The *** Pistols were ****

Posted by: John C on 04 December 2001

I was in the pub last night and the barperson was playing a lot of punk. (Music always sounds better through a jukebox or alcoholic haze).
She played all the usual suspects and I was struck by just how bad the Sex Pistols were. A rather dull mouldy pub band. Even the usual middle aged beery nostalgia couldn't save them. On the other hand The Clash were brilliant and Londons Burning stands up as a real classic.I also think that the general cultural resonace of the Clash was much greater. Other good sounding(British)punk or new wave or whatever bands were

The Ruts (a piledriving Babylon is Burning)
PIL (far far better than the SPs)
The Buzzcocks (timeless greatness)

Aimless rubbish

The Damned
The Stranglers
Sham 69 (actually they were hilariously bad and this was amplified by reading that Jimmy Pursey used to go to the disco where Jonathon King picked up his little friends)

I would add to the pantheon of greatness
Undertones, Magazine, Pauline Murray, Joy Division and the greatest of all, The Fall.

All inflammatory or controversial thoughts welcome

John .

Posted on: 28 January 2004 by matthewr
Although like everyone else I loved The Buzzcocks for their perfect pop singles, for quite some time "Autonomy" off "Another Music in a Different Kitchen" was one of my favourite songs ever. I spent several months trying to learn to play it on the guitar.

I have to say that in '76, as a "Frampton Comes Alive"

I think you'll find the correct title "Frampton Comes Alive!". The exclamation point is very important.
Posted on: 28 January 2004 by Fisbey
I hate fast cars!
Posted on: 30 January 2004 by effinity
Kevin, you said:-

_______________________________________________
"JD, as the members of New Order have said many times, were directly inspired by seeing the Pistols (as were scores of other great bands). Had Rotten and Co. not played the Manchester Free Trade Hall that night in '76, Joy Division may not have happened. So, even if they were, in absolute terms, crap, their gift to music would have to be deemed incalculable."
____________________________________________

It was actually the 'Lesser Free Trade Hall' which only held about 300 people, but you are right, many people went out and formed bands the next day, that night even!

Steve
Posted on: 31 January 2004 by Tarquin Maynard - Portly
quote:
Originally posted by FISBEY:
I hate fast cars!


Fisbey: you have missed out "...." after "hate".

I am lucky git; I was in fairly early with Punk: I saw The Clash and The Pistols in the same week - amazing to think, as I did at the time, "I am now watching the Sex Pistols " ( and is that not about the best EVER name for a rock n' roll band? ) but The Clash where better; at The Rainbow; started with White Riot, the bouncers instantly lost control. I actually saw Sham 69 at the Walton Hop - and met Jonathan King there - no harm done - the next week I saw Sham at The Roxy,and it remains one of my all time Great Gigs; they later became cartoon cut outs, but at one point they where seen as the saviours of punk - you can get an idea of the sheer energy the generated if you listen to "Borstal Breakout".

I saw The Banshees in Kingston Swimming Pool ( playing, not swimming! ); I have seen The Buzzcocks in the 70s, 80s, 90s and Naughties; I once paid 50p to watch The Clash in a youth club under The WestWay and I saw various bands at The Roxy. I saw The Members 57 times.

What is now forgotten or ignored by most is the sheer terrifying impact these bands had; who remembers Sniffin' Glue: "Here is a chord, here are two others, now go form band"? This changed the face of popular music and I loved it. Much post Punk most music looks prefab or harkens back; would Nirvana ever have been as big if the ground had not been prepared by Punk - and The Hives, and Marilyn Manson clearly echo punk greats.

Slits; what wonderful Typical Girls: their version of " I heard it through the Grape Vine" is, for me, definitive. Banshees; I played The Scream within the last week ( I bought it in 1978 ) - if you have not heard the album, I really recommend you have a listen; fantastic production by Steve Lillywhite, and some truly unique songs. Buzzcocks - perfect pop songs, timeless

Its a cliche but you had to be there to understand. Much as I now enjoy eg. Yes, the late 70s saw the worst excesses of Prog Rock pomposity which, mercifully, punk blew away.

Hoidays in the Sun STILL gives me gooseflesh.

Try it, you might like it.

Regards

Mike

On the Yellow Brick Road and Happy
Posted on: 02 February 2004 by Fisbey
Been to a lot of gigs then!

AND a Man U fan......