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.

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Latest blogosphere posts tagged “Sex Pistols”

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

  
  21st Century British Nationalism — Authority: 509
  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 ...
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• The Most Influential Albums Of All Time

  
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• John Lydon interview

  
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  John Lydon is going back on tour with his post-Sex Pistols band, Public Image Limited.
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• Died On This Date (November 21, 1995) Matthew Ashman / Adam & The Ants; Bow Wow Wow

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

  
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  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 ...
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• Sex Pistols

  
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• Sex Pistols Cover Eddie Cochran "Cmon Everybody"

  
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• Bizarre investments that turn a profit

  
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• BY TARDIS THROUGH THE MULTIVERSE

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

  
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  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 ...
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• Butter Fueled Public Image Ltd. Reunion Tour!

  
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  2 weeks ago

• Baby talk, Ukrainian talk, and translated punk talk

  
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• Sex Pistols "Holidays In The Sun"

  
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