“I nicked some cymbals, the bass player’s amp head and some microphones. I got Bowie’s microphone with his lipstick on it!” On July 3, 1973, David Bowie retired Ziggy Stardust – that same day, Steve Jones stole his equipment

Left-Steve Jones of the Sex Pistols performs in their first North American concert at The Great Southeast Music Hall on January 5, 1978 in Atlanta, Georgia; Right-David Bowie performs on stage on his Ziggy Stardust/Aladdin Sane tour in London in 1973.

Steve Jones is never short of anecdotes – especially when it comes to the Sex Pistols' heyday. Now the guitarist is setting the record straight on what can only be described as a quintessentially rock 'n' roll rumor that's the stuff of music biopics: one that sees him nicking David Bowie's equipment in his pre-fame days.

The fateful date was 3 July 1973 – the same day David Bowie was about to announce the retirement of Ziggy Stardust – and the Spiders from Mars – at London's Hammersmith Odeon [now called the Eventim Apollo], in front of thousands of fans, famously declaring, “This is not only the last show of the tour, but it is the last show we will ever do”. As legend has it, Jones used the historic moment as an opportunity for a lucrative side hustle.