They were all about 19 or 20 at the time. Amazing that a bunch of teens and twenty-somethings changed the musical landscape in a year and with one album.
GEORGE HARRISON was 17 when he was sent home from HAMBURG in 1960. THE BEATLES were leather clad PUNKS ripping it up in HAMBURG, they were bloody wild. In order to play for very long periods, they were taking large amounts of SPEED. Their drink of preference was RUM n COKE. In a 1979 interview, PAUL McCARTNEY said that he didn't know what all the 'fuss' was about with the recent PUNK movement. He said it wasn't very different to what THE BEATLES and other Rock groups did in the early 60's. He's right, of course. When THE KINKS & THE WHO, literally burst onto the music scene in 1964, the very conservative society of the day regarded them as very dangerous. They, among other wild n crazy Bands, were a threat to the Establishment and that's one of the major ingredients of PUNK. Even though I love THE SEX PISTOLS & regard them as the 3rd most important Rock Band in history, they & Malcolm didn't invent PUNK. To answer everybody's question, the two most important Rock Bands in history are THE BEATLES & STATUS QUO (from the 60's-1983) Some intelligent music critics have compared and even pigeonholed THE RAMONES & STATUS QUO as two of the greatest PUNK Bands of all time. Hang on a second....... STATUS QUO are a PUNK Band?????????? Well, PUNK is more an attitude than a sound & STATUS QUO has never cared what anybody thinks about them or their music.
'Holidays in the sun' is one of my favorite Sex pistols songs. I've known the album from being a kid, my older brothers were into the punk scene at the time.
1976 a year of strikes, inflation, the hottest summer in decades, and then the Sex Pistols exploded on the scene. "Never Mind the Bollocks, Here's the Sex Pistols", would be the album that is recognized as one of the greatest punk albums of all time.
@@keithwatkins7908 Aah a man of good taste ;) i have Narita too but non of them are halfway as splendid as FDU, i bought it just by chance (little did i know i still hold it as maybe the most hardrock/metal album of all time). Now, Im from Sweden wich may be a slight reason but not really on the other hand, but fact is when i mention it i only met like 10-15 people heard about them. Take care rockin man /Hans
@@AngryPostmanStockholm I prefer Narita, but Fire Down Under also great. Back in my teens I used to have the band name 'RIOT' on the back of my jacket in studs. Those were some great times. Pistols are the best punk band ever in my opinion and Never Mind The Bollocks is one of the best albums ever made, and still stands up today.
Another great Sex Pistols song worth checking out is "Pretty Vacant". And if you want political British punk, hunt down The Clash - try "Clampdown" or "Death or Glory". The Sex Pistols were one of the first British punk bands, and cause an uproar among the establishment, especially after a notorious TV interview which included the first F-bomb on British TV. It was in the backlash to that that album burning and the like took place.
@@markrankin1094 Green Day definitely does not belong on that list. They are pop punk commercial mainstream music. They are the system they're not sticking it to the system
@@markrankin1094 right on. But growing up from classic rock to Hard Rock to punk to heavy metal to extreme metal and so on and seeing that whole Evolution and experiencing it. There were so many political punk bands in the '80s and thereabouts and by the time punk had already been dead for over a decade and Green Day came around they were pop punk crap that drives me crazy with disgust. Sorry but I can't stand them. It's the furthest thing from punk rock, even though it follows the musical formula correctly. It doesn't have the attitude aggression or lyrical content of punk rock. It's corporate mainstream bubble gum pop crap, sorry. :)
England was going through a lot during that times. I just loved this band!!! They were exciting and totally different. The Clash came out then too & were great.
Ahhh, the g-o-o-d o-l-d t-i-m-e-s , when musicians (in part) still stood for true values and needs, though their manager and brain-behind-the-scene, did everything to make them a pure marketing object. Congrats to Smokey, for his understanding of anarchy and, last but not least, his wonderful t-shirt of great musical taste.👍
Many have suggested that they succeeded in spite of McLaren, rather than because of him. He took credit for a lot that wasn't his doing. When he took more control, stage managing the controversy, that really pushed them into breaking up.
Without sounding too highbrow I think that it's true to say that the Pistols were the voice of a generation. Had Beethoven been alive then, he would have been cheering in the audience!!
Why would a deaf Beethoven have gone to a Sex Pistols show-to pogo and get the snot kicked out of himself? Give me a break. Beethoven would never have thought about this noise.
