I recently read that the Sex Pistols played their first-ever gig on February 12, 1976—which would mean it occurred the same date as my 5th birthday. Tragically, I have even more recently read that this is false. They did play this date—at the Marquee Club, supporting Eddie & the Hot Rods—but they’d debuted in November of ‘75. Sigh.

Anyway, to celebrate the Pistols (and, I suppose, me!), here’s a short excerpt from my book-in-progress, giving you some sense of what I felt when I first heard that name….