Lost footage of secret Sex Pistols gig when punk group were banned surfaces 35 years later

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The punk screamed and spat into the crowd during the frenzied show, which had to be kept secret because the group were banned from performing at many places
The punk screamed and spat into the crowd during the frenzied show, which had to be kept secret because the group were banned from performing at many places

Rare footage of an infamous Sex Pistols concert has emerged – 35 years after it was first recorded.

The film shows the legendary punk rockers playing to a frenzied crowd in Penzance, Cornwall.

Their appearance was part of SPOTS – Sex Pistols On Tour Secretly – a series of surprise appearances in the UK.

Sid Vicious of the of Sex Pistols performing 'Holidays In The Sun' in 1977 during a gig in Penzance, Cornwall
Sid Vicious of the of Sex Pistols performing ‘Holidays In The Sun’ in 1977 during a gig in Penzance, Cornwall
The punk screamed and spat into the crowd during the frenzied show, which had to be kept secret because the group were banned from performing at many places
The punk screamed and spat into the crowd during the frenzied show, which had to be kept secret because the group were banned from performing at many places

The band had been forced to play secret shows following a public outcry and a number of banned gigs.

New footage has now been found of Johnny Rotten, Sid Vicious and fellow band members on September 1, 1977.

They are seen playing – and spitting – during a rendition of Holidays In The Sun at Penzance Winter Garden.

The gig was part of SPOTS - Sex Pistols On Tour Secretly - a series of surprise appearances in the UK
The gig was part of SPOTS – Sex Pistols On Tour Secretly – a series of surprise appearances in the UK
The wild singer looks out at the crowd, some of whom had been expecting to see the Rolling Stones
The wild singer looks out at the crowd, some of whom had been expecting to see the Rolling Stones

The show was a month before the song was released as the fourth single from the band’s album, Never Mind The Bollocks.

Due to their secrecy, the band were billed on a poster as ‘A Mystery Band of International Repute’.

The footage has been released by Julien Temple, director of the Pistols film The Great Rock’n’Roll Swindle.

It is featured on a new deluxe box set of Never Mind The Bollocks, which is being released to celebrate the album’s 35th anniversary.

The band's guitarist looks at the camera during the song, which was released as a single shortly after
The band’s guitarist looks at the camera during the song, which was released as a single shortly after
The rare footage has now been incorporated into a documentary about the iconic punk band
The rare footage has now been incorporated into a documentary about the iconic punk band

Temple said: “The performance was shot using one camera and shows the extraordinary captivating quality of the band at the time.

“There was shock in the room, it was hypnotising, contagious, and unfolded right in front of you.

“The Pistols arrived in Penzance unannounced and the audience couldn’t believe what they were getting.”

Locals were told to pay their money and take a chance as rumours quickly spread that the Rolling Stones were in town.

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