You guys have very thoughtful and intelligent responses to everything that you listen to and I really appreciate that. I think listening to this music as a very impressionable teenager really galvanized me into doing the work that I do now. I really really like your comments.
I just stumbled over your channel guys, and being one that doesn't watch reaction videos I actually enjoyed this. If you want to do more Sex Pistols you should do "Bodies". The song is basically about Pauline, a mental patient that after her release travelled to London and became a punk rock fan. Uncompromising lyrics about a theme still controversial and hard to talk about 46 years years later. It's like a punk version of Prokofiev's Dance of the Knights, make you want to run through a brick wall, beat up your neighbor and start a revolution.
When I heard Never Mind the Bollocks I was instantly in love!!! Talent wasn’t their forefront, lol, but the message and delivery?! EVERYTHING! Anarchy 🤘! And I loved Sid endlessly! I named my daughter, Sydney, after him and she loves explaining all about her namesake 🖤
Well, Sid looked like a PUNK, yet he could barely play the Bass. Lemmy, from Motorhead tried to teach him and Lemmy said that Sid was a Moron. Sid had the sneer. Sid was the media's Poster Boy for PUNK's image. Credit to Sid though, he did prove that he was a true Punk, by dying on 2/02/79 Anyway, all the people were Pawns in Malcolm McClaren's GREAT ROCK n ROLL SWINDLE. That was the title of The Sex Pistols' second album. The great irony about The Sex Pistols is that they sacked their musical genius, GLEN MATLOCK. Glen wrote PRETTY VACANT one night coming home 'pissed' on a train. The story is that Glen admitted to liking Paul McCartney, which was taboo when you're a PUNK. Glen & Rotten were clashing and Sid was good friends with Rotten. Sid wasn't a tough PUNK; he was a pussycat. Sid went into Queen's recording studio in 1977 and they physically abused and threatened him. Queen were all upper middle-class toffs & soft cocks. All great Bands have great Drummers. Have a look at Paul Cook's Drumming, he is bloody good. Spedding taught Steve Jones how to play Guitar. Steve listened, watched and was a quick learner. As opposed to Sid, Steve was a smart guy and became a very clever Guitarist. I regard THE SEX PISTOLS to be the 3rd most important cultural entity in the last 4.6 billion years.
Sid did nOt kill Nancy. The US actor Rockets Redglare went to the hotel room, sold sid smack, then when sid went on the nod,Redglare robbed and stabbed Nancy. Cops ignored the testimony. Sid was innocent.
The Damned released the first British punk single. When they heard “Anarchy” for the first time they pissed themselves laughing. Captain Sensible said Johnny Rotten sounded like “old man Steptoe” on the record. Ramones were the initiators of 70s punk rock.
Great reaction!!! This was part of the soundtrack to my youth. Johnny Rotten is still relevant. Happy New Years guys!!! Volbeat: Cheapside Sloggers. Hell yes.
Thank you so much for playing this from the bottom of my orthopedic shoes. This was the music of my youth and it was like nothing we had ever heard before. Notice that there is no etiquette in the mosh pit although we didn't use that expression.
Without the Pistols Punk would never have been the cultural phenomenon it was. They inspired people to become musicians who otherwise would never have dreamt of getting on a stage at all. The cultural inspriration this band gave a generation cannot be underestimated. They didnt invent punk but they created its existence in the UK and made it known worldwide when no other band had that capability.
@Mr.SmithGNR Smith Ramones never did anything to raise the profile of punk worldwide, they were only commercially successful after Punk in the UK exploded onto the world stage. They were influencial in punks growth not spearheading its growth and thats the big difference.
