The Sex Pistols will release four historic 1976 concerts in a new 4-disc box set, “Live ‘76”, on August 19.
The package presents the band’s famed gig of June 4, 1976 at Manchester's Lesser Free Trade Hall, which was set up by future Buzzcocks members Pete Shelley and Howard Devoto.
Disc 2 contains the Midnight Special concert at the Screen on the Green in Islington, north London, on August 29, where the Pistols were supported by Buzzcocks themselves and The Clash.
Disc three delivers the Pistols’ September 17 performance at Chelmsford Maximum Security Prison – the only one of these four gigs to be recorded officially by Pistols soundman Dave Goodman.
The concert on disc four is one that's been well-known to fans as a bootleg but is now making its official, full live release debut, from the band's appearance at the 76 Club in Burton-on-Trent on September 25.
Available as 4CD, 4LP and digital formats, the material was remastered at Abbey Road Studios and the package will be rounded out with photo from the era and a facsimile of an original Sex Pistols Glitterbest press kit.
The Sex Pistols box set arrives as London marks the anniversary of UK’s punk explosion with Punk London: 40 Years Of Subversive Culture, a year-long program of events financed by the Heritage Lottery Fund.
Sex Pistols guitarist Steve Jones will publish his autobiography, “Lonely Boy”, this fall.
Due November 17 in the UK and January 10 in North America, the project sees Jones collaborate with journalist Ben Thompson to share his story of growing up in the streets of Hammersmith and Shepherd’s Bush, West London, before forming Strand in 1972 and, eventually, the Sex Pistols in 1975 with vocalist Johnny Rotten, bassist Glen Matlock and drummer Paul Cook.
Inspired by New York bands the Ramones and the New York Dolls, among others, the Sex Pistols helped to propel the UK punk scene through a series of four singles and one studio album, 1977’s “Never Mind The Bollocks…Here’s The Sex Pistols”, before disbanding just three months after its release.
See also:
Sex Pistols guitarist Steve Jones to publish memoir
Sex Pistols London landmark earns protective status
Virgin Money launches Sex Pistols credit cards
Sid Vicious provides soundtrack for new Acura commercial
Search The Sex Pistols at hennemusic
