Sex Pistols

Formed in 1975, the Sex Pistols includes lead singer John Lydon (a.k.a. Johnny Rotten), drummer Paul ...

Approval Rate: 62%

62%Approval ratio

Reviews 47

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  • by

    frankswildyear_s

    Wed Apr 10 2013

    They no more saved rock and roll than Elvis Presley invented it. But the Pistols are the standard bearers for the audacity of the work, their commitment to not wanting to be rock stars and the fact that they were basically the first punk act that most people noticed. Elvis broke Rock and Roll to a mass audience when there was nothing like it on the radio, but arguably it was bound to happen. The musical environment was rich and ripe for a massive change. The black R&B of the era was so damn good that it was only a matter of time before a white promoter realized the potential in presenting it in a package acceptable for a wider audience. Kids were already discovering Little Richard, Ray Charles and Chuck Berry on their own. If you listen to any decent collection of Sun Records artists from the mid-50s you realize that Sam Phillips was tinkering with the mix that would become associated with Elvis, Scotty Moore and Bill Black for a few years by the time Elvis broke in 1956. Simila... Read more

  • by

    coheedfavorhou_se

    Wed Aug 13 2008

    The Sex Pistols, along with a few other London/UK bands at the time, created and defined punk. Almost every great punk band in the world will cite them as an influence. They had their single ripped off the air by BBC, and it still went to number two on the charts. (Conspiracists say it went to number one, but were not given the honor fearing 'commotion) The fact they only put out one album says something about how influential they are, because they only needed a dozen songs, most under three or for minutes, to forever change music. And to ojuice down there, Lydon, and Sid, for that matter, did truthfully state that Green Day isn't punk. They were not formed by "some douchebag promoting his clothing line". The clothing store SEX was formed around punk ideals and 'fashions' well before the Sex Pistols formed, and the manager, (douchebag) recognized the talent of common patrons of his store and formed them as the Sex Pistols. Promoting his store had nothing to do with it.

  • by

    stonhmieg_wnrog

    Tue Jul 22 2008

    these guys r awesome

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    ojuice3112

    Thu May 08 2008

    I liked them until I found out they were full of SHIT!!! John Lydon ragged on Green Day for not being punk, when his band was created by some douchebag promoting his clothing line. That is the least punk thing I have ever heard. Have a few good songs and were extremely influential (which is why they get 2 stars) but were as big of posers as Good Charlotte (okay, I won't go that far... Sum 41)

  • by

    nicolelosuiesm_ith

    Wed Oct 17 2007

    omg lol xx

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    fitman

    Wed Oct 17 2007

    I give 'em a 5 'cause they weren't meant to be flawless, but they were not as exciting as The Heartbreakers (Johnny Thunders, Walter Lure, Billy Rath and Jerry Nolan). BTW, Sid Vicious replaced original bassist (and composer of all their tunes) Glen Matlock AFTER Never Mind The Bollocks was recorded. Good thing too, 'cause Sid couldn't play for shite (though he was a decent singer and could have replaced Rotten when John quit the band).

  • by

    rayrose

    Wed Sep 05 2007

    the alpha and the omega,my fave punk band,i listen to bollocks like it was a new release,everyone did so good,even sid a lil bit:)production is amazing.fave:bodies

  • by

    sfalconer

    Mon Mar 13 2006

    Never understood what all the fuss was about. Alot of bad vocals with anarchist lyics big deal. They sucked thank god they only put out one album.

  • by

    kingguiness

    Thu Jan 12 2006

    More image than substance and talent.

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    oscargamblesfr_o

    Tue Dec 13 2005

    I have a mixed reaction to this band, who only put out one album. They are more important historically and in terms of influence than for the quality of their recordings, which are usually overrated, and to some degree they were a put-on. I like "Holidays In the Sun" and "Pretty Vacant," and Rotten's book is a humorous read. It WAS good to attack the complacent dreck of the mid 70's: the innovation and greatness of the music of the 1965-71 era had largely dissipated. On the other hand, I like the music of 1965-71 a lot better than any other era, you can't convince me that this stuff, or any subsequent era, is better. Whether it is rock, soul, r&b;, or any other genre you care to name, it was greater back then IMO.