@@travis_thompson Bollox, McLaren and Westwood would have died on the vine if they hadn't accidentally created the most influential band of that era, all they wanted was a promotional tool for their little shop but the band outgrew them and McLaren didn't have a clue how to manage them, all he was interested in was keeping all the money to himself
Punk Rock had a slow but noticeable development. The earliest traces that would inspire Punk can be found in the 1958 instrumental Rumble by Link Wray, with the way it used power chords (a typically two-note Rock chord) in a very dirty and blunt way. Though of course, it wouldn't have ever been considered Punk after the 70s, but it was a start that showed the power of Power Chords. What really started the Punk style was Garage Rock, which came up in the late 50s and 60s, partially spawning as an underground variant of the British invasion that was more riff-based and DIY. Possibly the first true commercially successful Punk Rock hit was in 1965 with My Generation by The Who. It had the same driving power chord feel of Garage Rock with more attitude in the vocals and lyrics that were almost, but not quite explicit, and presented itself as an anthem of youth culture at the time. This was a milestone for the Punk sound, but it still had ways to go. Also around the same time you had The Rolling Stones which were often described as more street version of The Beatles (though ironically were actually much more privileged in upbringing than The Beatles were) and had similar attitude with singer Mick Jagger pioneering Punk vocals. By the late 60s, English and American bands started to experiment with grittier guitar tones, energetic performances, and unsophisticated lyrics and demeanor. Bands like The Stooges and MC5 would be crucial to this development. Around the early 1970s, Glam Rock began to skyrocket in popularity and brought with it many underground elements of Punk Rock, such as gritty distorted power chords and trashy androgynous performances. Around the same time, Progressive Rock was enjoying similar success, especially in Europe, and many bands were embarking on bigger grand concerts with complex and classically-influenced songs. It got so big despite most of the UK not resembling this high class style of music, and so Punk exploded around 1976, particularly with the album "Never Mind The Bollocks, Here's The Sex Pistols" which was released in direct response to Progressive Rock, and it killed the genre as fast as Disco Demolition Night killed Disco. While America was enjoying a more fun and silly breed of Punk with bands like the Ramones and Television, British Punk was much angrier and had something to say. And as soon as it was born, it began to fade away, but not in the same sense that Prog Rock and Glam Rock did. Quickly after 1977, multiple genres found their way into the mainstream, such as Heavy Metal, Punk Rock, Disco, and New Wave. These were all generally reduced forms of music, I say reduced meaning not as focused on complexity, and more focused on music to move and jam with, and Punk was the most reduced of all. It was regulated to 3 chords and typical verse-chorus songwriting. Needless to say, a genre like that wouldn't find much else to do for more than a few years, so it branched out. New Wave was partially a result of this, but had a more avant-garde approach and often used synthesisers and effects. Post-Punk is what primarily grew out of Punk. It kept the instrumental elements of Punk but added more slightly complex songwriting that offered more than just energy and yelling. It could have quieter portions, groovier portions, experimental portions, et cetera. It was pretty much Progressive Punk, but nobody would have wanted to call it that, so Post-Punk was adopted as the name. You also had Hardcore Punk and Horror Punk which went in the opposite direction by keeping the simple songwriting and energy, and turning it up louder and adding more aggressive lyrics and performances, the latter having elements of Shock Rock integrated in the lyrics. These genres would eventually combine with Speed Metal to create Thrash Metal in the 1980s, while also living on in the underground with bands like Misfits and Black Flag. The mid-80s is where the genre developed into Post-Hardcore (which again added more complex and varied songwriting devices to the aggressive instrumentals) and it's sister Emotional Hardcore, later shortened to Emocore and then simply Emo. This was the sound of Post-Hardcore, but the vocals had more melodic, yet equally powerful and aggressive tendencies, often touching on more melancholy and depressing lyrics and tones. This would evolve into the mainstream in the 90s and 2000s, until merging with Pop Punk. Speaking of which, Pop Punk was a direct result of Punk bands that actually cared about fame and wanted to create more radio-friendly Punk songs. Ramones arguably pioneered this more light-hearted Punk sound but it wouldn't show many signs of growth until the 90s with bands like Green Day and Blink-182 adding very clean Pop performances and songwriting to the fast energetic Punk instrumentals. This would be the longest-lasting variation of Punk that is still popular to this day. The last notable development of Punk was the combination of Pop Punk and Emo in the 2000s. Fall Out Boy and My Chemical Romance spearheaded this change where Pop Punk was suddenly self-loathing and depressing, and that inspired a whole wave of Teen culture that lasted the entire decade, and it would be here where Punk was last in the limelight. Today, reminisce of Punk still exist in more underground and generally lesser-known bands, with very occasional resurfaces into the mainstream, such as Machine Gun Kelly. It's still one of the most favoured genres, especially with young listeners, and will likely remain as such for years to come.
@@jamesdignanmusic2765 True, though rebellion and anti-authority stances have been around for much longer than the Punk movement have. To suggest that if you rebel, then it's a Punk stance, I don't think that is a necessarily logical statement. Punks are Rebels, but Rebels aren't Punks. Before the genre, a Punk was considered a low-class sketchy street individual. Often they could be rebellious, but most of the time, they were labelled punks for how they dressed, how they presented themselves, where they hung out, what practices they would partake in, and most importantly their behaviour. If a 19-year old came into a store acting rude and snotty, making a bunch of immature jokes and knocking over merchandise, the store owner would say "You punks get out of my store!!!" It was just another informal social class of people.
