Through The Lens
Photographer Bob
Gruen remembers
the Sex Pistols,
reprinted from Great
Modern Pictures
The Pistols came to America in 1978 and I traveled with them on the tour bus. On January
5, the Pistols opened the first show of their U.S. Tour in Atlanta, Georgia. They were
playing in a small club for only 300 people. The place was packed; they played a loud
fast set with people spitting and throwing things at them. I had planned to go back
to New York in the morning and hoped I could take some photos of the Pistols getting
on their tour bus. I woke up late and the bus was already gone. |
Sid With Cut Arm |
Sid Reading Mad Magazine |
I was leaving the motel when I ran into Sid and the road manager. They had missed
the bus because Sid had cut his arm badly during the night and was taken to the hospital.
Sid said he asked one of the guards if his knife was sharp and to test it he ran it
over his arm and made a two inch long, one inch deep cut into himself. The doctors
at the hospital didn't get along with him and wouldn't stitch it or even put on a bandage.
I went to the airport with them and changed my plans and we flew to Memphis together. |
We had a long drive from Dallas to Tulsa through five inches of snow and ice. Sometime
in the night we pulled into a gas station where there was a restaurant. I went in with
Sid and sat at the counter. Before I knew it Sid had started a conversation with a
cowboy and his family. They invited him to sit with them and Sid carried his eggs to
their table.
|
Sid On The Bus, New Orleans |
Sid outside Talyesin Ballroom, Memphis |
After the cowboy heard that Sid's name was Vicious he started to challenge
him. He crushed his cigarette out in his own hand, then he asked Sid what could he
do. Sid just took his knife, cut his own hand and kept on eating as blood flowed on
his eggs like ketchup. The cowboy grabbed his family and ran out. |
The Pistols played at Randy's Rodeo in San Antonio. When Sid took off his leather
jacket, he had 'Gimme a Fix' carved on his chest. A blonde girl in the front row called
to Sid and when he leaned over she punched him on the nose. He started to bleed profusely
and seemed very happy. Later that evening fans sprayed slogans like 'We're So Pretty
Vacant' and 'Anarchy in the USA' all over the Pistols' tour bus.
The Pistols reached San Francisco after causing a sensation on several Sunset Strip
bars. On January 14, 1978 they gave the biggest show of the tour, five thousand people
at Winterland Theater. It was also the Pistols' last performance. After the show, the
band broke up. |
Winterland, San Francisco |
