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!

Original Technorati articles tagged “sex pistols”

• in Music
  The Wanted Are Very Unwanted
  The Wanted: an "All Time Low" indeed.
  by mactingz / on Sep 11, 2010

Latest blogosphere posts tagged “sex pistols”

 

• Punk Rock – for room 101 – I think not!

  
  Tim Garratts Blog — Authority: 111
  I have seen the new edition of Room 101 a couple of times in the last few weeks; the format is nowhere near as good as the original (what was I saying about originals last week?). But a few weeks ago Danny Baker was guest and suggested that Punk Rock went into room 101. I have a lot of time for Mr Baker – I ...
  1 day ago

• THE CULT OF CELEBRITY TRAINWRECK

  
  Pop Music As Pornography — Authority: 109
  I dont get the cult of celebrity trainwreck.  I mean, I get the fascination in watching people self destruct, but celebrating people that live a grandly stupid life makes no sense to me.  The cult of Sid Vicious, after all, is just the glorification of a junkie that couldnt play bass, murdered his girlfriend, and ...
  1 week ago

• John Lydon: Im prepared to endorse any hairspray or underarm deodorant – a classic interview from the vaults

  
  Music: Music blog | guardian.co.uk — Authority: 110
  As Public Image Ltd complete their back catalogue reissue programme , we take another visit to Rocks Backpages – the worlds leading archive of vintage rock journalism – for an encounter between New York Rocker magazine and John Lydon It is two oclock in the afternoon, and John Lydon has just popped his third ...
  1 week ago

Comments about sex pistols