Sex Pistols

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Awards And Honors:

Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum (2006)

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Date:

1975 - 1978

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Malcolm McLaren

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How did the Sex Pistols get their name?
What was the Sex Pistols’ first album?
Who were the members of the Sex Pistols?
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The Sex Pistols were a rock group who created the British punk movement of the late 1970s. With the song “God Save the Queen,” they became a symbol of the United Kingdom ’s social and political turmoil.
The Sex Pistols broke up in January 1978 after a short, disastrous tour of the United States. Contributing factors included the stalled preparation for a movie, Sid Vicious ’s worsening drug problem, and government bans that limited the Sex Pistols' ability to perform in the U.K.
The Sex Pistols got their name from their manager, Malcolm McLaren , who was trying to promote his clothing store, Sex. In the 2010 documentary The Filth and the Fury , McLaren said that he chose the name to invoke “sexy young assassins” and noted that the word pistol was a double entendre.
The first Sex Pistols album was Never Mind the Bollocks, Here's the Sex Pistols , released in October 1977. The band had previously come out with four singles, including their debut, “Anarchy in the U.K.,” which was released in 1976.
The original members of the Sex Pistols were vocalist Johnny Rotten , guitarist Steve Jones, drummer Paul Cook, and bassist Glen Matlock. Sid Vicious joined the band and replaced Matlock in 1977.
the Sex Pistols , rock group who created the British punk movement of the late 1970s and who, with the song “God Save the Queen,” became a symbol of the United Kingdom’s social and political turmoil. The original members were vocalist Johnny Rotten (byname of John Lydon; b. January 31, 1956, London, England), guitarist Steve Jones (b. May 3, 1955, London), drummer Paul Cook (b. July 20, 1956, London), and bassist Glen Matlock (b. August 27, 1956, London). A later member was bassist Sid Vicious (byname of John Simon Ritchie; b. May 10, 1957, London—d. February 2, 1979, New York, New York, U.S.).
Thrown together in September 1975 by manager Malcolm McLaren to promote Sex, his London clothing store, the Sex Pistols began mixing 1960s English pop music influences (the Small Faces, the Who ) with those of 1970s rock renegades ( Iggy and the Stooges , the New York Dolls ) in an attempt to strip rock’s complexities to the bone. By the summer of 1976 the Sex Pistols had attracted an avid fan base and successfully updated the energies of the 1960s mods for the malignant teenage mood of the ’70s. Heavily stylized in their image and music , media-savvy, and ambitious in their use of lyrics, the Sex Pistols became the leaders of a new teenage movement—called punk by the British press—in the autumn of 1976. Their first single, “ Anarchy in the U.K. ,” was both a call to arms and a state-of-the-nation address. When they used profanity on live television in December 1976, the group became a national sensation. Scandalized in the tabloid press, the Sex Pistols were dropped by their first record company, EMI, in January 1977; their next contract, with A&M Records , was severed after only a few days in March.
Signing quickly with Virgin Records , the Sex Pistols released their second single, “ God Save the Queen ,” in June 1977 to coincide with Queen Elizabeth II ’s Silver Jubilee (the 25th anniversary of her accession to the throne). Although banned by the British media, the single rose rapidly to number two on the charts. As “public enemies number one,” the Sex Pistols were subjected to physical violence and harassment.
Despite a second top ten record, “ Pretty Vacant,” the Sex Pistols stalled. Barely able to play in the United Kingdom because of local government bans, they became mired in preparations for a film and the worsening drug use of Rotten’s friend Vicious, who had replaced Matlock in February 1977. Their bunker mentality is evident on their third top ten hit, “ Holidays in the Sun.” By the time their album Never Mind the Bollocks, Here’s the Sex Pistols reached number one in early November, Rotten, Vicious, Jones, and Cook had recorded together for the last time.
A short, disastrous U.S. tour precipitated the group’s split in January 1978 following their biggest show to date, in San Francisco . Attempting to keep the Sex Pistols going with the film project that became The Great Rock ’n’ Roll Swindle (1980), McLaren issued records with an increasingly uncontrollable Vicious as the vocalist. A cover version of Eddie Cochran ’s “ C’mon Everybody” became the group’s best-selling single following Vicious’s fatal heroin overdose in New York City in February 1979 while out on bail (charged with the murder of his girlfriend, Nancy Spungen). That same month McLaren was sued by Rotten, and the Sex Pistols disappeared into receivership , only to be revived some years after the 1986 court case that restored control of their affairs to the group.
A reunion tour in 1996 finally allowed the original quartet to play their hit songs in front of supportive audiences, and it was followed by further reunion tours in 2002–03 and 2007–08. This anticlimactic postscript, however, did not lessen the impact of their first four singles and debut album, which shook the foundations of rock music and sent tremors through British society. Another documentary film— The Filth and the Fury , told from the point of view of the artists—was released in 2000. In 2006 the Sex Pistols were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame , though they scornfully declined to attend the ceremony.

