The Sex Pistols: Shooting Punk from the Hip! :)

[RLP4ever]

I guess not many of you here are really punk rock fans, but if I've ever mentioned just how fond I am of The Ramones, for instance, then you all oughta know that I'm definitely some kind of punk fan, alright.

The Sex Pistols, apparently, single-handedly spearheaded (invented? ) the whole punk rock movement, in the U.K in the mid-'70s, at a time when our beloved Sabbath was enjoying its own godly glory years. I actually heard the Sex Pistols rather late---much after I had already been enjoying hearing many of the punk rockers that the Pistols had helped spawn. For an act with a career this brief, and with a one-off outright genre-defining classic record, Never Mind the Bollocks, Here's the Sex Pistols, the band must surely rank as one of THE most stand-out influential acts in music history. When I first heard their incendiary hit single, God Save the Queen, I was heady from the sheer, raw primal energy and thrill of it all. I'll never forget their contemptuous dismissal of the Pistols' Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction, in early 2006.

I definitely don't love every punk rock act that I've ever seen and heard (and I've seen many superb, many sucky ones, in my time, so far)...but god, Sex Pistols was where it all really goes back to. And if every punk rocker was as amazing and phenomenally provocative and entertaining as Sex Pistols, then I guess I'd be an even greater, luckier fan of Punk than I already am. The Sex Pistols have also had lots of live albums, compilations and other brief official releases appear over the years, even box set releases of their tons of performances. I have some of them, and would like to get more.

Anybody here even a casual fan of this important, impactful legend in Punk??

[Gardener]

I've been a Pistols fan since I first heard "Anarchy in the Uk" on the radio. They have been part of my teenage years soundtrack and they're still among my all time favourite. More than just a major Punk band, they are a major Rock band, and must hear for any music fan.

For anyone who hasn't seen it yet, here's a video of what's most probably the best ever version of the Stooges' classic "No Fun", during the only encore of the Pistols last gig in San Francisco in 1978 : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F-BSoaSzN04
On this video, you can witness the band on the verge of desintegration : their manager, Malcolm McLaren, had booked them on a suicide US tour, mostly visiting places in the Southern states hostile to their music, they had been spitted on and beaten up for weeks, no one was talking to the singer anymore, Sid was stoned out of his mind, Cook and Jones hated the audience but didn't want to back off and soldiered on, you could touch the hatred, but still they made music history that night. These guys were legends i spite of themselves.


"Ever get the feeling you've been cheated? Good night"

[Ady]

I like them. Here is their most infamous moment: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0knFHyDD150

I have the "Bollocks" album and a 3 disc box set which also has "Bollocks" + a load of demos and live recordings. I've also got "The Filth and the Fury" documentary DVD.

I saw the reformed Pistols in 1996 at the Phoenix Festival in Long Marston Airfield near Stratford-upon-Avon.

I also saw PIL at the Reading Festival in 1992.

[kentuckyfan]

These guys saves rock music in the 70's. Anyone who wears a I Hate Pink Floyd tee-shirt in LOndon in 1976 then lives up to the slogan is a rock god in my book. These guys the Ramons and The Clash are equal to Sabbath Maiden and Priest for Punk. The next generation of Punk Dead Kennedys and Black Flag carried the punk banner of the next decade but now with pop punk it is very hard to find anything orginal or good anymore. Sounds like I need to get my pain pin back out and razor blade neckless and get into shap for pogoing.

[devilmaycare]

I was never a Pistols fan. To me they're just a manufactured puppet band controlled by Malcolm McClaren. It was all about the shock factor & probably 3 half decent songs. Yes they were responsible for the popularity of the movement, but were far from Punk's best band. McClaren got the vibe from bands like Televsion in NYC and went back to London with a plan. Smart move.

The era's best band for me were The Clash. Although FAR from being a punk band musically they had the attitude & got lumped in with the crowd. I caught them at their prime at Hammersmith & Brixton & they always blew me away. Even the Ramones were just a good old fashioned Rock'n'Roll band, long hairs in leather... just about the anithesis of the punk look. But they were awesome live whenever I saw them.

I loved PiL's ALBUM, er album (!!) and the single 'Rise'... It was so ironic to see John Lydon fronting an album that featured the likes of Stevie Vai & Ginger Baker! For me, that was Lydon's musical pinnacle.

I've seen Cook & Jones in various bands with the likes of Duff & Phil Collen. Not great musicians in any sense, but Rock'n'Roll through & through. Jones' radio show Jonesey's Jukebox is phenomenal... He's just so fucking funny & he plays some great stuff.

