Published on Sep 24, 1997
You might not believe this at first, but the Sex Pistols were
one of the most important bands in rock history. By the
mid-seventies, rock had developed to the point where many felt that
rock stars were overly glorified and complacent to the point where
it’s message had been lost. Many felt that rock had become too
refined, and well produced, solid musicians like Peter Frampton
fueled the fire. Don’t get me wrong, I think Frampton’s fabulous,
but it was this type of sound that made rock palatable to the upper
class. While Frampton and Boston where creatingthe perfect sound in
the studio, the Sex Pistols were rehearsing three chord rock. The
effect was stunning, as they became hugely popular despite the fact
that their material and outrageous nature prevented them from
receiving exposure through the media.
In 1977, Warner Brothers released their only studio album (which
contained two previously released British singles),
Never Mind The Bollocks, Here’s The Sex Pistols. By the
release of this album, original bassist Glen Matlock had been
replaced by the band’s most famous member, Sid Vicious, who had
previously been a non-musical friend of Rotten. Legend has it that
Matlock was fired after he admitted that he liked the Beatles.
Whether this is true or not, I don’t know, but it reinforces the
notion that the Sex Pistols were against anything high society.
Never Mind The Bollocks is a raw, angry album that
antagonizes the facets of society that prevent us from having a
future. The Pistols, in one album, manage to confront many of the
most hyper-sensitive issues of the twentieth century, which of
course was their charm, if that’s the proper word. They sing about
the Berlin Wall in “Holidays In The Sun”, then downshift into the
topic of abortion in “Bodies”. Ever know someone who’s a liar? What
did you do about it? Probably nothing. Not these guys. They openly
point the finger at the accused in “Liar”. Take a subject that is
usually discussed in hushed circles, and the Sex Pistols will
scream about it so that the rest of the block hears.
Many people listened. Some have elevated these guys to “voice of
a generation” status. Their social timing was also part of their
mass hype/disdain. They released “God Save The Queen” in time for
her long awaited Silver Jubilee. Painting the Queen as fascist and
phony, the song was immediately banned from British airplay.
Nonetheless, it was a very popular tune, which had to be published
as blank at #2 on the UK charts.
While it’s not certain that the sex pistols were first punk
band, they were definitely one of the most popular, and hugely
influenced the music we listen to today. Give
Never Mind The Bollocks a long listen, and you’ll be
surprised to hear how the modern incantations of rock and punk have
been influenced by a band largely forgotten.