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| Concert by Sex Pistols | |
 The Lesser Free Trade Hall, where the gigs took place. | |
| Venue | Lesser Free Trade Hall, Manchester, England |
|---|---|
| Date(s) |
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| Attendance |
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On 4 June and 20 July 1976, English punk rock band the Sex Pistols performed at the Lesser Free Trade Hall in Manchester. Arranged and promoted by Howard Devoto and Pete Shelley of the then-recently formed Buzzcocks, these shows were notably attended by future members of Joy Division, The Fall, and The Smiths, as well as other influential Manchester music figures such as Tony Wilson of Factory Records, all of whom were impacted and influenced by what they witnessed.[1] The June show was supported by local progressive rock band Solstice, while the July show was supported by Buzzcocks and Slaughter & the Dogs.
Taking place during the early days of British punk rock, these shows are credited with spreading the movement outside of London by sparking the Manchester punk scene. Because of the scale of its influence, the June show is commonly referred to as "the gig that changed the world" and has become one of the most mythologized live performances in music history,[2] with reportedly thousands claiming to have attended the shows, despite the relatively low estimates. In response, author David Nolan published a book investigating the truth In September 2021, Super 8 footage of the
Background
editIn February 1976, Howard Trafford (Devoto) and Peter McNeish (Shelley), students at Bolton Technical Institute, read an article on the emerging London band the Sex Pistols in the New Musical Express and borrowed a car to seek them out in London.
Concerts
edit4 June
editFor the June show, the Sex Pistols were intended to be supported by the Buzzcocks, and tickets were advertised as such. However, after a reportedly poor performance in April, the Buzzcocks backed out of the show to concentrate on improving their sound. Devoto and Shelley decided that they could not charge 50p to see one band, and opted to choose another act to replace them. settling on a local Bolton band called Solstice, led by Devoto's work colleague Geoff Wild. Despite the change, advertisements and tickets continued to name Buzzcocks as the support act, and the date was mistyped as "4 June 1076". Steve Diggle, who would become Buzzcocks' bassist, was hanging around the venue on the day of the gig after answering to a wanted ad but instead encountered Malcolm McLaren, who upon learning he was looking for a band, introduced him to Devoto and Shelley as their "new bassist". According to Shelley, "It later transpired in the interval that this guy wasn’t looking for us and had no idea who the Sex Pistols or Buzzcocks were at all. We offered him to stay for the show and he seemingly enjoyed it. The day after we practised together through two channels on a practice amp. And that is how we met our bass player Steve".[3]
Solstice's set was met with a middling reception. Member Dave Howard stated, "It was a very laid-back audience. We went down OK. Not fantastic.". Devoto recalled, "You’d have thought they were pretty good, actually. But they were not the right vibe at all really. But what the hell. A few people clapped. They weren’t booed off or anything like that".
20 July
editThe July show was supported by Buzzcocks and Slaughter & the Dogs. The Sex Pistols' set marked the live debut of "Anarchy in the U.K.", which was later the Sex Pistols' first single.
Reported attendees
editMany have claimed to attended the concerts.[4] Those who are said to have been at the June show include:
4 June
edit| Attendee | Later of/associated with | Note | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bernard Sumner | Joy Division, New Order | Says to have attended | |
| Peter Hook | Joy Division, New Order | Says to have attended | |
| Steven Morrissey | The Smiths | Wrote a letter to the NME about the show. | [5] |
| Tony Wilson | Factory Records | Claims of attendance disputed, with verified attendees claiming to have not seen him at either show. | [6] |
| Martin Hannett | Factory Records | ||
| Mick Hucknall | Simply Red | Attendance disputed. | |
| Steve Diggle | Buzzcocks | Introduced to Howard Devoto and Pete Shelley here. | |
| Kevin Cummins | Photographer for bands in Manchester | Reported as attending. |
| Attendee | Later of/associated with | Note | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ian Curtis | Joy Division | Said to have met Sumner and Hook at this show. | |
| Mark E. Smith | The Fall | ||
Legacy and influence
editIn September 2021, Super 8 footage from the concerts was sold, along with the copyright, for £15,000.
In popular culture
editThe first show is depicted in the 2002 film 24 Hour Party People.
References
edit- ^ Historian, The Manchester (2022-04-21). ""The Gig that Changed the World": The Impact of the Sex Pistols 1976 Manchester Gig, by Jessica Twiss". Manchester Historian. Retrieved 2023-07-13.
- ^ Owen, Frank (2016-03-06). "Booze, Blood and Noise: The Violent Roots of Manchester Punk". Cuepoint. Retrieved 2023-07-15.
- ^ "The Night That Changed It All: How punk was brought to Manchester and the world". www.punktastic.com. Retrieved 2023-07-15.
- ^ Jenke, Tyler (2019-02-20). "Everyone lies about going to this Sex Pistols gig". Tone Deaf. Retrieved 2023-07-13.
- ^ "A 17-year-old Morrissey reviews the Sex Pistols, 1976". faroutmagazine.co.uk. 2020-05-27. Retrieved 2023-07-15.
- ^ Hassall, John (2021-09-11). "The Gig That Changed the World – 45 Years On". Barneys Originals. Retrieved 2023-07-15.
External links
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