Sex Pistols

Sex Pistols were a British punk rock band formed in London in 1975. With an initial career lasting only two and a half years, the Pistols were one of the most culturally influential acts in pop culture and music. The band effectively initiated the UK punk movement and were the inspiration for countless other punk, post-punk and alternative rock artists. Their clothing and hairstyles were also a significant influence on the early punk image, becoming iconic in the world of pop culture and even in mass tourism to the UK, especially London.

The Sex Pistols first consisted of vocalist Johnny Rotten (b. John Lydon, b.1956), guitarist Steve Jones (b.1955), drummer Paul Cook (b.1956), and bassist Glen Matlock (b.1956). Matlock was replaced by Sid Vicious ( John Simon Ritchie, b.1957, d.1979) in early 1977. With entrepreneur Malcolm McLaren as manager, the group soon became notorious for their "anti-social" behaviour and attitude as well as for their music and live performances. They famously swore on live television during an interview in 1976, sparking widespread controversy in the British press. The lyrics of their single God Save the Queen, released on the occasion of Queen Elizabeth II's Silver Jubilee in May 1977, described the monarchy as a "fascist regime", and was banned by the BBC and nearly every independent radio station in Britain, consequently making it one of the biggest selling singles of the year.

The group's only album, Never Mind the Bollocks, Here's the Sex Pistols went straight to no.1 in the UK album charts on its release in November 1977. As well as God Save the Queen, the group had six more UK Top 10 hits, some of which received radio play, notably by pioneering Radio 1 DJ John Peel, who radically changed his tastes in music, and style of presenting his show, thanks to the Pistols and the punk rock movement. He continued to play their singles and selections from their album from their release in the late 70s onwards. The group's debut single Anarchy In The UK, played by Peel on its release in November 1976, was no.1 in the DJ's annual 'Festive Fifty' (based on listeners' votes) in 1978, 1979, 1980 and 1982 (Joy Division's Atmosphere was the 1981 no.1, with 'Anarchy' at no.2 leading to Peel hypothesising 'the end of an era').

In January 1978, at the final gig of a difficult and media-hyped tour of the US, frontman Johnny Rotten announced the Sex Pistols' break-up live on stage. Further songs were recorded for McLaren's film of the Sex Pistols' story, The Great Rock 'n' Roll Swindle without Rotten. The band's cover version of My Way with lead vocals by Sid Vicious was released as a single and went Top 10, as did Silly Thing with vocals by Paul Cook. New and older material were included on the 'Swindle' soundtrack album, released in February 1979, while the film, directed by Julien Temple, was released in May 1980.

Sid Vicious died of a heroin overdose in February 1979 following his arrest for the alleged murder of his girlfriend, Nancy Spungen. Rotten, Jones, Cook and Matlock reunited for a successful tour in 1996. Further one-off performances and short tours followed.

TV & radio

 * 01 December 1976 (Thames TV) Today with Bill Grundy.
 * 10 December 1976 (R1) - John Peel's first 'punk special' - plays Anarchy In The UK (and The Damned's debut session)
 * 29 August 1977 (R1) - Peel's second 'punk special' - opens with Pretty Vacant, ends with Anarchy In The UK (also feat. debut session by Squeeze)
 * 24 October 1977 (R1) - Peel plays the Pistols' debut album in its entirety in the last hour of his show

Top of the Pops
not including records played over charts, closing credits etc.


 * 14 July 1977 - Pretty Vacant (video)
 * 09 March 1979 - Something Else (Legs & Co. dance routine, rpt. 12 April)
 * 05 July 1979 - C'Mon Everybody (video)
 * 07 June 2002 - God Save The Queen (video)

Discography
UK only albums and associated singles (chart placing in brackets)


 * Never Mind the Bollocks, Here's the Sex Pistols (Virgin, 1977)
 * Anarchy in the U.K. (38)
 * God Save the Queen (2)
 * Pretty Vacant (6)
 * Holidays in the Sun (8)
 * The Great Rock 'n' Roll Swindle (Virgin, 1979)
 * No One Is Innocent/My Way (7)
 * Something Else (3)
 * Silly Thing (6)
 * C'mon Everybody (3)
 * The Great Rock 'n' Roll Swindle/Rock around the Clock (21)
 * (I'm Not Your) Stepping Stone (21)
 * Flogging a Dead Horse (Virgin, 1980 - compilation)

In 2022 (Queen Elizabeth's Diamond Jubilee year), God Save the Queen reached no.1 in the UK vinyl single charts, as did vinyl re-releases of Anarchy in the UK and Holidays in the Sun in 2023.