Sex Pistols
London in 1975 was a place of decay and unemployment. John Lydon, then nineteen years old, wore a Pink Floyd T-shirt with the words 'I Hate' handwritten above the band's name. He had holes scratched through the eyes of the band members on his shirt. Steve Jones saw him at a gig and thought he had an interesting face. The group rehearsed regularly under the supervision of Bernard Rhodes. They played their first show at Saint Martin's School of Art in November 1975. The band supported a pub rock group called Bazooka Joe. Their early followers included Siouxsie Sioux and Steven Severin. These fans became known as the Bromley Contingent. They adopted the cutting-edge fashion from Malcolm McLaren and Vivienne Westwood's shop named Sex. The shop changed its focus to S&M-inspired anti-fashion. Jamie Reid designed the band's visual imagery using cut-up lettering based on notes left by kidnappers or terrorists. The Pistols played at Oxford Street's 100 Club for the first time on the 30th of March 1976. A return gig at the Nashville on the 23rd of April highlighted the band's growing musical competence.
On the 1st of December 1976, the band appeared on Thames Television's Today programme hosted by Bill Grundy. During the interview, Steve Jones said the band had 'fucking spent' its label advance. Johnny Rotten used the word 'shit'. Grundy attempted to flirt with Siouxsie Sioux. He replied that she had 'always wanted to meet' him. Jones then swore repeatedly. The Daily Mirror ran the headline 'The Filth and the Fury!'. Other papers followed suit with titles like 'Fury at Filthy TV Chat'. Thames Television suspended Grundy and the interview effectively ended his career. Steve Jones reflected that this was the big dividing line in the Sex Pistols' story. Before it, they were all about the music. From then on, it was all about the media. The interview made the band a household name overnight in Britain. They launched the UK Anarchy Tour supported by the Clash and Johnny Thunders' band the Heartbreakers. Of approximately twenty scheduled gigs, only about seven actually took place. London Conservative councillor Bernard Brook Partridge called them 'unbelievably nauseating'. He stated he would like to see somebody dig a very large hole and drop the whole bloody lot down it.
The single 'God Save the Queen' was released on the 27th of May 1977. Its lyrics described the monarchy as a 'fascist regime'. Workers at the pressing plant laid down tools in protest at the song's lyrics. Jamie Reid's cover art showed Queen Elizabeth II with her face obscured by cutout letters forming the song title. The single was banned by BBC radio and television and every independent radio station. It became the most heavily censored record in British history. By Jubilee weekend, the record had sold more than 150,000 copies. McLaren chartered a boat to have the Sex Pistols perform while sailing the River Thames. Police launches forced the boat to dock. Constabulary surrounded the gangplanks at the pier. McLaren, Westwood, and many of the band's entourage were arrested. The song opened at number 2 on the official UK record chart for Jubilee week. There is evidence that exceptional measures were taken by the British Phonographic Institute to exclude sales from Virgin's shops. Attacks on punk fans rose and Rotten was assaulted by a knife-wielding gang outside Islington's Pegasus pub. Three days after the assault, Rotten was attacked again.
On the 28th of February 1977, Malcolm McLaren announced Glen Matlock was leaving the band. Matlock claimed he left voluntarily because he 'went on too long about Paul McCartney'. Steve Jones said Matlock was sacked because he 'liked the Beatles'. Sid Vicious replaced him as bassist. Vicious could not play a note but his craziness fitted into the structure of the band. Early rehearsals with Sid were hellish. Vicious met Nancy Spungen in early 1977. She introduced him to heroin. Their emotional codependency alienated him from the other band members. The band set out on a US tour in January 1978. It was cut short after seven shows due to drug use and poor planning. Vicious was arrested while trying to buy heroin in Memphis. He appeared with the words 'Gimme a fix' scarred on his chest. During a concert in San Antonio, Vicious shouted 'You faggot little fucker' before swinging his bass guitar into the crowd. On the 14th of January 1978, during the tour's final date at the Winterland Ballroom, Johnny Rotten chanted an unambiguous declaration. He told the audience 'Ever get the feeling you've been cheated? Good night'. He threw down his microphone and walked offstage.
Nancy Spungen was found dead aged 20 in the Hotel Chelsea room she shared with Vicious. Police recovered drug paraphernalia from the scene. Vicious was arrested and charged with her murder. He spent 54 days in Rikers Island jail where he underwent enforced cold turkey detox. He was released on bail on the 1st of February 1979. Later that night, following a small party to celebrate his release, he died of a heroin overdose. He was aged 21. The Great Rock 'n' Roll Swindle film was eventually completed by Julien Temple. It is a fictionalised retelling of the band's history. In the film, McLaren claims to have created the band from scratch. Lydon initiated legal proceedings against McLaren and the management company Glitterbest. Among the claims were non-payment of royalties and unfair contractual obligations. Hearings began on the 7th of February 1979. On the 14th of February, the court put the film and its soundtrack into receivership. Five years later, Lydon filed another action. Finally, on the 16th of January 1986, Lydon, Jones, Cook and the estate of Sid Vicious were awarded control of the band's heritage.
The original band members reunited in 1996 for the six-month Filthy Lucre tour. They played dates in Europe, North and South America, Australia and Japan. Their access to the archives facilitated the production of the 2000 documentary The Filth and the Fury. In November 2006, the Sex Pistols were inducted to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame but rejected the honour. Steve Jones said once you want to be put into a museum, rock and roll is over. The band reunited for seven performances in the UK in November 2007. They undertook a series of European festival appearances titled the Combine Harvester Tour. On the 3rd of June 2024, Paul Cook, Steve Jones, and Glen Matlock announced two reunion shows at Bush Hall in Shepherds Bush. Frank Carter provided lead vocals in the absence of Johnny Rotten. They played the sole studio album Never Mind the Bollocks, Here's the Sex Pistols in its entirety. A UK tour was later announced for September 2024. They played the Rock City venue in Nottingham on the 20th of September. On the 12th of November 2024, they were announced as part of the 2025 Download Festival lineup. In October 2025, Glen Matlock revealed that the band have had ideas regarding new music with Carter.
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Common questions
When did the Sex Pistols play their first show at Saint Martin's School of Art?
The band played their first show at Saint Martin's School of Art in November 1975. They supported a pub rock group called Bazooka Joe during this early performance.
What happened during the Sex Pistols appearance on Thames Television's Today programme on the 1st of December 1976?
Steve Jones and Johnny Rotten used profanity during the interview hosted by Bill Grundy, which led to Grundy being suspended and his career effectively ending. The incident made the band a household name overnight in Britain and shifted focus from music to media.
How many copies of the Sex Pistols single God Save the Queen were sold by Jubilee weekend 1977?
By Jubilee weekend, the record had sold more than 150,000 copies despite being banned by BBC radio and television. It became the most heavily censored record in British history after workers at the pressing plant laid down tools in protest.
Why was the Sex Pistols US tour cut short in January 1978?
The tour ended after seven shows due to drug use and poor planning. Sid Vicious was arrested while trying to buy heroin in Memphis, and Johnny Rotten walked offstage during the final date at the Winterland Ballroom on the 14th of January 1978.
When did the Sex Pistols get inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and what was their response?
The Sex Pistols were inducted to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in November 2006 but rejected the honour. Steve Jones stated that once you want to be put into a museum, rock and roll is over.