I've never heard such self Indulgence and pompous bollocks ever. Punk was the brainchild of a very clever Mr.Malcom Maclaren. An amazing business brain and an opportunist. It had nothing to do with the Ramones or Iggy and the Stooges. The far left music press of the day used it as tool to try and create a social revolution. That's why it died away so soon. The kids were NOT in such a shit situation. The kids today are far worse off,what with Covid,rising unemployment,a dying NHS,the woke brigade,he/she transgender whatever they are......Putin.........its far worse today......bring back the Pistols.
Sex pistols, and Clash, like a number of "prepunk" artists (eg. Patti Smith) had huge inpact on music and youth culture for the coming decade, in slightly the same way as the Beatles had in the early 60s. In other countries, like Sweden, both times, so many garage band was formed! Most famous was probably "Ebba Grön" and the song "Staten och kapitalet" (actually a cover of a song from 1972) - like Sex pistols also quite political. (Try that song!) A special path took Sex pistols singer John Lydon / Johnny Rotten with his project pil (Public Image Ltd) - maybe to be included in "The new wave"? A typical song from pil may be "The order of death" from 1984. Quite different from "Anarchy in the UK"! 1977 became a breaking point for many music styles!
The original Greek meaning of the word 'Anarchy' simply means NO RULERS. It doesn't mean 'no rules' or 'chaos', that's a more modern distortion of the word. A true anarchist in the original sense of the word will accept the rules of natural law (which some have condensed to 'do no harm, but take no shit'), but would not recognise any human being's authority or ruling over them.
I just found your channel, but was happy to hear that Smokey basically knew the general concept of what Anarchy truly means. As far as the Pistols, they are music for smarter people. To truly understand you have to do a little research and learn what they were actually singing about. I bet many punk fans wouldn't say the Sex Pistols were the first Punk band. First of all you kinda have to define punk, which is really hard to do. You can trace it's origins back to bands like the Stones, Beatles, Elvis, black rock and blues artists etc. All of those bands and people were rebellious or controversial in their own ways and some of their music. To really see "punk" start to form look at a band called The MC5 or Motor City Five. They took sort of the rocky bluesy styles and turned it up faster and heavier while singing about issues like race riots in Detroit.
Sex Pistols was back in the day pretty much like Nirvana was for the grunge. They were the face and the headline material but burned out very fast, the members becoming disillusioned as well, growing tired to their manager's publicity stunts. Other groups such as Clash, Stranglers, The Jam and even The Police moved on and became hugely successful.
@@mr.smithgnrsmith7808 I would disagree. Had their manager been any good he wouldn't have made decisions that caused them to break up so early. For the amount of songs they have, they had a pretty good success rate with them.
Great Reaction Guys! There is a documentary on The Ramones called End of the Century where they talk about not hardly being able to get a gig here in the U.S. so they went to the U.K. They ended up playing place that held 3K people, which was way bigger than anything they had ever played and Joe Strummer from the Clash tells a story about them throwing a rock at the window (2nd story) and The Ramones pulling them up using a human chain for them to get in and they met The Ramones and Joe talked about if there was no Rockets to Russia album there might not have ever been a Punk Scene in the U.K. One guy, who was with The Ramones said Johnny Rotten (singer of The Sex Pistols) wanted to get in the meet them and asked this guy that if he got in and met them would they beat him up. He said over there they thought The Ramones were a gang from the Bronx or something. So The Ramones definitley came first before the British Punk Bands. The documentary is here on YT.
The Sex Pistols were certainly the band the brought punk to the public's attention, but the first punk single (in this UK style of punk) was "New Rose" by The Damned, coming out a few weeks before this.
This is one of those songs that is like screaming into a pillow. You play and sing it loud and you feel like you have released the tension of the day. My way of keeping my mental health level.
John (Johnny Rotten) Lydon developed the most interesting singing voice. Check out his post-Sex Pistols band Public Image Limited (PiL). Bad Life, Rise, Disappointed, Happy, Seattle, This is Not a Love Song...
they were actually much better musicians than most people ever give them credit for. the record label force-formed them into the mold that they eventually turned into the Sex Pistols.
