Fartman’s (Howard Stern) custom-made superhero costume from the 1992 MTV Video Music Awards. The seven-piece ensemble consists of sunglasses, a dimensional light-up chest logo, a uniform top with attached cape and emblem, a T-shirt, leggings with attached codpiece, gauntlets, and boots. The custom-made sunglasses are orange and yellow resin and come with the original leather case. The lighting device is carpet-lined and motorized. The uniform top features the character name appearing across the chest in large, urethane, copper-colored lettering. It’s cropped in front to reveal the abdomen, and it attaches to leggings in back with snaps. There are three pockets in the back for the battery pack and electronic components for the light-up letter ‘F’. The attached cape is waist length and features a shield shaped winged logo on back with an ivory iridescent ‘F’. The leggings have an attached copper colored, heavily padded and oversized codpiece with thong back and two large oval cutouts in back to reveal each buttock cheek. The cutouts and waistband are edged with padded gold trim. The saffron color spandex on the top and leggings has been extensively hand-painted allover with brown paint, perhaps in homage to Fartman’s fabled ability to propel himself by his own flatulence. The ivory T-shirt reads ‘OK, Who Farted?’ and has intended holes on front. Rounding out the ensemble are matching bronze leather gauntlets with faux bronze electronic detailing at the cuffs and painted copper leather boots with matching wing details.

This ensemble exhibits minor signs of use, including cracks in the urethane emblem, but is in fine condition overall. At the time of cataloguing, the light-up chest piece was functioning.

At the 1992 MTV Video Music Awards, Howard Stern wore this costume while presenting the Best Metal/Hard Rock Video Award with Luke Perry to Metallica with his buttocks notoriously exposed. In 2016, Rolling Stone ranked this appearance #3 on their ‘32 Most Outrageous MTV VMAs Moments of All Time’. It cost $10,000 to build this completely custom ensemble.

Provenance: Mr. Howard Stern

Estimate: $6,000 - 8,000

*This item contains electronic components. While every effort has been made to describe them accurately, no guarantee or warranty is made as to the functionality, lifespan or safety of those components. It is entirely incumbent on the new owner to satisfy themselves as to their safe use and maintenance