Oooops! At the Longhorn Ballroom Sound Check

DOA/Sex Pistols Tour Chapter 16: January 10, 1978

Oct 11, 2023

Narrator: In our last episode, John Holmstrom and Roberta Bayley, PUNK Magazine’s intrepid photojournalism team, arrived in Dallas, Texas in grand style: a stretch limousine. They soon went to the Longhorn Ballroom, hoping to get into the sound check. Roberta took several photos of Steve Jones and Paul Cook posing by the many “Texas-style” decorations outside of the venue.

Roberta’s photo session with Steve and Paul ended when a Volkswagen Bug drove into the parking lot, and several attractive young women emerged from the tiny vehicle like a circus clown car and descended on Steve and Paul. They had driven all the way from Los Angeles in that tiny thing! It was nice to see punk rock fans instead of the usual redneck cowboys who would be in the crowd that night. Soon the Longhorn Ballroom crew showed up and everyone (except the young women) went inside.

The Longhorn was probably the largest venue the band played before San Francisco’s Winterland disaster. While Roberta took photos at one end of the very long bar, I spoke with Malcolm. I always found Malcolm to be one of the most interesting and unique individuals I ever met. I’m not sure if Malcolm met Tom Forcade during the tour, but I always thought that they would have had some very interesting conversations if and when they did. I was able to talk with Malcolm for a little while:

JOHN: Malcolm! I heard that Jack Ruby used to run this club.

MALCOLM: That’s why I booked it. We drove by the grassy knoll and the book depository today. Weird place.

JOHN: What was it like managing the New York Dolls?

MALCOLM: Syl was very professional. But with David, like any lead singer, his ego tended to get in the way. It’s a typical problem with lead singers. People are always telling them how great they are and sooner or later they start to believe it. Soon they begin imitating themselves and it all becomes very self-congratulatory.

JOHN: What about the story that you wanted Richard Hell to be the frontman for the Sex Pistols?

MALCOLM: That’s true. I was going to work with Richard, and we wrote a few letters back and forth but nothing ever happened and soon the Sex Pistols formed themselves.

JOHN: So what’s going to happen with the Sex Pistols at this point?

MALCOLM: I was fairly certain last year, but now?

At this point Paul Cook, who had found a box of Bang Snaps: tiny explosive devices that make a loud “CRACK!” noise when they’re thrown on the ground. He started throwing a few at Malcolm’s feet.

PAUL: Hey, manipulator!

Malcolm ignored the Bang Snaps as we continued to talk.

MALCOLM: If the Pistols ever became predictable or a show business act, I’d leave.

The other band members soon joined in the fun, while John and Malcolm tried to ignore the noise.

JOHN: Aren’t American audiences too rich and spoiled to understand the Sex Pistols?

MALCOLM: No, but I do wish they’d watch less television.

At this point, Noel Monk and his biker/bodyguards arrived and decided to end the fun.

NOEL: Okay, everybody, that’s enough fucking around. Everyone has to leave now. The Sex Pistols are going to rehearse.

Looking back, you cold see the band fracturing. There was obviously tension between Johnny Rotten, Malcolm and the rest of the band. Also obvious: They weren’t in it for the money.

While I was busy talking with Malcolm, Roberta was shooting a few photos of the Sex Pistols hanging around the bar.

Paul Cook at the Longhorn Ballroom bar. Photo © 2023, by Roberta Bayley

Paul Cook again. Photo © 2023, by Roberta Bayley

In typical Roberta Bayley style, she took a few photos of Sid Vicious that would make a great photo comic. This is why she was always the best photog when it came to staging the fumettis (photo comic strips) that we produced at PUNK Magazine: Handsome Dick Manitoba versus Lester Bangs (PUNK #4), The Legend of Nick Detroit (PUNK #6), The Tang Connection (PUNK #10) and of course Mutant Monster Beach Party (PUNK #15). Her photos always capture action and movement, where many photographers have a more static style.

Roberta shot this photo of Bob Gruen standing next to Sid Vicious at the Longhorn. Notice Sid’s nice, shiny new boots? And you can’t see Bob Gruen’s boots very well, but they’re scruffy and beat up… Well, Sid stole Bob’s boots while they’re on the tour bus. (Just thought you might like to know!)