An extremely rare handbill advertising an early Sex Pistols show at Eric’s in Liverpool, England on October 15, 1976.

This performance came at a pivotal time for the Pistols.  Less than a month before, they’d signed a five year management contract with Malcolm McLaren’s Glitterbest Ltd.  Three weeks prior to this show, Nick Mobbs of EMI saw the band for the first time, and on October 8, just a week before the Eric’s show, the group officially signed to the label.

On October 10 the band recorded an early version of “Anarchy in the UK” with their sound man, Dave Goodman, and beginning on the 12th, they played shows in Dundee, Wolverhampton, and Birkenhead before the Liverpool show on October 15.  The Liverpool Echo noted “This gig certainly didn’t have the same impact as the Pistol’s Free Trade Hall gigs in Manchester – in fact it almost went unnoticed as there were only about 50 people there…Eric’s had only just opened on 1 October, and among the first bands to play were the Runaways and the Stranglers. But on 15 October, the infamous Sex Pistols pogo’ed their way into town…Holly Johnston, Paul Rutherford [both later of Frankie Goes to Hollywood], and Pete Burns [Dead or Alive] were all in attendance that night.”

Just two days after the Eric’s show, the Pistols recorded the version of “Anarchy in the UK” that EMI released.  Five days later, on October 22, Stiff records released The Damned’s “New Rose”, the first-ever UK punk record, beating the Pistols debut single by about a month.

This very rare handbill is from the collection of musician Henry Priestman, a member of the opening act Albert Dock (later to morph into the Yachts.) Priestman found fame with both the Yachts and The Christians.  On the back of the handbill Priestman has written lightly in pencil “To confirm this is a genuine flyer from the venue.  I was in the support band and am pictured on the flier.  [signed] Henry Priestman (ex-Albert Dock.)”

The only example of this handbill we’ve seen.  In near mint condition.  8 1/4” x 11 5/8”.  With Recordmecca’s written lifetime guarantee of authenticity.