The Sex Pistols are one of the most famous punk bands in the world, despite (or perhaps because of) the fact that they only ever released one studio recording. They are credited with "inventing" the British punk scene.
The band formed in London in 1975. Original members were Johnny Rotten (vocals), Steve Jones (guitar), Paul Cook (drums), and Glen Matlock (bass). Matlock was replaced by Sid Vicious in 1977. Vicious had the looks and the attitude, but had no musical talent. He quickly morphed into the band's front man.
Their one studio album was called Never Mind the Bollocks, Here's The Sex Pistols. It produced three top 10 UK singles: "God Save the Queen," "Pretty Vacant," and "Holidays in the Sun." The band spent less than three weeks touring the United States in January 1977. The tour ended abruptly with the band splitting up. Vicious, always an unpredictable personality, largely due to his severe heroin addiction, was growing increasingly volatile.
In October 1978, Sid was arrested on suspicion of murdering his junkie girlfriend, Nancy Spungen, in the infamous Chelsea Hotel. Less than two months later, while out on bail, Sid died of a heroin overdose. Rotten went on to moderate success with his new band, Public Image Ltd., also known as PiL. Jones and Cook have gone on to various guest and session appearances. The surviving members on occasion play reunion gigs together.
The Sex Pistols have been the subject of numerous documentaries and bio-pics. Most notable among them are The Great Rock N' Roll Swindle a fictionalized bio-pic written by former Pistols producer Malcolm McLaren; The Filth and the Fury, a documentary with surviving members of the band; and Sid & Nancy, a grim look at the troubled romance and demise of Vicious and Spungen.
by Alyse Wax
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