An extremely rare original first printing concert poster advertising a show by the Sex Pistols, the Clash, the Damned and Johnny Thunders and the Heartbreakers; at the Kings Hall, Derby, December 4, 1976.  This cancelled show was part of the Sex Pistols’ chaotic Anarchy in the UK Tour.

While this poster has been bootlegged more than once, this is a very original, silkscreened on thin stock (smooth on the front, textured on the back,) with white border, printed in advance of the concert date.  On the back of the poster details of early layers of the silkscreening are visible, including Johnny Rotten’s eyes and mouth, and a bit of extra ink in the top left corner.

The Pistols’ debut single, Anarchy in the UK, was released in England on November 27, 1976.  On December 1^st the band appeared on Bill Grundy’s “Today” program, and when the host invited the band to “say something outrageous” guitarist Steve Jones called the host “a dirty bastard” and “a dirty fucker.”

The band’s 19 date Anarchy tour was set begin December 1, but outrage over the television appearance caused 16 of the 19 dates to be cancelled.  The Derby show would have been the second on the tour, but local authorities asked the four bands to perform an “audition” in advance of the show, and Pistols manager Malcolm McLaren refused, resulting in it being cancelled.

The poster is in near mint condition, with some very light handling.  There are two spots where the red ink didn’t penetrate the silkscreen, in the “P” and “S” of the band’s name.  These imperfections actually make it easy to see this is a silkscreened original.  20” x 30”.  A truly spectacular early Sex Pistols concert poster.