Sex Pistols

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 Are you a writer, passionate about this or any other topic? Join Blogcritics!

Latest blogosphere posts tagged “Sex Pistols”

• The Vault: An Exploration of the Gothic

  
  Big Hollywood — Authority: 747
  Part 3 – 1976, The Big Bang (Author’s note: Apologies to all the readers of “The Vault” who wrote in wondering when the next chapter was coming. I promise I have not abandoned this series, and have been grateful for all the suggestions and critiques of the previous posts, which can be read here and here ...
  1 day ago

• Anarchy on Avenue C

  
  ... Stupefaction ... — Authority: 563
  Word has it (although Im not sure how reliable it is) that Sex Pistols bassist & songwriter, Glen Matlock, will be playing an acoustic gig at the tiny Nublu on Avenue C between 4th & 5th Streets next Friday, Dec. 11. Ive sent a note to the man himself - well see what he says. Stranger things have happened. ...
  1 day ago

• Around the UK in 80 Venues: O2 Academy Brixton

  
  Spinner — Authority: 728
  Filed under: UK , Down the Front! Location: 211 Stockwell Road, London, SW9 9SL Website: http://www.o2academybrixton.co.uk/ Capacity: 4,921 Come to see: Bands on the last rung before they fly into fully-fledged arena territory. The venerable Academy is the biggest non-arena venue in London, so its ...
  3 days ago

• Rock and Roll History Lesson for December 3

  
  Rock and Roll Guru — Authority: 145
  A bunch of groovy Beatles stuff plus Frank Zappa, Pink Floyd and more on this day in Rock and Roll History. Enjoy the video .
  3 days ago

• A merry jingle

  
  ... Stupefaction ... — Authority: 563
  If youre looking for any special music related gifts for that special someone, even if that means you, please consider my eBay & Amazon listings: eBay listings here - currently include a bunch of limited edition jazz CD boxsets, gold CD pressings of classic LPs, and some amazing vinyl as well. Amazon listings ...
  4 days ago

• The 666 Best Songs of Alltime Continues All The Way Through the End of the Zeros

  
  Lucid Culture — Authority: 126
  As regular readers remember, for over a year we counted down the 666 best songs of all time , one a day, until the end of this past September when Lucid Culture went halfspeed. As we get into December, we’re still at halfspeed but we’ll be back with new stuff on a daily basis here in just a couple of weeks. ...
  4 days ago

• Bob Dylan "Like a Rolling Stone"...Plus Some Sex Pistols, Pearl Jam, Nirvana, The Smiths, Jeff Buckley, The Doors, and The Rolling Stones

  
  Retro Music Snob (Mp3's ) — Authority: 147
  Music Is Art Report: Click here to go to MIA to check Bob Dylan "Like a Rolling Stone", "Times They are A Changin ", Sex Pistols "Anarchy In The UK", "Pearl Jam "Alive", "Elderly Woman", Jeff Buckley "Last Goodbye", The Doors "Break on Through", Nirvana "Breed", The Smiths "There Is a Light That Never Goes Out", ...
  5 days ago

• X Factor: Sex Pistols, Jamelia And Paul McCartney Ride The Jedward Bandwagon

  
  Anorak News — Authority: 630
  X FACTOR’S Duracell Gonks Jedward can be used to advertise any popstar’s existence. Today, Sir Paul McCartney “ reveals he loves X Factor twins Jedward ” and Sex Pistols singer-turned-butter vendor John Lydon says “ the tone deaf twins, John and Edward Grimes, serve a purpose because they are so bad ...
  1 week ago

• From Punk Hero to Panto Dame - The Joke That Is John Lydon

  
  21st Century British Nationalism — Authority: 528
  John Lydon of The Sex Pistols, Public Image Limited and corporate whore of Country Life Butter has had a pop at the BNP. I guess he needs to lick a few media arses now that he has a new tour. Lydon epitomises the modern tragedy, his life charting the fall from revolutionary firebrand to corporate whore. The path ...
  1 week ago

