They were public enemy No1 and basking in the notoriety of their first single Anarchy In The UK - but in 1976 the Sex Pistols met their match in Caerphilly.
They were public enemy No1 and basking in the notoriety of their first single Anarchy In The UK - but in 1976 the Sex Pistols met their match in Caerphilly.
The punk rockers' gig in the town's Castle Cinema on 14 December has become the stuff of Welsh rock n' roll legend.
The punk rockers' gig in the town's Castle Cinema on 14 December has become the stuff of Welsh rock n' roll legend.
The band was met by a large group of singing Christians, who picketed the small crowd attending the concert.
The band was met by a large group of singing Christians, who picketed the small crowd attending the concert.
The gig's anniversary is being marked in the town on Saturday with a punk festival at the local rugby club.
The gig's anniversary is being marked in the town on Saturday with a punk festival at the local rugby club.
The band's December 1976 "Anarchy" tour to promote their recently-released first single had been dogged by cancellations and opposition at many venues.
The band's December 1976 "Anarchy" tour to promote their recently-released first single had been dogged by cancellations and opposition at many venues.
But concerts at Swansea and Newport on previous nights had passed off relatively quietly.
But concerts at Swansea and Newport on previous nights had passed off relatively quietly.
Local women were at the forefront of the anti-Pistols picket
Local women were at the forefront of the anti-Pistols picket
However, when the Pistols arrived in Caerphilly, they were met by a well-organised and angry crowd of placard-waving protesters made up of church groups and local mothers.
However, when the Pistols arrived in Caerphilly, they were met by a well-organised and angry crowd of placard-waving protesters made up of church groups and local mothers.
Attempts to get the gig at the cinema cancelled failed, so the protesters vented their fury outside the venue as the much smaller audience for the gig went inside.
Attempts to get the gig at the cinema cancelled failed, so the protesters vented their fury outside the venue as the much smaller audience for the gig went inside.
"The reaction we got in Caerphilly was unbelievable," Glen Matlock, the Pistols' pre-Sid Vicious bassist, later recalled.
"The reaction we got in Caerphilly was unbelievable," Glen Matlock, the Pistols' pre-Sid Vicious bassist, later recalled.
"We'd never seen anything like it. All these people saying we were sinners."
"We'd never seen anything like it. All these people saying we were sinners."
'Devil's spawn'
'Devil's spawn'
Journalist Wayne Nowaczyk, then a reporter on the local Rhymney Valley Express who was sent to cover the Pistols' visit, said he was shocked at the severity of the protests.
Journalist Wayne Nowaczyk, then a reporter on the local Rhymney Valley Express who was sent to cover the Pistols' visit, said he was shocked at the severity of the protests.
He said: "The national media were going nuts suggesting the Sex Pistols were the devil's spawn and that the world was coming to an end.
He said: "The national media were going nuts suggesting the Sex Pistols were the devil's spawn and that the world was coming to an end.
"A vicar involved said he had met a murderer from Montana but he wouldn't shake the hands of the Sex Pistols, which seemed slightly over the top.
"A vicar involved said he had met a murderer from Montana but he wouldn't shake the hands of the Sex Pistols, which seemed slightly over the top.
"I was shocked at the ferocity and the intolerance of the reaction.
"I was shocked at the ferocity and the intolerance of the reaction.
"I went there expecting a small demonstration, but there was 150 plus there and police all over the place. "I thought the whole thing was less about the Sex Pistols and more of a comment on British society and media at the time.
"I went there expecting a small demonstration, but there was 150 plus there and police all over the place. "I thought the whole thing was less about the Sex Pistols and more of a comment on British society and media at the time.
"People were quite sheltered and easily shocked and the Sex Pistiols were prepared to ride the media storm."
"People were quite sheltered and easily shocked and the Sex Pistiols were prepared to ride the media storm."
Ray Davies said he was "sorry" for his role in the protests
Ray Davies said he was "sorry" for his role in the protests
One of the leaders of the protest was local councillor Ray Davies who organsed opposition to the gig after being approached by concerned mothers.
One of the leaders of the protest was local councillor Ray Davies who organsed opposition to the gig after being approached by concerned mothers.
Still a Caerphilly councillor, Mr Davies said that 30 years on he was "very sorry" for his part in attempting to ban the Pistols, adding it was "because the young mothers were against it and I just wanted to represent their point of view".
Still a Caerphilly councillor, Mr Davies said that 30 years on he was "very sorry" for his part in attempting to ban the Pistols, adding it was "because the young mothers were against it and I just wanted to represent their point of view".
The events around the Pistols' visit to Caerphilly were immortalised in their film Great Rock 'n' Roll Swindle in which Mr Davies can be seen in the forefront of the protests.
The events around the Pistols' visit to Caerphilly were immortalised in their film Great Rock 'n' Roll Swindle in which Mr Davies can be seen in the forefront of the protests.
