The London house where the Sex Pistols once lived and recorded music was on Tuesday given special protection by government agency Historic England.
The Pistols lived in an outbuilding at the back of two 17th-century properties at Soho's 6-7 Denmark Street. The Grade II* listing, which recognises well-preserved architectural features that are considered to be of national importance, means that there is extra control over what changes can be made to the building.
"Listing doesn’t mean that it will be open to the public, the building is privately owned," Katharine Grice, Senior Corporate Communications Manager of Historic England, told Business Insider. "It means that any changes need to be given listed building consent through the planning system."
Punk icon Johnny Rotten's graffiti in the upstairs room portrays his bandmates Steve Jones, Sid Vicious, Sid's girlfriend Nancy Spungen, and manager Malcolm McLaren, as well as his own self-portrait.
"We visited the building and felt that due to the well-preserved architectural detail they should be upgraded to Grade II* and that the graffiti should be included in the listing," Grice said.
Take a look inside the Pistols' former residence below.
Pistols' manager Malcolm McLaren rented the outbuilding between 1975-1977 early in the band's career, according to a press release from Historic England. The downstairs space was used as a recording studio, where the band produced its early demos, while the upstairs was home to band members Glen Matlock and Steve Jones, according to the statement.
The houses are two of eight properties that were originally built between 1686-1691 on the street, made famous as Tin Pan Alley, where the Rolling Stones recorded its first album (at Regent Sound Studios, at no. 4), and Elton John worked at a music publishing company and wrote "Your Song," according to the press release.
As well as celebrity graffiti, the properties boast notable architectural features including a mid-18th-century staircase, historic panelling, and cornices. This is an upstairs room at 6-7 Denmark Street.
The original staircase is well-preserved.
Of course, for Sex Pistols fans, the graffiti is the most interesting feature. Sid Vicious was given a less than flattering portrayal, and the name "Ego Sloshos."
Rotten depicted Nancy Spungen, the girlfriend of Sid Vicious, naked with a cigarette in her mouth. She's known as "Nanny Spungen" here.
Steve Jones is referred to as "Fatty Jones" in Rotten's graffiti.
Malcolm McLaren is pictured clutching a stack of cash.
Rotten also left a self-portrait on the wall, though Pistols fans are unlikely to see it in person.
Rotten's graffiti was added to by bands who lived in the property after the Pistols' departure, according to the press release. The Rich Kids moved in after the Pistols, followed by Bananarama, according to Grice. The properties' listing coincides with a citywide celebration of punk music: "Punk London: 40 Years of Subversive Culture."
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