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Although they've disbanded, the Sex Pistols are still one of the most iconic British rock bands ever. Get caught up with the former members and learn what they're up to today.
The Sex Pistols will always be remembered for their influence on punk rock music. The British rock band formed in London in 1975 and initiated the punk movement in the U.K. Their initial career only lasted two and a half years, but they still were widely successful and influential. The band’s only studio album, Never Mind the Bollocks, Here’s the Sex Pistols , reached number one in the U.K. They disbanded in 1978 but reunited on-and-off over the years until 2008, which marked the group’s final music release together.
Vocalist John Lydon (known as “Johnny Rotten”), guitarist Steve Jones , drummer Paul Cook , and bassist Glen Matlock were the original members of the Sex Pistols. Sid Vicious replaced Glen before the band disbanded. The Sex Pistols’ rise to fame will be explored in the TV miniseries Pistol , premiering May 31 on FX on Hulu. Here’s where Johnny Rotten and the rest of the Sex Pistols are today.
Johnny Rotten, 66, was the lead singer of the Sex Pistols. After the group disbanded, he formed his own successful punk band, Public Image Ltd. , which is still active today. His bandmates include Bruce Smith , Lu Edmonds , and Scott Firth . Johnny put out one solo studio album in 1997 called Psycho’s Path . He also released a compilation album, The Best of British £1 Notes , in 2005. Johnny recently appeared as a contestant on season 6 of The Masked Singer . He was the Jester and was eliminated in the eighth episode. Johnny is currently married to German publishing heiress Nora Forster and they are the guardians of her late daughter Ari Up ‘s three children. Johnny is being played by Anson Boon in Pistol .
Steve Jones, 66, was the lead guitarist of the Sex Pistols. He went on to form the pink rock band The Professionals with his bandmate Paul Cook. Steve also formed the rock supergroup Neurotic Outsiders with members of Guns N’ Roses and Duran Duran , but the band only lasted for three years. Steve has put out two solo albums, 1987’s Mercy and 1989’s Fire and Gasoline . He also had his own radio show, Jonesy’s Jukebox , and he continues to work as a disc jockey on local radio stations in Southern California. In 2019, Steve suffered a heart attack but he recovered. Steve is being played by Toby Wallace in Pistol .
Glen Matlock, 65, was the lead bass guitarist in the Sex Pistols. He left the band before it officially disbanded to perform with numerous other groups. He’s played for Rich Kids , Vicious White Kids , Iggy Pop , The Damned , and The International Swingers . He also formed the band Glen Matlock & The Philistines that released music from 1996 to 2018. Since his Sex Pistols replacement Sid Vicious died, Glen has stepped in as bass guitarist for any reunion shows with the group. It’s unclear if Glen has ever been married. He’s being played by Christian Lees in Pistol .
Paul Cook, 65, was the lead drummer of the Sex Pistols. Once they disbanded, Paul started the band The Professionals with Steve and Andy Allan . As of 2021, the group has released four studio albums and various singles, EPs, and compilations. Paul has also worked with the bands Bananarama and Chiefs of Relief over the years, plus his occasional reunions with the Sex Pistols. Paul is currently married to Jeni Cook , a former member of the British new wave band Culture Club. They live in West London with their daughter Hollie Cook , a solo musician. Paul is being played by Jacob Slater in Pistol .
Sid Vicious , whose real name was John Simon Ritchie, but also went by John Beverly, joined the Sex Pistols in 1977, replacing bass guitarist Glen Matlock. He was previously the co-founder and vocalist of the band Flowers of Romance . Sid Vicious played with the Sex Pistols until the group dissolved in 1978. Afterwards, he struggled with drug and alcohol abuse, slipping into a brief coma in January 1978. Later that year, Sid was accused of murdering his girlfriend Nancy Spungen , who was found dead in their hotel room. He was charged with second-degree murder, but was released on bail. He ended up assaulting someone at a New York City club and got locked up in Riker’s Island for seven weeks. After Sid was released in Feb. 1979, he resumed partying and died of a heroin overdose at the age of 21. Sid is being played by Louis Partridge in Pistol .

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