He said: "I was conducting the carols and when I look back now and see the couple of young people creeping in there I feel absolutely and thoroughly ashamed of myself.
He said: "I was conducting the carols and when I look back now and see the couple of young people creeping in there I feel absolutely and thoroughly ashamed of myself.
"I've got some great regrets when I look back at it because who am I, a fuddy-duddy councillor, to tell young people what they should listen to, what they should enjoy and how they should conduct themselves and their lives?
"I've got some great regrets when I look back at it because who am I, a fuddy-duddy councillor, to tell young people what they should listen to, what they should enjoy and how they should conduct themselves and their lives?
"We should try and put a plaque there to the Sex Pistols to commemorate the event that took place in Caerphilly and I would be prepared to unveil it."
"We should try and put a plaque there to the Sex Pistols to commemorate the event that took place in Caerphilly and I would be prepared to unveil it."
With the cinema since demolished, the 30th anniversary of the gig is being marked on Saturday evening with a punk festival in the town's rugby club.
With the cinema since demolished, the 30th anniversary of the gig is being marked on Saturday evening with a punk festival in the town's rugby club.
I was a 16 year old living in Caerphilly at the time and wanted very much to attend the concert -I'm afraid (ashamed) to say, though, my parents wouldn't let me. The entire adult population of Caerphilly were in fear of what might happen - and, if I remember rightly all the pubs in the town were closed that evening. Keith Griffiths, Caerphilly, Mid-Glam
I was 15 years old at the time. Me and a mate told our parents that we were staying at respective friends houses and got the bus over to Caerphilly and went to the concert.However, we didn't expect the demonstration and the TV cameras to be present - when the TV news guys recorded the demo and panned the crowd waiting to go in to see the Sex Pistols, me and mate were caught on the news report.Sunsequently, our parents were watching the news and grounded us for weeks.Martin Simmonds, Crumlin then - Now All over the Place - London, Bermuda where-ever!
I was a 16 year old living in Caerphilly at the time and wanted very much to attend the concert -I'm afraid (ashamed) to say, though, my parents wouldn't let me. The entire adult population of Caerphilly were in fear of what might happen - and, if I remember rightly all the pubs in the town were closed that evening. Keith Griffiths, Caerphilly, Mid-Glam
For 30 years I and all my teenage proto-punk mates have had to live with the eternal regret and shame that we didn't manage to travel a few miles up the road from Ponty to Caerphilly for this legendary night. We probably had better things to do, like mooch around on street corners. A couple of people we know did get there, though: Spider Evans, as I remember, even cropped up briefly in The Great Rock 'n' Swindle and as a result became an icon who walked among we mere mortals. To make up for it, a few of us middle-aged revolutionaries went to see one of the Pistols' reunion gigs in London a couple of years ago. Occasionally funny, but mostly depressing and shambolic, at least it means we can now go to our graves saying we've seen the Pistols. And if no-one asks too closely, we'll pretend it was Caerphilly '76.....Nick, Cardiff now, Pontypridd then
For 30 years I and all my teenage proto-punk mates have had to live with the eternal regret and shame that we didn't manage to travel a few miles up the road from Ponty to Caerphilly for this legendary night. We probably had better things to do, like mooch around on street corners. A couple of people we know did get there, though: Spider Evans, as I remember, even cropped up briefly in The Great Rock 'n' Swindle and as a result became an icon who walked among we mere mortals. To make up for it, a few of us middle-aged revolutionaries went to see one of the Pistols' reunion gigs in London a couple of years ago. Occasionally funny, but mostly depressing and shambolic, at least it means we can now go to our graves saying we've seen the Pistols. And if no-one asks too closely, we'll pretend it was Caerphilly '76.....Nick, Cardiff now, Pontypridd then
I was 17 years old at the time and Caerphilly was practically my universe. I was the right age; in the right place; at the right time; but somehow the whole experience passed me by. I only recognise the events from news clips and from the film although I was a regular customer at the Castle cinema an lived less than a mile away. I just don't remember it being such a big deal at the time. Sorry.Jonathan Golding, Caerphilly then, Cardiff now
I was 17 years old at the time and Caerphilly was practically my universe. I was the right age; in the right place; at the right time; but somehow the whole experience passed me by. I only recognise the events from news clips and from the film although I was a regular customer at the Castle cinema an lived less than a mile away. I just don't remember it being such a big deal at the time. Sorry.Jonathan Golding, Caerphilly then, Cardiff now
Were you at the infamous Sex Pistols concert at Caerphilly Castle Cinema in December 1976 or were you part of the protests outside?
Were you at the infamous Sex Pistols concert at Caerphilly Castle Cinema in December 1976 or were you part of the protests outside?
Share your memories of that day and of the Sex Pistols using the form below.
Share your memories of that day and of the Sex Pistols using the form below.
