Never Mind the Baubles: Christmas ’77 with the Sex Pistols

‘Everyone was really pleased to see us,’ recalls Paul Cook. ‘Which made a change.’ Apparently Julien Temple has had footage of the final pair of British Sex Pistols gigs – performed on Christmas Day 1977 to the children of striking Huddersfield firefighters and then in the evening, to their parents – knocking around for ages. We’re glad he’s finally decided to share it with the world, because it’s a thrilling and surprisingly touching treat.

Essentially, at Huddersfield’s Ivanhoe’s club, the mask slipped and the then-bogeymen of British music allowed themselves to be seen for what they really were: a combative, disorderly but essentially good-hearted bunch of lads. Furthermore, seeing the Pistols performing to kids comes close to actually unearthing some fresh insight into the band; as the experience seems to have done for John Lydon himself. Basically, the youngsters get it, instinctively understanding the purity, sincerity and under-appreciated comedy of the band. And, mainly at the instigation of Lydon himself, they respond by throwing a lot of cake.

It’s a beautiful story in the most traditional festive sense imaginable; two groups of righteous outcasts finding unlikely solace in each other on Christmas day. ‘It deeply affected me,’ says Lydon. And the look on his face suggests he means every word.