Just as the punk rock world celebrates the 47th anniversary of the Sex Pistols’ only studio album, Never Mind the Bollocks, Here’s the Sex Pistols, a piece of punk history is up for grabs. Handwritten lyrics by the band’s notorious frontman, John Lydon (also known as Johnny Rotten), for the songs “Holidays in the Sun” and “Submission” are set to go under the hammer, with bids expected to top $80,000.
The lyrics, written in Lydon’s own hand, capture the raw energy and defiance that defined the band. “Holidays in the Sun,” the opening track from the 1977 album, is scrawled across one side of an 8 x 13-inch sheet in green and black ballpoint pen. Lydon even included the powerful line, “A cheap holiday in other peoples misery,” in pencil. Flip the sheet, and you’ll find the lyrics to “Submission” written in green pen, although Lydon hadn’t titled the track yet.
The sheet is described as being in “fine condition” with some light handling wear and a few folds, preserving its vintage authenticity. Included with the lyrics is a signed letter of authenticity as well as a note from acclaimed music journalist Jon Savage, whose personal collection provided this rare artifact. Savage’s letter mentions that he acquired the lyrics while researching his renowned book, England’s Dreaming, which chronicles the rise of punk rock and its impact on British society from 1975 to 1979.
This lyrical sheet has been showcased around the world. It was on loan at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, Ohio, since 1996, where it was displayed prominently in the museum’s Punk exhibit. It was also featured at London’s Hospital Exhibition in 2004 and at the ‘PUNK: Sex, Seditionaries & the Sex Pistols’ exhibition in Manchester’s Urbis building in 2005.
The auction, which closes on November 21, has already drawn significant interest. As of now, 14 bids have pushed the price up to $30,800, but it is anticipated that this piece of music history could easily exceed $80,000 by the final bid. The historical value, combined with the cultural impact of the Sex Pistols, makes these lyrics a prized possession for punk enthusiasts and collectors alike.
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