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50 Years Ago, a Sex Pistols Gig in Manchester Directly Inspired the Foundation of British Post-Punk

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04.06.2026

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50 Years Ago, a Sex Pistols Gig in Manchester Directly Inspired the Foundation of British Post-Punk

Shortly after the Sex Pistols played Manchester for the first time, the post-punk wave started building.

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On June 4, 1976, the Sex Pistols played the first of two shows at the Lesser Free Trade Hall in Manchester. The second took place on July 20, but that first gig directly led to the formation of some of the most beloved U.K. post-punk and alt-rock bands. Additionally, a few alternative labels formed after that, inspired by the incredible show.

As legendary as that show became, the Sex Pistols were still up and coming at the time. The Manchester gig was only attended by a crowd of 30 to 50 people. It lasted half an hour at most. It was also the first time the band had played outside of London. However, that February, they had their first review in print, so word was spreading of their live........

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