Bidding for this lot will end on Thursday, October 23rd. The auction will begin at 3:00PM BST (7:00AM PDT) and lots are sold sequentially via live auctioneer; tune in to the live streaming broadcast on auction day to follow the pace. Note other lots in the auction may close on Friday, October 24th.
A photograph of John Lydon of the Sex Pistols, taken by photographer Piper Ferguson. This is the first time this limited edition photograph has been offered for sale.
The photo was taken by Ferguson in Marina del Rey in 2012, originally intended to be used as a press shot. It has been signed by Ferguson, numbered "1/75", and the signature dated "2025". It is printed on Epson Hotpress Matte. Dimensions: 61 cm x 45.75 cm (24" x 18")
Piper Ferguson recalls:
"My friend Libby Coffey was John's publicist at the time and she needed some new press shots of him for shows and things he had coming up in his career at that time. She told me he lived in Marina Del Rey which I couldn't believe! I thought it was strange that the most prominent punk rock UK icon lived in sunny California, at the beach where all the boats are docked and everyone lived in yoga pants.
I showed up to meet them near the tennis courts at the Ritz Carlton where John was having a beer at the small resort-type bar. Oh wow, there he was, dressed in what appeared to be classic Burberry trench meets punk AF.. of course I was nervous and feeling very fortunate to be meeting so many of me and my friends favourite innovative songwriter and performer. I was obsessed with The Sex Pistols as a kid and when I was 15 Sid and Nancy came out and I was riveted by the history and how creatively that film was made about this infamous band that influenced, well, everyone! I was surprised by how sweet he was, and how up for doing the photos he was. He was so fun, so awesome to shoot! I wish everyone was as animated, fun, unhinged and experienced as John. He really went for it!
At one point, we met a guy with a cool old sailboat docked at the Marina and he let us take photos on the boat and inside the cabin, complete with cigar and Mafia handbook! Felt very apropos for John who to me based on the company he kept, did feel pretty gangster. John said he was from England, where it's always so cloudy and rainy all the time, so he moved to the beach in California and was saying how it's always foggy and cloudy at the beach. I guess doing a geographic proves life follows you wherever you go!"
Additional Provenance:
Piper Ferguson's photographic journey began when she and a friend started a Brit Pop club called Café Bleu in Hollywood. Piper booked bands at the club and documented the scene, photographing every artist that appeared on the small stage including the Dandy Warhols and Maroon 5. She soon started work with Rolling Stone, Mojo and Filter Magazine, along with brands like Levi's, iTunes and Universal Music Group. Some notable shoots include artists like Coldplay, Richard Ashcroft, and Amy Winehouse at Coachella 2007 as well as music icons like David Crosby, Joe Strummer and David Bowie.
Estimate: £300 - 600 Ω
View all lots from SEX PISTOLS in DAY 1
View all lots from Piper Ferguson Collection in DAY 1