Sex Pistols’ Steve Jones recalls how he stole David Bowie’s gear

Back in 1973, David Bowie was in his Ziggy Stardust era and he played at the Hammersmith Odeon in London, England. The show was amazing, but there was another interesting thing that happened after the show. Steve Jones, who would later become the Sex Pistols guitarist, managed to get into the venue after the show and steal David Bowie’s gear. He stole amps, microphones and cymbals. He recalled that story in an interview with The Guardian.

Sex Pistols’ Steve Jones recalls how he stole David Bowie’s gear

“It was about two in the morning. I stole a little minivan, and I got in. There was no one there other than a guy sitting on the fourth or fifth row, asleep – he was snoring. It was dead silent. I tiptoed across the stage, and I nicked some cymbals, the bass player’s [amplifier] head – a Sunn amp it was – and some microphones. I got Bowie’s microphone with his lipstick on it”.

Asked if he ever told David Bowie that, he said: “I kind of did, on a phone call. He knew I’d done it. He thought it was funny. Actually, I don’t think I nicked anything off him, I don’t think the microphones were his. The only ones I felt bad for were Woody (Mick Woodmansey – Drums) and Trevor Bolder (Bass).”

“I actually did make amends with Woody. He came on my radio show a few years back, and I thought I’d tell him live, when we were on the air, what I did. I was like, ‘I’ve got to make amends to you, Woody, I nicked some of your cymbals. What can I do to make it right?’ He goes, ‘I don’t know; give us a couple of hundred bucks.’ I think I gave him $300, so he was well happy,” Steve Jones said.

The Sex Pistols was reactivated in 2024 with the original members Paul Cook (Drums), Glen Matlock (Bass) and Steve Jones (Guitar). Since their relationship with the vocalist John Lydon is not good, they have another guest vocalist, who is Frank Carter. The group has many scheduled tour dates around the world in 2025.