Padlocks

Summer 1977. A chance ring at the door. Punk's most notorious couple need to score and they've come to the right place.

Two couples, two beds, one cat, one room, and a TV; the junkie life is laid bare as Sid & Nancy move in; bonding over books, music and the eternal quest for the next hit.

From Never Mind The Bollocks to 'Holidays In the Sun', this is the story of the Pistols observed up close by Den Browne, the man who Tony Wilson claimed 'turned him onto punk'.

As the Pistols descend into chaos so does Sid: from witty, committed, idealistic musician into drunken, knife-wielding, tabloid hate figure.

Padlocks is an unflinching account of living with Sid Vicious and Nancy Spungen in the eye of the media storm.

“Music book of 2023. A triumph”

Louder Than War

“Completely convincing… every page is interesting”

Greil Marcus (Mystery Train)

“Den Browne Roolz”

Zoe Howe (Typical Girls?)

“Violence, famous cameos and sex”

Pat Gilbert, Mojo

“Presents Nancy in a more humane, intellectual way than the usual fare”

Nina Antonia (In Cold Blood)

“Recommended. Sid and Nancy emerge more as people than caricatures”

Susan Compo (Earthbound: David Bowie and The Man Who Fell To Earth)

“I loved it”

Sarah Champion (Disco Biscuits)

“This valuable and compelling book packs a punch ... I can't recommend it highly enough”

sex-pistols.net

“A remarkable memoir, compelling and authentic. Can't wait to read more from Den Browne”

Spill

“Highly evocative, refreshing and engrossing, the book flows seamlessly”

Rory Sullivan-Burke (The Light Pours Out Of Me)

• Signed by the author
• Published by Backstage Books
• Distributed by Gardners