If you know the history of UK Punk, you know the name Jordan. But to those who knew her personally, she was Pam.
While the world remembers her as the bleach-blonde muse of the Sex Pistols and the queen of the SEX boutique on the King’s Road, there is a side of Jordan that many don’t know: She was a local.
Pamela Rooke lived in Seaford for most of her life. Imagine the scene: the woman who defined the most rebellious aesthetic of the 70s, commuting daily from our quiet Sussex coast to the chaos of London. She would sit on the train, looking every bit the punk icon, shocking the conservative commuters with her makeup and attitude.
On the bad days, when the stares turned to abuse, the train guards would let her travel in the mail carriage just to avoid the hostility. She endured that treatment with the same defiance she showed on the King’s Road.
But her life wasn’t just about the commute. She was a performer in her own right. She danced on stage with the Sex Pistols and performed with Adam and the Ants, bringing her unique energy to the live scene. She even starred in Derek Jarman’s cult classic film, Jubilee, cementing her place in cinema history alongside the music.
In her later years, she traded the stage for the clinic, working as a veterinary assistant. It was a perfect fit for a woman who had always cared deeply for the underdog. She found her peace here, surrounded by the coast she loved.
She also documented her life in her book, Defying Gravity, a candid and powerful look at the era and the woman behind the makeup.
Why this tshirt?
I designed this Jordan Tee right here in Seaford, in the town where she lived, loved, and found her quiet strength. The graphic captures her iconic gaze, but the story behind it is about her humanity.
A tribute to her love: Jordan had a deep, lifelong love for Burmese cats. To honor that passion, a percentage of the profit from every sale of this shirt is donated to The Burmese Cat Club. It’s a small way to keep her spirit of care and community alive.
Jordan passed away in 2022, but her legacy lives on in the streets of Seaford and in the hearts of those who knew her. She was a rebel, a neighbor, a performer, and a cat lover.
Wear this shirt to honor the muse who made punk look good, and the local legend who called our coast home. My tribute design is printed on a premium unisex tee made from 100% organic cotton, produced using natural materials to help eliminate plastic waste.
I created this piece to pay tribute to Pam and her beloved hometown of Seaford. You might notice a subtle but powerful detail: on the graphic, the word ‘Destroy‘ has been replaced with ‘Seaford‘. It’s a small change that transforms a symbol of rebellion into a celebration of the place that gave her peace
Punk isn’t dead; it’s just waiting for you to put it on
