Punk'd

This blog doesn't usually follow counterfeiting in collectibles, but we'll make an exception for this story.

Punk rock. If any music genre could be more attuned to the misguided romantic notions that counterfeiting is sticking it to the Establishment, punk rock would be it. So a richly ironic story has emerged where former Sex Pistols manager Malcolm McLaren is teaming with British art kingpin Damien Hirst to battle counterfeiting.

The story occurs in England, where Hirst bought £80,000 worth of original Sex Pistols clothing allegedly handmade by McLaren in the late 70's. But then McLaren spotted the clothing, and knew Hirst had been had.

Hirst purchased the punk clothing from Simon Easton, proprietor of Punk Pistol. In a twist, McLaren had agreed to write the introduction to Easton's forthcoming book, and is now battling in court to remove the introduction.