It was 40 years ago today, (well, tomorrow actually).

An album i was too young to appreciate at the time. Sex Pistols introduction for me was via The Great Rock 'n' Roll Swindle (probably  seen on Ch4). Still a classic.

The singles that preceded it were, along with The Damned and Clash ones, the game changers. The album was, relatively, a damp squib. Sold well mind.

The Dave Goodman produced version, Spunk, would have been a more powerful statement.

Probably the greatest album ever made. 

I recollect watching this live - the Bill Grundy interview. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LtHPhVhJ7Rs

AndyP19 posted:

Probably the greatest album ever made. 

In the same way that that chemical soup was advertised as "Probably the best lager in the world"?

steve

I've finally read their story on wikipedia. How anyone can call such a bunch of wrecks a 'band' is one of those mysteries doomed not to be solved. It's sad that once in a while the need is felt for something contrary to any sense and taste. But obviously the then teenage London needed strongly the musical equivalent of someone pouring Zyklon-B in Buckingham Palace's air conditioning system.

Glory to the only one who came out healthy and wealthy from this stinking disaster, Malcolm McLaren.... Bah.

If I remember it correctly, the New York Times's obituary of Sid Vicious started "Mr Vicious played bass guitar and spat."

I never saw them - wearing safety pins and being gobbed on held no attraction - however I did come to like a few songs after the event (I really like My Way - the singing perfectly suits the song, far better than the old crooner's singing - while Pretty Vacant and God Save the Queen also stand out). I bought them as singles secondhand in the early 80s to play  on my rock disco, since replaced with the downloaded album to enable very occasional play at home.

Classic album for sure. Game changer I don't know. Ramones first album maybe.