I loved the Dead Kennedy's, Television, The Clash, Black Flag, The Heartbreakers, early Blondie, The Saints, Killing Joke... All so different but very much bands of their time.

UK punk got sad & cliched pretty fast... I remember standing well back & watching a wall of phlem being launched at the ANL, THe Damned & The Vice Squad at shows. Everyone from The Jam to The Specials were getting tagged "punk"... so ridiculous.

SOUNDS music paper & of course the NME & Melody Maker were pushing hard to break bands but then the far right poitical parties started using gigs as Nazi Rallies & it got really sick & ugly. Sounds tried hard to launch the offshoot punk/skinhead "OI" movement & I left it all alone.

Bands tagged punk like The Damned & Souxsie & The Banshees were fore-runners of early Goth bands. Adam & THe Ants became school girl posterboys. Bow Wow Wow & the gorgeous (but 14 years old) Annabella Lwin pretty much got McClaren chased out of the UK.

[devstorm]

I'm pretty much with DMC on the major points of this one.

Though I can't say I've ever been much of a fan of early punk in general. But like DMC, I never thought Sex Pistols had much in terms of songs. At least not songs that really hit me the way they did others.

I can appreciate some of the attitude that Johnny Rotten brought to the Pistols. In fact I'd much rather listen to the original versions of God Save the Queen, or Anarchy then most of the bullshit cover versions that have come out. I think it's laughable the way Anthrax, Motley Crue, & Megadeth have all delivered such agonizingly bland covers of something meant to be so obnoxious & cutting edge. I do love the Pistols' response to the Rock N Roll Hall Of Fame induction a few years back. Definitely a genius move there.

I also agree with DMC about Public Image & Steve Jones' radio show. Both are very worthwhile for what they are.

But unlike DMC 90% of that stuff coming out in the mid to late 70's that was (whether appropriately or not) considered Punk has just never registered with me. At least not to listen to recreationally. I've always preferred Punk's more bombastic, faster & more intense alter ego Hardcore.

[Wicked Cricket]

Though I wouldn't go as to far as to say I'm a fan of the Pistols, they certainly were a wake up call to rock n roll, and an important milestone in Rock. Bottom line though, attitude has to be backed up with chops, and they sadly lacked those IMO.

[RLP4ever]

^^ oh Wicked, I understand where you're coming from with that particular gripe. I mean, it's been a pretty conventional complaint of critics regarding Punk acts, generally, that goes in the vein of 'if only they could properly play their instruments' ...They were onto something, some of the time. But I realise we differ big-time on this count, because I honestly thought that the Pistols (like many other punk rockers) had both attitude and ability----i.e the artistic chutzpah and the playing chops, in their brief, bombastic musical career that's had such an immense impact on their followers.

As to some of the other comments, I'd agree how I went on to admire ace acts like Black Flag, The Dead Kennedys, The Exploited, Bad Brains et al, even more, later. But the Sex Pistols had an X-factor about them that stoked my appetite for the best no-holds-barred, take-no-prisoners punk rock that any band had to offer, years hence. For that alone, I have a sentimental soft spot for them.

I've always preferred Punk's more bombastic, faster & more intense alter ego Hardcore.

dev, I'm your identical twin, then. Seriously, for all my love and enjoyment of a lot of classic punk over so many years, my admiration and devotion to Hardcore easily surpasses that. I've always been a hardcore Hardcore fan. It might be an imperfect analogy, but it's akin to somebody strongly preferring the breakthrough American Thrash Metal of the '80s to the NWOBHM that preceded, and had significantly influenced it. I know I always did.

[kamikazetom]

I am a big fan of the sex pistols & have seen them 3 times - saw them in 78 & twice on the filthy lucre tour in 96 - they actually sounded & played better on the 96 tour then they did in 78 .

While they only made one LP - it's a classic - I did like some of the stuff Lydon did solo & it's funny that my favorite Joan Jett LP is Bad Reputation which had Steve Jones playing on it.

Thanks for making this thread -I think I'll listen to the Sex Pistols, Ramones & Clash today at work to relive some old memories of seeing these great bands

[RLP4ever]

Hey Tom, it's such a thrill to find such a seriously fervent fan of punk, and especially the Sex Pistols, here in the forums. I envy you to death for having the great fortune that I possibly couldn't have, i.e. actually watching the Pistols, in the flesh, back in '78, and heck, I didn't even get to see the '96 tours and shows that you mentioned.

Go ahead and bless your days with the Sex Pistols, The Clash, The Ramones, and all the rest of them rude, loud dudes and their acts.

