Big Steve Chonga Bonga w Guitar unisex garment-dyed heavyweight t-shirt

In September of 1973, during a break between Grateful Dead shows in New York, Big Steve Parish and Jerry Garcia were standing outside their hotel on Central Park South, talking, laughing, and enjoying a rare moment of stillness. Without warning, a car pulled up to the curb. A man leaned out, handed Steve a shoebox with air holes punched in the top, said, “It’s yours now,” and drove off.

Inside the box was an iguana and a handwritten note. The letter named him Chonga Bonga, the lizard god, and asked that he be cared for and allowed to thrive. Steve and the crew took the request seriously. Chonga Bonga joined them on the road, traveling from city to city and living in carefully prepared hotel bathrooms filled with warm steam, fresh lettuce, and tomatoes. He changed colors with his surroundings and quickly became a beloved mascot, a strange and beautiful presence woven into daily life on tour.

Chonga Bonga rode the road with the band, thriving as part of the crew. Then, in Philadelphia, a well-intended mistake left the bathroom too hot, and Chonga Bonga passed away. The crew honored him with a Viking-style farewell, treating him with the same respect they gave one another.

Chonga Bonga lives on as legend—a symbol of the unpredictable, communal magic of life with the Grateful Dead. To those who were there, he remains a reminder that the road was filled with responsibility, love, and moments so strange and unexplainable they could only happen once, and only there.

If you’re looking for a thick, structured tee that’s also super soft and breathable—look no further! The unisex garment-dyed heavyweight t-shirt ticks all the boxes and is made of 100% ring-spun cotton.

• 100% ring-spun cotton
• Fabric weight: 6.1 oz/yd² (206.8 g/m²)
• Garment-dyed
• Relaxed fit
• 7/8″ double-needle topstitched collar
• Twill-taped neck and shoulders for extra durability
• Double-needle armhole, sleeve, and bottom hems

Size guide