  • by

    djahuti

    Thu Nov 03 2005

    At the height of their career,they defined "Punk".This can be largely credited to their Svengali,Malcolm McLaren.Check out their flick "The Great Rock n' Roll Swindle".

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    x_factor_z

    Fri Apr 29 2005

    They quite possibly, did more to ruin Rock&Roll; than any other influence.

  • by

    defbean

    Wed Feb 09 2005

    To me they're just average. Everyone else I've asked said there just average too. I think Johnny's voice is a little annoying and the songs are about anarchy blah blah blah..they just don't match up to the works of The Ramones...

  • by

    macpuppy

    Fri May 07 2004

    Best punk band ever - no question.

  • by

    enkidu

    Wed May 05 2004

    Noisy, messy, and stupid; I enjoyed them in my adolescence. They still make me smile, but now for an entirely different reason.

  • by

    couchpotato

    Sun Apr 18 2004

    Overrated but still kinda good.

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    ellajedlicka21

    Sun Feb 29 2004

    They were about the scariest, most rebellious band to ever play. Sid Vicious and Johnny Rotten are notorious for their outrageous behavior. Anarchy in the UK and God Save the Queen are two pretty good songs by the Pistols. Nevermind the Bollocks is to punk what Nevermind was to alternative music. They deserve credit for getting the Clash into the music business (the Clash even opened for them on the 1976 Anarchy Tour).

  • by

    armagideontim_e

    Sun Dec 14 2003

    This band had great lyrics and Johnny Rotten is absolutely delightful. Their songs are musically exhilirating. I saw 'em live and I was in the front row...they are awesome. Everyone knows that Malcolm McLaren is an egotistical toff who didn't really create the Sex Pistols.

  • by

    scarletfeather

    Sun Oct 19 2003

    They weren't that talented;they just opened the door for more talented and inventive bands. Still, it's hard not to like "God Save the Queen."

  • by

    stanuzbeck

    Thu Sep 18 2003

    Johnny Rotten is very witty and can be wickedly funny most of the time, but the Sex Pistols sucked. They released exactly one album and were only together for less than a year, and none of them could play their instruments. For some reason Sid Vicious has a cult following. This can only be because of the circumstances surrounding his murdering his girlfriend and then dying himself at a young age. He was a complete mess and the combination of hard drugs and his own genetic idiocy conspired to ensure that he never uttered a single coherent phrase in his entire life. Never as important to punk as people assume, they nevertheless had the nihilism and apathy down, if little else. The story of how they got together is somewhat less than inspiring as well. Oh well, who can tell what'll catch on.

  • by

    sktmps

    Sat Mar 22 2003

    for influencing music the last 25 yrs!

  • by

    mnemosyne

    Wed Mar 19 2003

    They sounded good. I ENJOY their music. I love their image, they challenged everyone, et cetera... but most importantly the *sounded good*. That's rather importand for music, you'd think....

  • by

    holyman

    Tue Mar 18 2003

    Quiet cheap!

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    niehausapprais_er

    Mon Mar 10 2003

    Good energy, sad and addled politics. They died about where they should have.

  • by

    mercybf2

    Sun Feb 23 2003

    fu** you all!!!! the sex pistols are bloody awsome!!

  • by

    linzy1

    Thu Jan 30 2003

    A very important band, one of the greats of British punk. Not quite the Clash, but close.....

  • by

    mortgageguy5

    Thu Jan 30 2003

    Sid was a bad ass....

  • by

    canadasucks

    Sun Dec 08 2002

    The Sex Pistols are a dreadful pleasure. . .this is what a rock band should be- bad vocals, loud bass, obnoxious lyrics, and an occasional drug overdose. Modern bands are wussies.

  • by

    jbjb037e

    Wed Nov 27 2002

    i give them a thre because i don't know them. just wnted to say "nice name" -not jbjb, jbjbs friend

  • by

    jason1972

    Fri Nov 01 2002

    They revolutionized punk, true, but they didn't stick around long enough to really impress me.

