Anarchy in a size 9 and a half.
Three years ago The Sex Pistols and Converse released a collab to celebrate the band’s 40th anniversary. This year, The Sex Pistols and Dr. Martens are putting out a Dr. Martens x Sex Pistols limited edition collection.
It’s enough to make a UK punk fan drool. Or maybe spit would be better in this case. The 1460, 1490 and 1925 have all been given a Pistols’ makeover.
The collection also includes Presslers and Tommeys canvas tops, t-shirts, a backpack, a satchel and laces.
The collection owns as much to Jamie Ried as it does to angry riffs.
The British artist/anarchist created the album art for Never Mind The Bollocks, Here’s The Sex Pistols which went on to become a template for punk design. The ransom-note font and the ‘Nowhere buses’, from the Pretty Vacant single, all make an appearance on your fav Docs.
This is Dr. Martens second music collab in as many years saluting bands from England’s 70s music scene. In 2018, the Dr. Marten x Joy Divison/New Order Collab remixed the 1460 boot with designs from three landmark albums: Power Corruption & Lies, Unknown Pleasures and Technique.
True anarchist will balk at anything consumer driven with The Sex Pistols name on it. But for many identifying with the band’s nonconformity was more of an attraction. That and one of the best collections of angry guitar riffs ever to make it onto vinyl. The music was blazing, exciting and unlike anything else at the time. Joe Strummer summed it up best, ‘5 seconds into their first song, I just knew we were like yesterday’s papers.’ Joe subsequently quit the 101ers, the band he was in at the time, and joined Paul Simonon and Mick Jones to form The Clash.
Pete Townshend’s decision to wear Docs in the physchedelic 60s won him nonconformist fans.
Nonconformist in the UK, and around the globe really, have long chosen Docs as a shoe of choice. The Who’s Pete Townshend was the first, famous, musician to wear them on stage back in 1967. For Townshend it was part function and part philosophy. Pete was not one to stand still on stage. The comfort and the durability of the boot fit his choreography nicely. Docs’ blue-collar cred also reflected The Who’s hard working class ethos and sound. The Who were always more rock than roll.
Docs were in punk’s closet from day one.
Everything about The Sex Pistols and their one and only full studio album was about kicking at convention. The riffs, the lyrics, the album art and the clothes.
When UK punk landed in 76, The Sex Pistols were a prototype. The band’s manager, Malcom McLaren owned a boutique called SEX. Not surprisingly, he dressed his band in the protest fashions of the store. Docs complemented the leather and bondage attire nicely.
Is the Dr. Marten x Sex Pistols collab for you?
If you love the Pistols and wear Docs you’re going to be in heaven. If you’re a Pistols collector yes again. Other than that I’m not sure this collection is going to have the same appeal as the Converse collab. Not sure how many 50-something Papa punks are still slipping on 1925 steel toe caps. Converse are more ageless. Not to mention less of an investment.
You can find the Dr. Martens x Sex Pistols collection here.