular BSP have one with "Caveat Emptor" (?) on it.
I have small sachet of Primitive shampoo incase Tracy Tracy needs her blond locks rinsing.
lastly for some reason some body always mentions "Joy Division oven gloves" so i've got that out of the way ;)

The autographed Original Asia clocks have sold out but you could get hold of a tote bag, eraseable fridge magnet or sea serpent if you are quick.

http://www.oneshoprock.com/products.asp?id=108&Cat=ASIA+Gift+Shop&SubCat...

I have a Nick Cave tea towel, an REM tea tray, a Kylie Minogue teacup and saucer and some Manic Street Preachers fridge magnets.

One day I shall preside over a Kitchen Of Rock (tm)

a Ice T spoon, some sugar cubes, and some thing from that indie super group the "family Cake stand"

are clearly the new money-spinner amongst the so-called heritage acts. I have a nice set supplied by Messrs. Bowie, Simon and Mac.

At one of those Elvis gigs - original Las Vegas era band playing live to vocals on the big screen - I bought a postcard with Elvis's recipe for deep fried peanut and banana sandwiches. Given the nature of his decline and demise, not the most tasteful merchandising perhaps. But to be fair that's why I bought it.

My only other piece of merchandise - and I may have menioned this before - was bought as a present for my Stevie Nicks-loathing sister. It was a cute teddy bear dressed in a Fleetwood Mac T shirt, although sadly it did not come with a small plastic straw for blowing cocaine up its arse.

This reminded me that Viz used to make a Shakin' Stevens alarm clock, Shakey's legs revolved around the clock face. Apparently it was withdrawn from sale due to the razor sharp workings. Still got one in the garage, which I will now be digging out after reading the price this place sells them for...(scroll down on website)

http://tonyvalderama.com/acatalog/Gifts___Specials.html

as mentioned by itf above came printed with the lyric to the Lyre of Orpheus on one side. I saw the Bad Seeds at Manchester on that tour and Cave forgot the lyric to said song! Attempted it 3 times then gave up. Did anyone chuck a tea towel stagewards? Did they heckers like - £5.99 a pop them towels.

a few years ago, the merchandise stall was selling Santana rugs. Great big rugs. How many people go to a concert prepared to cart a great big rug back home on the tube?

But the most pointless merchandise I ever saw was at a Fields of the Nephilim concert. They were selling t-shirts. Well... they were for sale but they weren't actually selling any. The t-shirts were white: not the colour of choice for goths in those days or any other days.

I give you the Devo energy dome (otherwise known as the red flowerpot worn on several records sleeves). You too could enjoy wearing one, maybe to the shops or the cinema, if you bought one at the recent reunion gigs.... but Ikea do for about a fifth of the price a waste paper bin that is a pretty close match.

BTW I did start a related thread on the best-ever freebies a while back - the Primitives shampoo came up then too I seem to recall.

http://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/fcfansite/ephmera/scantypanties.jpg

What more can I say.

With the Status Quo Gigsaw

http://www.statusquo.co.uk/erol/#1X947