Rhino Factoids: Sex Pistols on the Walk of Fame

11 years ago today, the Sex Pistols found their way onto the Avenue of Stars in London’s Covent Garden, an honor which would seem way more impressive if they hadn’t ended up removing all the stars only a year later.

Devised as the London approximation of the Hollywood Walk of Fame, the Avenue of Stars was in reality a walkway passing by St. Paul’s Church in Covent Garden, one which opened in 2005 with one hundred stars, the first of which was Led Zeppelin guitarist Jimmy Page. In addition to the Sex Pistols, other members of the music world included The Beatles, Cliff Richard, Bob Geldof, The Rolling Stones, Cilla Black, David Bowie, the Bee Gees, Pink Floyd, Shirley Bassey, Tom Jones, Eric Clapton, The Kinks, Noel Coward, Robbie Williams, Vera Lynn, and Queen.’’

(Not entirely surprisingly, the Sex Pistols themselves didn’t manage to turn up for the grand unveiling ceremony.)

So what happened to the stars? Well, apparently they were deteriorating so rapidly that they removed them, leaving only the old flagstones, which are visible in the courtyard. But, hey, it’s the thought that counts, right?