The band that would become the Sex Pistols originally started
in 1972 by Steve Jones and Paul Cook. Glen Matlock later joined
them in 1974. In1975, Steve Jones spotted someone who looked
“a bit different” in Malcolm McLaren’s clothes
shop. The shop was called Sex. Bernie Rhodes, one of
McLaren’s associates, spotted the same guy on
London’s Kings Road, complete with hacked green hair and a
homemade “I hate Pink Floyd” T-shirt. Sacrilege at
the time!
Malcolm McLaren, who had become the band’s manager,
persuaded the reluctant and cynical John Lydon to audition in his
shop called ‘Let it Rock,’ and later re-named
‘Sex.’ Fashion designer Malcom claims to have
dressed, named, and made the band.
In early 1976, the Sex Pistols began to play live regularly,
playing anywhere that would take them. This was a time where the
wrong haircut or clothes could get one into serious trouble. With
their unique look and sound, the Sex Pistols were such a shock to
the aesthetics that they would often find themselves in physical
danger. They would regularly have to fight their way to their van
after having the plug pulled on them! However, they soon started
to attract a following of like-minded souls nicknamed the Bromley
Contingent, who would include the likes of Susan Dallion (aka
Siouxsie Sioux) and William Broad (aka Billy Idol). Everywhere
the Sex Pistols would play, the majority of the audience just
didn’t ‘get it’. They thought the band
couldn’t play, Johnny couldn’t sing and they looked
awful. But there was a small percentage of the crowd they got
through to. The Sex Pistols affected everyone they saw, whether
it be a positive or negative reaction. They always got a
reaction.
It wasn’t long before they came to the attention of record
companies; the ever-ambitious Sex Pistols together with Malcolm
McLaren’s entrepreneurial skills had no intention of
signing to a small label. They wanted the biggest and best. EMI
eventually won the war. The band signed for 40,000 pounds on
October 8th 1976. A recent composition penned by Rotten was set
to be their debut single, ‘Anarchy in the UK’! Like
his stage presence, Rotten wasn’t scared of saying, or
doing anything. He was more than happy to sow seeds of
discontent. ‘Anarchy in the UK’ was eventually
released November 26, 1976, much to the bewilderment of the
mainstream music press.
December 1, 1976 changed the Sex Pistols and the music scene
forever. After the group Queen had to cancel at short notice, EMI
booked the Pistols to appear on the ‘Today’ show,
hosted by one Bill Grundy. A notorious drunk, Grundy had no time
for these young upstarts. Treating the Pistols and their
entourage with nothing short of thinly veiled contempt, he
proceeded to goad them into swearing. Steve Jones called his
bluff and launched into a stream of F-words.
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