[kamikazetom]

Hi RLP - did ypu ever see the laser disc from the Filthy Lucre tour? This one is very good if you can find it - I think the laser disc was a japan only release - pretty much the same as the 'there always be an england' DVD but then again they only have the one LP to play

I guess getting old does have it's advantages for seeing some of these bands - I am always envious of my brother in law - he saw all the bands in the 60's that I would have killed to have seen - Hendrix, the Yardbirds with Beck & Page, the Beatles, the Stones, the Who, Cream, The 13th floor elevators, the Doors & his list just goes on

[devilmaycare]

I guess getting old does have it's advantages for seeing some of these bands - I am always envious of my brother in law - he saw all the bands in the 60's that I would have killed to have seen - Hendrix, the Yardbirds with Beck & Page, the Beatles, the Stones, the Who, Cream, The 13th floor elevators, the Doors & his list just goes on

I know where you're coming from there of both scores...

[RLP4ever]

Hi RLP - did ypu ever see the laser disc from the Filthy Lucre tour? This one is very good if you can find it - I think the laser disc was a japan only release - pretty much the same as the 'there always be an england' DVD but then again they only have the one LP to play

I guess getting old does have it's advantages for seeing some of these bands - I am always envious of my brother in law - he saw all the bands in the 60's that I would have killed to have seen - Hendrix, the Yardbirds with Beck & Page, the Beatles, the Stones, the Who, Cream, The 13th floor elevators, the Doors & his list just goes on

Oh no, Tom, I hadn't even heard of this laser disc release, until only very recently as I was turning back to a lot of my punk records, and was discussing something about the Pistols with somebody at a dinner party. I had seen the other '.....England' DVD you mention here. I'll definitely search and buy the laser disc, soon.

Ha, your second point was what I was referring to in my earlier post, i.e. those older than me, and in particular locations and circumstances at a certain time, were so lucky to have experienced some of the live action that, for example, you obviously did. Sure, other avid rock/metal fans, say ten years younger than me, must feel the same way about my getting to watch some of countless awesome shows that I have, in the late-'80s and thru the '90s.

devilmaycare has seconded your point---as he would, cos he's been fortunate to be of an appropriate age in the relevant eras of Rock's glories, and has had a professional career that has enhanced his opportunities to listen to and travel and watch literally shiploads of acts, all these years. I envy you both.

[devilmaycare]

Just saw Jonesy playing E.M.I with the Hot Rats on the Craig Furguson show (I only recorded it because Marion Cotillard was on it, so it was a nice surprise)... FAT BASTARD!

[AngryHeart]

I loved PiL's ALBUM, er album (!!) and the single 'Rise'... It was so ironic to see John Lydon fronting an album that featured the likes of Stevie Vai & Ginger Baker! For me, that was Lydon's musical pinnacle.

I enjoyed that album a lot.

[mythology]

I loved PiL's ALBUM, er album (!!) and the single 'Rise'... It was so ironic to see John Lydon fronting an album that featured the likes of Stevie Vai & Ginger Baker! For me, that was Lydon's musical pinnacle.

It's OK, but 'Metal Box' is the one I reckon. As far as the pistols are concerned they were a massive shot in the arm for a pretty bloated music scene at the time. I have to agree with some of the other comments though that musically they were just another rock/garage band. There's nothing wrong with that, but the Stooges and others do it better.

As you said the Clash were probably the best of the so called punk bands. They understood that punk was about freedom and non-conformity. not safety pins and mohicans.

[kamikazetom]

Wasn't sure where else to post this but Malcolm McLaren died today - age 64 - I feel like I will always owe him a debt of gratitude for introducing the Sex Pistols & Bow Wow Wow to the music world http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage...s-aged-64.html

[Ady]

Wasn't sure where else to post this but Malcolm McLaren died today - age 64 - I feel like I will always owe him a debt of gratitude for introducing the Sex Pistols & Bow Wow Wow to the music world http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage...s-aged-64.html

Yeah, that was a shock when I heard that yesterday. I had no idea he was ill.

[RLP4ever]

Wasn't sure where else to post this but Malcolm McLaren died today - age 64 - I feel like I will always owe him a debt of gratitude for introducing the Sex Pistols & Bow Wow Wow to the music world

Oh Tom, I had heard this sad, bad news on the radio, just hours before I logged on to see your post here about it, already. Sure, Malcolm McLaren is owed a lot of credit and thanks for his efforts. He had the vision and the dare to push punk rock music and the hotshot acts of that era to the forefront---to the faces of fervent new fans and sneering critics, alike. MM was a great guy and he'll always have my ample appreciation for all that he did for the music and the bands I truly dug (and still do).

[Paulie 88]

Big Pistols fan here, particularly before that poor sap Sid got in.

