At 7:00 AM outside Buckingham Palace in London, the Sex Pistols staged one of the most infamous publicity stunts in punk history. Sitting at a table set up in the street, the band posed for photographers as they "signed" a deal with A&M Records. The real contract had actually been completed the day before, but the spectacle perfectly matched the Pistols' growing reputation for chaos.
Later that night, A&M hosted an after-party at their London offices. Things quickly unraveled. Sid Vicious smashed a toilet and cut his foot, leaving a trail of blood throughout the building. Johnny Rotten cursed and threatened executives, while guitarist Steve Jones reportedly disappeared into the restroom with a fan.
Just six days later, A&M dropped the band.
Soon after, the Sex Pistols signed with Warner Bros. Records, who released their only studio album, Never Mind the Bollocks, Here's the Sex Pistols. The shirts pictured here are original 1977 Warner Bros promotional tees, authentic vintage punk shirts created during the release of Never Mind the Bollocks. With their bold neon graphics and raw single-stitch construction, printed inside-out, these are genuine artifacts of the punk era. They capture the DIY aesthetic that grew directly out of Vivienne Westwood and Malcolm McLaren's London shop, later known as Seditionaries, ground zero for punk fashion.
Nearly 50 years later, original pressing punk tees like these are among the most sought-after pieces in vintage. Made in limited numbers, these are legitimate museum-grade pieces. No reprints. No reproductions. Once they're gone, they're gone.