US critic Griel Marcus once called Johnny Rotten "the first truly terrifying rock singer". You need to listen to the song Bodies from the Never Mind The Bollocks album to hear him in full flow.
I saw these guys live in San Antonio, Tx at Randy's Rodeo. As good as their record sounds, they were even better live. Best $4 I ever spent on a concert ticket!!!
Yeeeess!! I'm glad y'all are listening to sex pistols. If y'all ever need more punk bands, there are misfits, the exploited, gbh, black flag, the jabbers, circle jerks, minor threat, rancid, and nofx
Great reaction. Please do a reaction to something by Amyl and the Sniffers, The Chats or Cosmic Psychos. All Aussie punk bands. I am a Brit but the some of the best punk these days is coming from Australia.
During the 70s..... we had the 3 day week .... electric and gas would be cut off at random times .... bodies weren't buried.. still recovering from the war.... I still remember bomb sites and I was born in 73!! There was a collective feeling of discontent. Still banging on about an empire which the sun had firmly set! Out of this came a group of young angry men!
The sex pistols burst into the music scene when it was getting stagnant in the late 70s . The energy they display right from the get go propelled them to the top punk band. I was fortunate to see them at Leeds polytechnic in December of 1976. It was fantastic
There has always been "punk". People make a big deal about "punk" as a genre because it became popular, same as everything else that becomes popular. And everyone who thinks "the people" can rule or protect themselves from "the people" are morons. "The people" is why there are always rulers. Rulers rise from among the people and have always represented a certain segment of the people at the onset of their rise to power. People are a constant threat to people and require rule. No, people as a whole cannot get along with one another and will never live without rule. Humans are ruled by nature and require resources. Resources are limited. End of story. Civilization is simply the construct of lessening the impact of nature on human life. Every piece of that construct creates dependency and dependency creates rule. A punk is a dependent, same as everyone else. And Anarchy In The UK is a great song. It's a great song and this is a classic recording.
Syd vicious is a legend, gotta love sex pistols pretty vacant is amazing so is liar friggin in the riggin is definitely worth doing, it is a classic worth doing the lyrics version tho, especially for our brothers and sisters who are not from the UK KEEP ON ROCKING DUDES 🤟🤟🤟
For a far better punk band [one that still tours nowadays but who started in the 1970s] is Stiff Little Fingers. Loads of great tracks [often very political]. 'The Cosh', 'Alternative Ulster', 'Who Died and Made You Elvis?', 'Tinderbox', 'At The Edge', 'Each Dollar A Bullet' plus dozens more.
I was lucky enough to be in the Roundhouse,Chalk Farm, London, (1979)watching a great line up of punk bands Penetration,999,Buzzcocks,Slaughter and the dogs, and x-ray specs.....when completely unannounced the Sex Pistols did a suprise set.......They were not just a punk band,they ROCKED.......Steve Jones is a very underrated guitarist......they were fire back then. It was an amazing time to be in London.....the place was absolutely buzzing with great bands coming out almost daily......punk was the last great musical revolution.
"They were not just a punk band,they ROCKED.......Steve Jones is a very underrated guitarist." Yes, that's the key... that's the key. Musically, they were no MERE "punk" band. WAY beyond it. Possibly the greatest and greatest sounding rock/rock 'n' roll band of ALL TIME. Nobody can get the same sound and feel as Jonesy nearly as well as he can. There's something magic in what he does. No guitar store kid playing power chords is going to get close to it. Paul Cook, too. Crisp powerful sound, tight with incredible groove. Rock WITH roll.
I was in Manchester at the time, but not at That Concert that everybody claims they attended. The Pistols kicked off the scene that developed into Madchester a few years later.
What a great song to wake up to this morning! I Love the Sex Pistols. To name THE innovators of Punk is hard for me. Is it The Stooges, The Ramones or Sex Pistols? All 3 are at the forefront IMO. ALL Great Bands! Happy New Year!!!
To me, Sex Pistols' sound is just the replica of that of New York Dolls. But no one can deny that "Nevermind the Bollocks..." is one the best albums in the history of Rock Music. The Stooges' music is commonly deemed as Proto-Punk. Also Ramones are widely accepted as the father of Punk Rock though you will find some opposing opinions.