All the best,
PAULIE

[Ady]

John Lydon hints at new Sex Pistols material
http://www.nme.com/news/sex-pistols/54458

John Lydon has suggested the Sex Pistols may reunite again, and also said he is up for writing new material with the band.

The punk pioneers have reunited on five separate occasions for tours since originally splitting in 1978, with their most recent gigs taking place in 2008.

Speaking to Stereogum, Lydon said that the success of his recent gigs with Public Image Limited had led to him considering regrouping the Sex Pistols once more.

"For me, there wouldn't be a PiL if it weren't for them lads in the Pistols, so I feel responsive to their needs," he explained. "If they want me to go out on tour with them I'm happy to oblige… until three weeks later when I'm not. That's how it is."

Lydon added that he's also considering writing new material with the Sex Pistols, whose previous reunions have seen them only play their old songs and covers.

"Because I've been able to get PiL back together – and because I've really been in a songwriting mode – can now look back on the Pistols and imagine writing with them too," he said.

He also confirmed that he is still planning to resume work on a new Public Image Limited album once he has "come to grips" with the loss of his step-daughter, The Slits' Ari Up, who died of cancer last October.

[kamikazetom]

Thanks for posting this Ady - Great news to hear that there may be new tour dates/music from the Pistols & PIL - I hope if the Pistols do tour they come to Dallas

[SYMPTOMS of EVILWOMEN]

I always loved punk its one of the reasons im into metal and Sabbath

[RLP4ever]

Trust Ady to often drop by and kindly deliver some delightful news like this.

I'll have to do two things: 1) snap up some of the PIL stuff I have yet to properly hear, and of course, 2) wait with bated breath for this promised, possible new Sex Pistols comeback record.

[nunoni]

well.... mixed feelings. I loved the Pistols back in the day (I was always under the impression that the Ramones were the forerunners of punk but I may have my time line all messed up, anyway, it's a mute point), particularly Never mind the bollocks which my brothers had a copy, but contrarily to the Ramones I find it didn't age as well, it is very dated, and it does sound nowadays like pointless angst, while the Ramones (or the Clash) had a sense of humour and political / societal views that went further than "destroy". Anyway, how can middle aged rich guys (I think, unless they don't have any royalties, I don't really know) recapture that anarchy feeling, or, how can they "progress" to some other level? That sort of music - raw and powerfull, full of youthfull energy and strength - is best left to the youngsters.

On the other hand, if they did give away the rights and need some cash to build a swimming pool or something, strength to their arm - they're not getting my money but I wish them much success.

[Ady]

I've played Never Mind The Bollocks quite a lot recently and it still sounds very fresh and exciting to my ears. I think the production is fantastic and most of the tunes I just can't help "singing" along to. Especially Bodies. I love the line, "She was a case of insanity. Her name was Pauline she lived in a tree." The girl the song is about actually lived in a tree house, apparently.

If anyone's got the time, watch these interviews.

This first one is with American broadcaster Tom Snyder from 1980: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_BZ2UoBZzEI Lydon is at his most sarcastic here, funny stuff.

The second one is again with Tom Snyder, but 17 years later: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=30veiN-jwYg I love the change in him here and the respect and warmth he now shows his interviewer.

[fondula]

The Sex Pistols were awesome. They stuck the middle finger up at everybody (including their record companies). The recorded one album and proceeded to make fun of themselves, their fans, a music industry that would give them success, and showed a disdain for "scenes" of any kind, including the one which they helped to create. Anyone who enjoys them ought to see the documentary movie The Filth and the Fury.

[Axeman77]

Stiff Little Fingers are the greatest punk band ever,

[Ady]

Glen Matlock speaking about the Pistols and various other things: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B1Sz-1eoocU

[alonfix]

god save the queen

[Ady]

A Radio One interview with Johnny Rotten and Sid Vicious from November 1977;

[Thelemech]

Although I loved the Sex Pistols I prefer the bands that came later such as Black Flag, The Misfits and The Dead Kennedys. In fact The Misfits are one of my favorite bands from any genre.

[Sporkman GB]

Punk is OK--kind of falls under with reggae in the "I can only take small does at a time" category--Sex Pistols pretty much epitomizes what I DISLIKE about punk. I mean someone like Ramone (the drummer) obviously has some real talent, so it's lack of display and the punk attitude is ok, but Sex Pistols, to me, were never a serious band and more of a social statement.

And that they got into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame is quite frankly preposterous! They've got one album, and I don't care if it's the greatest album in existence (which would be very difficult to argue) it's still only one album and there are plenty of other early punk rockers in there, so they didn't need them. Meanwhile, Deep Purple, Yes, KISS, Rush, Priest, Maiden, Grand Funk Railroad and many others are all NOT in. Whatever. That's a different rant all in itself.

