Photos: Castle Cinema, Caerphilly, Wales
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South Wales Punk. Photos mainly taken between 1976 and 1978 of Punk Bands visiting various South Wales venues. courtesy of Dave Smithson Flickr. Online or archived PDF
& Wales Online - 40 years on, never seen before pictures PDF - & Flickr
Facebook search | The Clash Caerphilly 1976
PHOTOS 4x below
Copyright David Smitham @ www.sex-pistols.net
SEX PISTOLS CAERPHILLY ANARCHY TOUR PHOTOGRAPHS.
A set of 22 original photo negatives, depicting the Sex Pistols and support acts The Clash and Johnny Thunders on stage, as well as the crowd during the Caerphilly date on the ill-fated Anarchy In The Uk tour. The images depict the Sex Pistols in full colour, and were taken on 14th December 1976 by local photographer and fan David Smitham who remembers the gig well:
""The little valleys market town braced itself for the arrival of riotous punk hordes. No chance of a pre-gig pint - all pub doors were locked and windows boarded up in anticipation of mayhem. Hastily-scrawled signs directed regulars to back door entrances. "Having survived... demonstrating carol singers, the few who turned up... shivered in a ragged queue. From the opposite car park, against the backdrop of Caerphilly's ruined 13th century castle, a vengeful Pentecostal preacher spat fire and brimstone, threatening eternal damnation to those who dared watch the spawn of Satan.""
Similarly to the Manchester Free Trade Hall concerts of the same year, the Caerphilly concerts were also important to cultural development in South Wales and would inspire attendees Steve Strange of Visage fame and Chris Sullivan who would later open influential nightclubs Hell, St Moritz and The Wag.
Omega Auctions: Sold for £4,000 Hammer Price