@@EmrahUncu I just know I Love and respect them all. They all have their special place in Music History. Many don't care for John Lydon but I adore him. I could listen to him talk and tell stories for hours. I find his mind fascinating. He seems to have disdain for so much and so many but occasionally he drops his guard and let's it slip that he cares and has a heart. I really respect how much he loves his Wife. Unfortunately I never got to see any of these bands live but I did meet Iggy after a show touring his solo Instinct Album and Steve Jones was his guitarist. Close as I can get. Be safe out there
This debate will rage forever. I don't think any one band can fully claim the mantle of the starters of punk. Because you keep going back. Before the Stooges, was it the MC5, the Stooges 'older brother' band? Was it the Velvet Underground? New York Dolls? Or in the Pacific NW - was it the Sonics? Or before them, the Wailers? Or was it the Pretty Things in England, or much more intense and ragged version of the Stones? Or even the Beatles in their raw Cavern Club/Hamburg days before the suits and Brian Epstein, pretty close to punk. Lemmy vouched for that one.
@@EmrahUncu You can hear the New.York Dolls in the Pistols, especially Jonesy's playing. But the Pistols have a much tighter more alloyed sound, less loose and ragged. Bullocks was much more influential worldwide partly because of this. An extremely powefful, concise, tight sound. And great anthemic songs.
You have to remember when the sex pistols started they were pushing back the boundaries on all fronts the uk had never seen anything like them, for the short time they were on the scene they changed the way people viewed a band their influence can still be felt to this day
Sex Pistols and Ramones and The Clash were the bands that brought Punk Rock to the world. Got to see Johnny (Rotten) Lydon when he fronted a different band called PiL (Public Image Limited), quite a few years later, maybe ten years later, but he still had, and has, the punk attitude. There was a "sedate" section of the crowd on the side of the stage and Johnny yelled at them "Rock and Roll is to be danced to, not looked at!" You tell 'em Johnny!!!
I was studying at Leeds polytechnic in 1975 and a small band came on stage called the sex pistols. When they fired up it was loud and explosive, it changed the musical landscape with this new punk genre
They shook up what was becoming a very stagnant music scene in the late 70s and punk evolved into several genre's including new wave but by the end of the 80's mainstream music documentaries would leave it out like it had never existed. Only comparatively recently has it re-emerged as an important part of music history to the mainstream. Johnny Rotten has always been around since but you should listen and react to him singing "Open Up" by Leftfield, He nails it in a way only he could!!!
X-Ray Spex - Oh Bondage Up Yours would be a great song to react to. 1970s punk with a female lead singer and a saxophone. I think they only put out one album but it had a hell of an impact.
First, you have to understand the times. Music had entered the doldrums. The “Muskrat Love”-“Afternoon Delight” era had taken over much of radio. Great bands were dead or dying. 95% selling out to record companies and putting out s**t. The young said “no more.” The Pistols in the UK and the Ramones in the US (picking up where the MC5 left off) simply roared for a very brief time and turned music around. This was necessary to save music. YOU two MUST listen to “Submission,” as it’s right up your alley. It’s in the BULLOCKS LP. Fascinating bios-esp Sid and his death in NY.
Sex pistols definitively had highly social commentary songs . Bodies I remember as I experienced someone telling an real story of similar nature at the time ! England was in full decline in 70s due to industrial changes and large social problems . I remember bag ladies living under bridges . Not after EU , But after Brexit ? We will see…note vivienne westwood that just passed away created the looks of punk and Malcom mclaren the evil managers genius was fun too . John Lyndon the vocalist is very funny in small doses . Steve jones the guitarist has fun stories in his video shows as well as great interviews with artists . Ramones and New York dolls and iggy pop were all important inspiration
The Ramones are generally considered the first punk band. Either them or The Saints from Australia (who tend to get overlooked in the Histories of Punk). Also, the CBGB scene in New York was a happening scene before Sex Pistols were formed. Also, the Australian Pub a rock scene, which was a close cousin of the CBGB scene only more commercial was already on fire before The Ramones was formed. Feel sorry for you blokes in the USA & UK that missed out on the Australian Pub Rock scene. Yes some of the bands did have some critical success overseas (AC/DC, The Saints, INXS, Midnight Oil) but that really was the tip of the iceberg and not necessarily the tip for that matter. I’d rank The Angels (AKA Angel City), Rose tattoo, and Cold Chisel on par with those bands that did make an impact overseas.
But the Pistols dragged the movement kicking and screaming into the spotlight. They bagged news headlines, appeared on mainstream media and made news across the world. The UK pub rock scene, bands like Dr. Feelgood certainly contributed, but when the Pistols released Never Mind The Bollocks, everything changed.