[Ady]

Another good interview with Rotten from '78.

[Billy Underdog]

It's a cool outfit he's got on these clips. Very un-punk. Actually remind me a bit of Rich Wright in the Arnold Layne-video. (Irony, anyone?)

[Josef_K]

I never cared much for punk rock, even less as I've really grown to like their sworn enemy progressive rock. I generally enjoy listening to other people's opinions and can almost always, no matter how screwed up the idea, find something to relate to in them and see things from their point of view. One of the very few exceptions is the general idea, and this does not only apply to music, that everything has to be raw and stripped down to be good, as soon as you want to achieve something complex you are over-ambitious and pretentious and blah blah blah. I have never been able to and probably will never be able to understand that point of view, in fact I'd go as far as to say I hate that kind of opinion. It is counter-productive and drives the evolution of anything but ESPECIALLY art forms into commercialized crap instead of actual art.

Having said this, the genre itself can be quite good at times. Sure the ideals are nothing I can relate to, but the sheer energy and (sometimes) the personal feeling of the music can generate a great atmosphere. "Anarchy in the UK" is one example, decent songwriting, nice melodies but most of all lots and lots of energy, personality and of course attitude. After all, there are genres I dislike much much more, house for example :D

[Dr.Fukk]

Not a punk fan but I love The Ramones, Sex Pistols and The Expoilted. I'm sure there are more that I havent heard that I might dig. But so far these three are the only ones that grab me after decades of hearing Punk bands here and there.

Here is a video I made for "Bodies"

www.youtube.com/watch?v=NL7Su67J8zM

[The Wretch]

I was never a Pistols fan. To me they're just a manufactured puppet band controlled by Malcolm McClaren. It was all about the shock factor & probably 3 half decent songs. Yes they were responsible for the popularity of the movement, but were far from Punk's best band. McClaren got the vibe from bands like Televsion in NYC and went back to London with a plan. Smart move.

Did McClaren write the music or play on the album? No. The fact is, the Pistols album is consistently great, and has aged far better than the other debut albums of the time, and Lydon, for all of his BS was a more intelligent and articulate frontman and lyricist than any of his peers. They may have been surrounded by media hype and soap opera hysterics, but they were a real band alright, and they are at least honest about who they were and where they came from, unlike some other punks I could mention. McClaren was an opportunist, a rip off merchant and a shit stirrer, but in no way does that diminish how good their songs were. A few seconds watching or reading interviews with Rotten and Malcolm will tell you McClaren had neither the wit or the balls to make a puppet out of John, whatever about the others, and as I said, he couldn't play or write like them, so the band were doing something he wasn't capable of. If he was such a mastermind, where were his other great acts? Bow Wow Wow was just Adam Ants old band with a bit of jailbait up front whose biggest hit was a cover version, and Ant himself only became popular without McClarens help. He was a bluffer. They were a band. Forget Malcolm and the whole Vicious thing, and just dig the album, and the sense of irreverence. And Jones is a wicked guitarist. Not doing anything technically difficult, but solid, and full of attitude and with some killer riffs. Frankly, I would still take the Pistols of any of the other British bands of the era.

The Clash had some excellent material, but also some awful guff. There was a lot of bad white boy reggae, naff posturing and empty slogans among the genuinely classic songs. That's not to say I think they were insincere, but some of their material has not aged well, and while watching old footage and listening to NMTB reveal that the Pistols retain their potency, The Clash are very much of their time in many ways. Great band of course, but I really don't rate them higher than Rotten & Co musically.

The early Damned albums were excellent, and as far as the whole noisy, anarchic punk thing goes, they were where it was at, at least on Damned Damned Damned and Machine Gun Etiquette.

And the original non racial skinhead/oi punk may not have been the most clever music, but at least it was a real outlet for frustrated working class youth, and the early bands were decent, same as the early hardcore bands and the likes of Discharge.

Adam & The Ants may have become "school girl poster boys" but 'Kings Of The Wild Frontier' is a classic album.

For me, the best bands were The Ramones, The Dictators (Blood Brothers in particular) and the Pistols, easily. I also have a soft spot for The Buzzcocks, the first Undertones album, even if it was essentially a power pop album. They wrote great songs. Also the "pre punk" bands like The Stooges, and the New York Dolls, the post punk bands like PIL, Joy Division and Killing Joke, and for later stuff, Bad Brains, late 80's/early 90's Poison Idea, and Danzig era Misfits.

Nice to see someone mention The Saints though. Excellent band.

[Ady]