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”

• Alex Kapranos: Wish I was Sid

  
  No Rock And Roll Fun — Authority: 491
  Ah, the follies of youth - apparently Alex Kapranos was so desperate to emulate Sid Vicious , he was hoping he was going to die an early death: "I wanted to be like Buddy Holly or Sid Vicious or Rupert Brooke and have achieved everything I was going to do and done it all by the time I was 21 and then die ...
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• Sex Pistols "Holidays In The Sun"

  
  Retro Music Snob (Mp3's ) — Authority: 142
  Boogie Woogie Flu Report: Click here to go to BWF to check the Sex Pistols "Holidays in The Sun"
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• Rock & Roll History: November 6

  
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• Tournament of Rock – Legends: the Nirvana pod

  
  Scholars and Rogues — Authority: 588
  Results: About what you’d expect – The Stones laid an Altamont on all comers. Maybe they’ll find stiffer competition at the next level. The numbers: #2 The Rolling Stones 80% ; #7 Bob Marley/Wailers 13%; #10 The Sex Pistols 7%. Stones advance to the Sweet 16. And now, the final Great 48 pod in our search for ...
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• Anglophilia!

  
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  Filed under: News , Exclusive , Holy Hell The Eagles Joe Walsh tore out hotel walls with a chainsaw. Who drummer Keith Moon drove his car into a pool. Sex Pistols bassist Sid Vicious was charged with murder. But as those drug-addled musicians lived the rock n roll lifestyle to excess in the 70s, ...
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• On The Fence: The Monkees Greatest Hits

  
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• Sex Pistols x Vans Girls ‘10 Spring

  
  mashKULTURE Juicy — Authority: 130
  Vans pays tribute to the Sex Pistols’ ex-bassist, the late Sid Vicious on a set of t-shirts part of the Vans Girls’ 2010 Spring collection. There will be a two t-shirts featuring the punk icon imagery that has become synonymous with the band. No word on a release date yet so stay tuned. More after the jump ...
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• Avengers  "K%R%O%Q Radio Interview, May 14th, 1978"

  
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• Global Hit: France’s Nouvelle Vague

  
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  Big Apple Music Scene — Authority: 124
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• Play the guitar like a Sex Pistol!

  
  STEVENHARTSITE — Authority: 424
  I had no idea that Gibson had issued a Steve Jones model Les Paul in honor of the Sex Pistols ax-man. Though it was discontinued some time ago, it appears to have been a sturdy mid-Seventies type Les Paul without a whole lot of gewgaws, aside from the Varga Girl decals on the bottom. As for the sound, here’s a ...
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