New York dolls were credited has the first punk band, as I remember, but they suspiciously look glam rock to me they do originate from 1971 and Ramones looked heavy/prog rock , compare these to proper punk bands such , pistols, angelic upstarts, dammed, clash , stiff little fingers, buzzcocks, exploited, UK subs, , and many more, these bands looked the part or sounded a lot different from the pioneer bands
THe Sex Pistols had a better bass player than Sid Vicious but they kicked him out the band because he liked the Beatles. LOL They were so ANTI. It was crazy. They scared me as a kid. I just had to have the record. lol
Glen Matlock, the original bass player and songwriter was 'sacked' from the Pistols for 'liking the Beatles.' But this was actually a publicity stunt by Malcolm McLaren after Matlock quit to spin the story, save face, and make the story more interesting.
The pistols were about protest although tbh I’m not sure they ever believed in anything except making waves as big as possible. They basically were aiming to be considered’ Outrageous’ and anything that served that purpose was fair game. Malcom Mclaren curated everything and was perhaps the ultimate marketing man on the planet at the time.
Johnny Rotten has came out and said Sex Pistols weren’t actual anarchists. He said anarchy is mind games for the middle class. I think that’s why they have the lyric “I use the enemy. I use anarchy.”
I love the Ramones but their punk was very pop compared to the Pistols which was much darker and harder. To me the Pistols typify the punk genre more so than the Ramones interpretation.
I am now 78 yo, it took a while but i love the Sex Pistols, I was bought up in the Music revolution, stones, etc there was so much truth in the music, and it the same today. The Governments are still the same, say what you want to hear before in power and become the same as the one's you wanted out.
They were the Punk Band to compare other Punk Bands to, back in the early 70's. Never got to see them because even though they toured the US did not come to NY.
The Sex Pistols changed music, fashion, hairstyles for men and women! Their attitude of do what you want who cares what people think! Even 48 years later is an example to new bands!
As much as I may want to point to Sex Pistols as THE first true punk band, I know there's just as many who believe it was The Ramones. Also gotta get to EMI, Pretty Vacant and my favorite, Bodies
New York Dolls formed in 1971...The Stooges just before them. A bit of a rivalry about who was the first Punk band. Sex Pistols I think formed in 1975. Ramones in 1974. Iggy was playing punk around 1970...
@@michaelakkerman407 I made this same point on their Patreon yesterday how Ramones would not have been the same if it weren't for Iggy Pop's group The Stooges just as Sex Pistols would not have been as influential if they were themselves were not influenced by David Johansen's band New York Dolls. Although to me, Stooges and NYD were more like proto-punk. And don't forget MC5, who got their start in '64.
@@mikethemotormouth MC5 gets little no rep at all. Although they still had that heavy rock sound. They would be big today and headlining shows. They were so far ahead of the pack. I still Rock MC5. They never seem to get old to me.
Agree 100% but it's hard for me to think of them as punk. They influenced so many bands on the east coast. I'm sure Alice Cooper was a huge fan. Detroit was popin' back then.
@@michaelakkerman407 You could also point to The Kinks, with songs like "All Day and All of the Night" for giving music a raw edge in the early 60s that really hadn't been there until then.
Steve's guitar sound is legendary. Les Paul + Fender Twin Reverb. According to legend, he taught himself guitar, whilst out of his mind on pills, for three months before his first Sex Pistols gig
In the UK the first punk single to ever be released is widely accepted to be the Damned -- New Rose. But none of the bands really called themselves punk until the media created it. It really had its roots in the late '60s with bands like Iggy and the Stooges and the MC5. Joey Ramone once said: "We had no idea we were punk, we thought we were a surf band."
Try The Clash "Guns of Brixton". Or The Stranglers "No More Heroes". Or why not some ladies? Go for X-ray Specs "Oh Bondage, Up Yours". Or Siouxsie & the Banshees "Spellbound". You won't regret either of them, all classics.
I've never seen a band emit raw anger quite as much as the Sex Pistols, I love this band. At the time when they were doing this, it was very controversial and influential on the younger generation.
Hey guys , luv the reaction , check out an Aussie band called The Saints - I’m stranded , was released in oz prior to sex pistols , story goes Malcolm mclaren heard The saints and loved the sound , they influenced the sex pistols apparently 😊
Punk was all about being the exact opposite to the over the top “Glam Rock” styles of the earlier 1970’s. This is where the fashion for ripped clothing really started. The music was aggressive and meant to flip the bird to polite society. A friend of mine saw this band live and the guitarist Syd Vicious spat on him. My friend was so happy! He still has the unwashed T-shirt as a trophy from that gig.
