The black and white checkerboard pattern has become of symbol of cheeziness in the nineties. It was abused by bands in the late seventies and early eighties in an attempt to stand out from the crowd. New Wave/Punk bands like Buzzcocks,The Cars, and Blondie used black and white patterns on album covers and wardrobes.

In the early eighties, checkerboard "sleeveless" shirts, bandanas, sunglasses and even sneakers (like the old Vans) displayed the classic black and white checkerboard pattern with pride.

Rick Nielsen, guitarist for Cheap Trick, had many custom Hamer guitars which where done entirely of black and white checkers (an inspiration for the Bubba guitar pictured at the top of the this page).

Eighties second generation SKA bands, such as The Specials, used the black and white checkerboard pattern to symbolize the equality of black and white people; calling it the 2-tone movement.