The Chaotic End of the Sex Pistols
Legendary photographers documented the filth and the fury of the Sex Pistols' first, and famously last, US tour.
In January 1978, the Sex Pistols stormed across the United States, wreaking havoc throughout the Deep South. The tour attracted some of the greats of photography, including Bob Gruen, Roberta Bayley, Lynn Goldsmith, and Annie Leibovitz.
Gruen, who traveled with the Sex Pistols on their bus, made some of the most iconic photos from tour. He shot this photo of Sid Vicious, just after he was punched in the face by “punk provocateur” Hellin Killer (she’s seen smiling in the background) during the Sex Pistols’ show at the Longhorn Ballroom in Dallas. The photo is symbolic of the ill-fated tour and Vicious’ self-destructive spiral.
Gruen’s relationship with the band is clear in the unexpected intimacy of the photos he made. “We had a long drive from Dallas to Tulsa through five inches of snow and ice,” Gruen recalled. “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 st…