Helen Wellington-Lloyd and Nils Stevenson | Handbill for the 100 Club, 15 June 1976

Helen Wellington-Lloyd and Nils Stevenson

Handbill for the 100 Club, 15 June 1976

(295 x 208mm.), creasing, marks from two small strips of adhesive tape

This handbill has a collage design that incorporates a photograph of the band by Ray Stevenson, a discarded handbill designed by Malcolm McLaren with Jamie Reid, and references to the Bromley contingent of fans and the shop SEX - 'sartorial correctness and a CASt (PLAStER)' composed by Vivienne Westwood. It was later reproduced on the covers of the early Glitterbest press kits (see lots 8, 13 and 27). The 100 Club on Oxford Street was a fundamental institution for the development of punk, hosting the first international punk festival in September 1976; this was the band’s fifth appearance at the club since 30 March 1976.

Helen Wellington-Lloyd, also known as Helen of Troy, was part of the Sex Pistols' entourage. Born in South Africa, she moved to London and met Malcolm McLaren at Goldsmiths. She had dwarfism, and being part of the punk movement allowed her to embrace her uniqueness; "For a time I was unaware of the negative side of being a freak. Plebs avoided me because of what I was wearing not because of my height. I became threatening. It was an artistic experience that is hard to define. It was like a happening - an exploration, there was no formula - It was BONA!" She produced handbills and other promotional material for the Sex Pistols from her flat.

Nils Stevenson, the brother of band photographer Ray Stevenson, was a tour manager of the Pistols, and later managed Siouxsie and the Banshees.