• The Most Influential Albums Of All Time

  
  ..:: ThePopscene 2.0 ::.. — Authority: 125
  Debating the quality of music must be one of the  favourite pastimes. Rarely, however, does conversation turn to influential music. This list is designed not to provide a definitive guide, but to give you food for thought and provide a catalyst for further debate. So here goes: the 9 most influential albums of all ...
  1 week ago

• John Lydon interview

  
  Daily Telegraph | Telegraph.co.uk — Authority: 971
  John Lydon is going back on tour with his post-Sex Pistols band, Public Image Limited.
  1 week ago

• Died On This Date (November 21, 1995) Matthew Ashman / Adam & The Ants; Bow Wow Wow

  
  The Music's Over — Authority: 142
  Matthew Ashman1960 – November 21, 1995Matthew Ashman was one of the great true guitarists of the new wave era.  He brought in a gritty rockabilly sound thanks to his big Gretsch hollow body guitar. He first came on to the scene during the late ’70s when he was asked to play guitar in Adam Ant’s [...]
  2 weeks ago

• Greil Marcus Praises Sex Pistols, Celebrates Book Anniversary at Lecture

  
  Spinner — Authority: 728
  Filed under: News , Book Club The young John Lydon was so brilliant, author Greil Marcus argued Thursday night during a presentation at Columbia University, that the iconic Sex Pistols singer, now 53, should be forgiven for appearing in British butter commercials. "I think John Lydon did so much to make ...
  2 weeks ago

• The Faces to return with Mick Hucknall?

  
  Spinner — Authority: 728
  Filed under: Concerts and Tours , News The Faces have confirmed that they are in the early stages of planning a series of live dates -- but without front man Rod Stewart . And in a move that is likely to delight or disappoint long-term fans, the band -- guitarist Ronnie Wood , keyboardist Ian McLagen and ...
  2 weeks ago

• Buckcherry Singer Fans Favourite to Replace Steven Tyler

  
  Spinner — Authority: 728
  Filed under: News The ongoing Aerosmith singer saga continues this week after Rolling Stone ran a fans poll over the weekend. The magazine asked readers who they would like to see front the band. The result? Buckcherry singer Josh Todd was in first place. The poll was prompted by reports that singer Steven ...
  2 weeks ago

• Sex Pistols

  
  Who's In Charge Here? — Authority: 107
  Purpose: Determine a bands leader by analyzing a publicity photo. Disclaimer: A bands inclusion on this blog reflects neither an endorsement nor a criticism of its music. This post is merely intended as a spotlight on the inner political workings of a collection of individuals who are in the midst of a ...
  2 weeks ago

• Sex Pistols Cover Eddie Cochran "Cmon Everybody"

  
  Retro Music Snob (Mp3's ) — Authority: 147
  The Culture of Me Report: Click here to go to TCOM to check the Sex Pistols covering Eddie Cochran "Cmon Everybody"
  3 weeks ago

• Bizarre investments that turn a profit

  
  The Guardian - guardian.co.uk — Authority: 988
  Shrunken heads, toys like Barbie and Action Man, punk paraphernalia and top hats can all be worth collecting, says Toby Walne The spirit of adventure and exploration in the Victorian era marks the beginning of a fascination for alternative investments that make money today. Among the earliest bizarre trades was the ...
  3 weeks ago

• BY TARDIS THROUGH THE MULTIVERSE

  
  ShowHype - Top Television News, Videos, and Blogs — Authority: 173
  What dyou think of the Sex Pistols? Maxim asked me as he tossed aside The Entropy Tango he was rejecting. Not a lot, I said, made cynical by recent argie bargie. Well pay you handsomely to do the book of The Great Rock and Roll Swindle in ten days. How handsomely ? I asked. Very ... SFX found this 3 hours ago on ...
  3 weeks ago

• John Lydons Says TV Butter Ads Paid for Public Image Limited Reunion

  
  Spinner — Authority: 728
  Filed under: Concerts and Tours , News , UK Punk legend and reality TV star John Lydon has revealed that his upcoming tour with reformed post- Sex Pistols band Public Image Limited (PiL) is being funded with the money he made by starring in TV adverts for Country Life butter. Speaking to North London ...
  3 weeks ago

Comments about Sex Pistols