Punk & the Sex Pistols

Have you ever heard the story of how punk began?

“They are Dickensian-like urchins who with ragged clothes and pockmarked faces roam the streets of foggy gaslit London…Some of these ragamuffin gangs jump up on tables amidst the charred debris and with burning torches play rock and roll…One of these gangs call themselves the Sex Pistols.”

Those are the words of Malcolm McLaren, manager of the Sex Pistols. Together with other artists & designers who worked with the band, Malcolm created the image of the Sex Pistols and in doing so created the image of punk. The Sex Pistols were a giant art project.

That’s what today’s guests think at least.

Paul Stolper and Andrew Wilson are collectors of Sex Pistols’ artwork. Their horde is the stuff of any punk fan’s dreams. A ‘Never Mind the Bollocks’ poster that hung on Sid Vicious’s wall in the Chelsea Hotel; Johnny Rotten’s handwritten lyrics; Jamie Reid’s notebook with designs and so much more. Dallas went to see their amazing collection and hear the story of the birth of punk. Enjoy!

The collection is going up for auction at Sotheby’s from October 10th until October 21st 2022. If you want to nab yourself some punk history then have a look: 

https://www.sothebys.com/en/buy/auction/2022/the-sex-pistols-the-stolper-wilson-collection

*WARNING this episode contains explicit language*

Produced by Freddy Chick

Executive Producer is Charlotte Long

For more History Hit content, subscribe to our newsletters here.

If you'd like to learn even more, we have hundreds of history documentaries, ad-free podcasts, and audiobooks at History Hit - subscribe today!

You've been listening to a History Hit podcast. Please take a couple of minutes to fill out this survey with your feedback, we'd really appreciate it.