Punk for sale: Bring thousands

Scroll through the Christie's Fine Arts auction calendar and you'll find "Jewels: The Geneva Sale," "Important European Furniture, Ceramics, and Carpets," "Finest and Rarest Wines Featuring Domaine De La Romanee-Conti" and then... "Punk/Rock."

Punk rock at Christie's? As in "Sex Pistols poster. Sold! To the gentleman for $2,000"?

Now, this is priceless - and if it doesn't make people who grew up the '70s feel kinda old, what does?

The Nov. 24 auction is the first auction of punk-era memorabilia, much of it posters, collectible records and clothing, starting with the Velvet Underground and David Bowie and moving up to the Smiths and New Order.

Among the items:

-- Extremely rare example of The Sex Pistols first press release, dating from March-April, 1976., estimate: $5,000 and $6,000.

-- Considered perhaps the most significant Punk flyer, the Screen on the Green Presents a Midnight Special August 29, 1976 featuring Sex Pistols + Clash + Buzzcocks, estimate: $3,000-$4,000.

-- Limited edition print of Black Flag poster TURRRNNN OFFF THHE RAAAADIO. I DONN'T WWANT TO LISSTEN TO MUUSIC., signed by Raymond Pettibon, brother of Greg Ginn, $2,000-$3,000

-- A 1976 Columbia Records test pressing labeled Advance Promotional, signed on the cover by The Ramones, Johnny, Tommy, Joey and Dee Dee in black marker. Accompanied by the Sire press release for their first album and a publicity photo, $5,000-$7,000.

-- Rare concert poster for The Ramones appearance at the Roundhouse, July 4, 1976, which notably attracted other bands in the audience such as The Sex Pistols, The Clash and The Damned, $2,000-$3,000.

Can't wait to see the reports of who showed up to buy this stuff and how much they paid for it.

It's just a shame that Carsickness and The Five didn't get break nationally because those posters we used to see on poles in Pittsburgh the late '70s/early '80s were some of the most edgy and alarming.

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