  • by

    loki13

    Wed Mar 20 2002

    Oi. The Fathers of Punk.

  • by

    thefreak

    Sun Sep 23 2001

    Ugh. I cannot for the life of me guess what Brian May liked about this band. So they are energetic. So are Slipknot, which is one of the worst bands of all time. I have yet to hear music of theirs that is good. Plus, what kind of a stupid name is "the sex pistols"? I know that R.E.M got their name while looking through the dictionary, and Queen...well, in case there happen to be homophobics here, I won't say how Queen got their name. And the Rolling Stones got their name from a Muddy Waters song. But the "sex pistols" just sounds like something someone pulled out of thin air. What do any of you like about them, other than the "energy"? Please tell me!

  • by

    alooseda

    Wed Jul 04 2001

    Indie rock at its best.

  • by

    beat_on_the_br_at

    Wed Jun 27 2001

    i always liked sid vicious. the sex pistols KICK ASS. i like "anarchy in the uk" he cackles in the beginning. the sex pistols are one of the few "punk" bands who are actually punk, like the ramones, swingin' utters, bouncing souls, misfits, etc. PLEASE. do not put them in the same category as blink 182! MadonnaGal, nirvana isnt punk you dont know what youre talkin about. but i happen to like nirvana so.... kiss my ass. Sub-Rotten: I saw Johnny on Judge Judy too. =)

  • by

    tarantulla

    Sat Mar 24 2001

    They are the most influsntial punk band ever. Also the best punk band. And Sid rules. A true punk deffenately!

  • by

    mukkrukkis

    Thu Mar 15 2001

    I love the Sex Pistols. They are so original. Sid Vicios was a true punkl along with Johnny Lydon! All there music souded like none other. They refused to conform! Sid was innocent!!!

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    joe_shmoe

    Sat Mar 03 2001

    The Sex Pistols are the ones who got me into punk (and my friend who was named after Sid Vicious) and they are the greatest punk goup of that time period and they still kick ass!!!

  • by

    crazy_byrd

    Sat Feb 24 2001

    Wish this music still existed. Punk rock in the late 70s to the 80s was incredible. Not this Nirvana crap that people listen to now. Sid...he was a REAL punk....Johnny? HE was a real punk too. KURT COBAIN?? A sad, depressed little man with a pistol. NOT a punk.

  • by

    thegreatest

    Sat Jan 27 2001

    CHAOS AND DISORDER AT ITS FINEST! bands today dont have the balls, to take a real stance against injustices and social failures that plague our society. SEX PISTOLS MADE DISTRUCTION BEUTIFUL

  • by

    sub_rotten

    Wed Jan 03 2001

    Johnny Rotten is my idol. I saw him on Judge Judy the other day and he's the only person I've ever seen on that show to make her look stupid. Sex pistols along with the Ramones revolutionized music as much as the Beatles did in their own way.

  • by

    johnny_roulette

    Tue Nov 07 2000

    made quite a splash in their year or two as band. Nevermind all the post-'79 releases.

  • by

    deuce329

    Thu Oct 19 2000

    these guys were the best rockers/punk rockers ever there is no band better than them

  • by

    mtro6379et

    Sat May 06 2000

    the pistols should be in the top 10....and p.i.l should be in the top 20....ever get the feelin youve been cheated?

  • by

    hved6055et

    Mon Apr 17 2000

    Punk rock the way it should be.

  • by

    ruby9916

    Tue Mar 21 2000

    "Bollocks" sounds less than revolutionary 25 yrs later, but its impact was incredible. Recently I returned to the very spotty "Great Rock and Roll Swindle" album --which sure has some great spots (Sid's Eddie Cochran covers especially). They were sure lucky to have such solid musicians in Cook and Jones (and Matlock originally) to anchor the antics of Johnny and Sid.

  • by

    sail2253rg

    Thu Dec 02 1999

    Who killed Bambi???

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    gte31965du

    Mon Nov 29 1999

    The Sex Pistols, rotten at times, really changed the direction of music. They created genre by being rude and playing hard.