My Leg Ends of Pop Music – Part Nineteen – The Sex Pistols

After 60 proper legends of pop (OK, you may have thought that some were a bit iffy), it is now time for my Top 20 Leg Ends of pop.  These are those groups or artists that have had hits and sold well, but by no means a favourite of mine.

I do know that some of you will really like these, as there is no accounting for taste.

Now, SB does not like the use of profanity in the articles (comments fine, not articles), therefore if I say, for example, “Clut” I mean that well known GP word which is a sign of endearment, and if I say the word “Fluff” it is a well know word beginning with F, four letters, last letter a K, 2nd letter a U and just in case there is doubt, the 3rd letter is a C.  The use of the word “Sausage” means that four letter word for when evacuating the bowels.

H/T to Brett of this parish, who very kindly sent me his play list of dire, dreadful, suicidal and basically fluffing songs generally done by right Cluts which are all pretty Sausage.

So, on we go with the 2nd worst music act in the UK.  A complete pile of sausage “played” and “sung” by a bunch of cluts which is all fluffing useless.  I give you The Sex Pistols.

They come on the scene in 1976 in what was called the punk era, though that passed me by.  I do remember it all ad thinking to myself “That’s ToTP ruined then”.  Could not believe how awful this noise was.  It has not improved with age.  In a way, I thought they would go far, I just hoped they would stay there when they got there.  However, banned by the BBC in those days was a guarantee of record sales, to this day, I have no idea why anyone would bother listening to it.

Courtesy of Wiki:

The Sex Pistols were an English punk rock band formed in London in 1975. Although their initial career lasted just two and a half years, they were one of the most ground-breaking acts in the history of popular music. They were responsible for initiating the punk movement in the United Kingdom and inspiring many later punk and alternative rock musicians. Their fashion and hairstyles were a significant influence on punk image, and they are often associated with anarchism within music.

The Sex Pistols originally comprised vocalist Johnny Rotten (John Lydon), guitarist Steve Jones, drummer Paul Cook, and bassist Glen Matlock; Matlock was replaced by Sid Vicious in early 1977. Under the management of Malcolm McLaren, the band attracted some controversies that both captivated and appalled Britain. Through an obscenity-laced television interview in December 1976 and their May 1977 single “God Save the Queen“, the latter of which attacked Britons’ social conformity and deference to the Crown, calling the monarchy a “fascist regime”. The release of the song popularised punk rock in the UK. “God Save the Queen” was banned by the BBC and nearly every independent radio station in Britain, making it one of the most censored records in British history.

The Sex Pistols’ only album, Never Mind the Bollocks, Here’s the Sex Pistols (1977) — a UK number one — is a staple record of punk rock. In January 1978, at the end of their turbulent tour of the US, Rotten announced the band’s break-up. Over the next few months, the three remaining members recorded songs for McLaren’s film of the Sex Pistols’ story, The Great Rock ‘n’ Roll Swindle. Vicious died of a heroin overdose in February 1979, following his arrest for the alleged murder of his girlfriend, Nancy Spungen. A film about the couple, Sid and Nancy, was released in 1986. Rotten, Jones, Cook, and Matlock reunited for a successful tour in 1996. Further one-off performances and short tours followed over the next decade.

The Sex Pistols have been recognised as an influential band. In 2004, Rolling Stone placed them No. 58 on its list of the “100 Greatest Artists of All Time“. On 24 February 2006, the Sex Pistols—the four original members plus Vicious—were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame; they refused to attend the ceremony, calling it “a piss stain”.

Discography

The featured track Pretty Vacant, is the only one I can listen to, but only for the first 15 seconds or so, then the “singing” starts. Could be a good tune this, if say, sung by Katie Melua.

Sex Pistols – Anarchy in the UK – 1976 – Live – The epitome of *angry, shouty man*.  At the time I was serving the British Army in Hameln, and a sprog had just the joined the squadron from basic training, seemed like a nice boy.  Then he turned up in the canteen dressed like Johnny Rotten, we all stared,  The WO2 master Chef marched him out and delivered him to our Sergeant Major, we could hear the shouting from the SSM from the canteen.  The clut dressed as a punk, never appeared in that fashion again. In those days we had pride in our country.  Not saying punk should be cancelled, that is not the right way to do things.

The Sex Pistols – God Save The Queen – 1/14/1978 – Winterland.  Always hated this, I will never believe Brenda was a fascist.  Bunch of cluts.

Sid Vicious – My Way (Original and Complete Version)..  I had to include this, to me the worst cover version of any song ever.

Friggin in the Riggin – The Sex Pistols – Lyrics in the video.  Quite funny really. I have put the video with the lyrics on, so you can all singalong.

That’s all I can manage of this band.  The worst thing they did was spawn some copycats and basically created the dirge that is punk.

Singalong, enjoy and be happy!

Links to previous Legend and Leg End articles:

1-Buddy Holly 2-Elvis Presley 3-Everly brothers 4-Cliff Richard 5-Joe Brown
6-Gerry and the Pacemakers 7-Roy Orbison 8-The Seekers 9-The Hollies 10-The Rolling Stones
11-Beach Boys 12-The Monkees 13-Rod Stewart 14-T-Rex 15-Slade
16-10CC 17-Pussycat 18-The Kinks 19-Blondie 20-Bryan Ferry/Roxy Music
21-David Bowie 22-Meatloaf 23-The Temptations 24-Dusty Springfield 25-Fleetwood Mac
26-Gilbert O’Sullivan 27-The Four Tops 28-Chas ‘n’ Dave 29-Diana Ross and The Supremes 30-Status Quo
31-Jim Reeves 32-The Small Faces 33-The Doobie Brothers 34-Manfred Mann 35-Creedence Clearwater Revival
36-Otis Redding 37-Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons 38-Squeeze 39-Duran Duran 40-Dire Straits
41-Chuck Berry 42-Thin Lizzy 43-ABBA 44-Carole King 45-Queen
46-Rod Stewart 47-Madness 48-Showaddywaddy 49-Pet Shop Boys 50-The Moody Blues
51-The Rat Pack 52-Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young 53-Kevin (Bloody) Wilson 54-ZZ Top 55-Amy Macdonald
56-Eurythmics 57-Darts 58-Smokie 59-The Eagles 60-ELO
Leg Ends of Pop Music
1-The Prodigy 2-The Darkness 3-Lou Reed 4- Red Hot Chili Peppers 5-Bob Dylan
6-Led Zeppelin 7-AC/DC 8-The Stranglers 9-U2 10-The Clash
11-Atomic Kitten 12-Genesis 13-Yes 14-Leonard Cohen 15 – The Jam
16 – Jimi Hendrix 17-Hawkwind 18 -Phil Collins 19-The Sex Pistols  

Featured image: “File:Tdpe 0002 xs Thomas Dellert and the Sex Pistols 1978.jpg” by frankiboi (Bruno Ehrs) is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.
 

© Phil the ex test manager 2023