Which London venue hosted the 100 Club Punk Special in 1976?

The 100 Club hosted the 100 Club Punk Special in London in 1976. The two-day event took place on 20 and 21 September at the venue on Oxford Street.

Organised by promoter Ron Watts with Sex Pistols manager Malcolm McLaren, the festival brought together eight important early punk acts. The line-up included the Sex Pistols, the Clash, the Damned, Buzzcocks, Subway Sect, Stinky Toys, the Vibrators with Chris Spedding, and Siouxsie and the Banshees.

The 100 Club was better known at the time as a jazz venue, making the festival a striking example of punk entering an established London music space. Siouxsie and the Banshees performed an improvised set, including a rendition of “The Lord’s Prayer,” despite having no established repertoire.

A common mix-up is confusing the 100 Club Punk Special with other early punk events, such as the Mont de Marsan festival in France. The 100 Club event is particularly remembered as a watershed moment for British punk, helping move the scene from underground gatherings toward wider public attention.