The Punk

n.d. [1977] Orange wrappers with black lettering and a photograph of Johnny Rotten to upper wrapper, with safety pin through his nose. Slight damage around the safely pin hole. First printing, apparently limited to 500 copies. Extremely scarce. *** The first and only novel by Gideon Sams, written as a school essay in 1976 at the age of 14. His mother apparently rescued it from a dustbin, where Pete Townshend of The Who said it should have been left. This ‘first ‘punk novel’ follows the exploits of a young punk in London: fights, concerts, romance and a couple of violent stabbings. It’s direct and funny and gives an astonishing insight into the early punk scene. Sams did not write any other novels and died tragically in New York at the age of 26.