The Sex Pistols on the Queens Silver Jubilee were organised on a boat to float down the Thames outside the Houses of Parliament and did a few songs for the public and got arrested. The people who assisted them in this venture was the now passed fashionista Vivien Westwood, the man who hired the boat Richard Branson and their agent Malcolm McLaren. Please review for an interesting change away from loud punk/rock tunes The Divine Comedy - National Express or Something for the Weekend.
My brother saw their last show at Winterland, San Francisco. He felt bad for the drummer because of all the stuff being thrown onstage and he couldn’t put his hands up to deflect the deluge! Yeah, throwing stuff was a thing. Cheers and glad you enjoyed!
My mother is from London, and she was 20 in 1976, so she was part of the punk scene. She didn’t pierce her nose of face thankfully. She used to see the Sex Pistols whenever she could and the audiences were always nuts. The first time she was them was at a large club in London, and for absolutely no reason, a woman she had never met before just walked up to her and punched her in the face, then tried to pull her hair out.
They were all about 19 or 20 at the time. Amazing that a bunch of teens and twenty-somethings changed the musical landscape in a year and with one album.
GEORGE HARRISON was 17 when he was sent home from HAMBURG in 1960.
THE BEATLES were leather clad PUNKS ripping it up in HAMBURG, they were bloody wild.
In order to play for very long periods, they were taking large amounts of SPEED.
Their drink of preference was RUM n COKE.
In a 1979 interview, PAUL McCARTNEY said that he didn't know what all the 'fuss' was about with the recent PUNK movement.
He said it wasn't very different to what THE BEATLES and other Rock groups did in the early 60's.
He's right, of course.
When THE KINKS & THE WHO, literally burst onto the music scene in 1964, the very conservative society of the day regarded them as very dangerous.
They, among other wild n crazy Bands, were a threat to the Establishment and that's one of the major ingredients of PUNK.
Even though I love THE SEX PISTOLS & regard them as the 3rd most important Rock Band in history, they & Malcolm didn't invent PUNK.
To answer everybody's question, the two most important Rock Bands in history are THE BEATLES & STATUS QUO (from the 60's-1983)
Some intelligent music critics have compared and even pigeonholed THE RAMONES & STATUS QUO as two of the greatest PUNK Bands of all time.
Hang on a second....... STATUS QUO are a PUNK Band??????????
Well, PUNK is more an attitude than a sound & STATUS QUO has never cared what anybody thinks about them or their music.
Working class as well ✊ (for our American friends, they were from the ‘projects’) 👍
'Holidays in the sun' is one of my favorite Sex pistols songs. I've known the album from being a kid, my older brothers were into the punk scene at the time.
Mine too… those marching boots….
dont forget friggin in the riggin lol
1976 a year of strikes, inflation, the hottest summer in decades, and then the Sex Pistols exploded on the scene. "Never Mind the Bollocks, Here's the Sex Pistols", would be the album that is recognized as one of the greatest punk albums of all time.
One of the greatest albums of all time even ;)
Riot - Fire Down Under is another, not punk but assriff hardrock/metal
@@AngryPostmanStockholm Fire Down Under is a great album, I used to have it on vinyl, along with Rock City and Narita.
@@keithwatkins7908 Aah a man of good taste ;) i have Narita too but non of them are halfway as splendid as FDU, i bought it just by chance (little did i know i still hold it as maybe the most hardrock/metal album of all time).
Now, Im from Sweden wich may be a slight reason but not really on the other hand, but fact is when i mention it i only met like 10-15 people heard about them.
Take care rockin man
/Hans
@ Keith Watkins "1976 a year of strikes, inflation, the hottest summer in decades..." A bit like 2022
@@AngryPostmanStockholm I prefer Narita, but Fire Down Under also great. Back in my teens I used to have the band name 'RIOT' on the back of my jacket in studs. Those were some great times. Pistols are the best punk band ever in my opinion and Never Mind The Bollocks is one of the best albums ever made, and still stands up today.
Another great Sex Pistols song worth checking out is "Pretty Vacant". And if you want political British punk, hunt down The Clash - try "Clampdown" or "Death or Glory". The Sex Pistols were one of the first British punk bands, and cause an uproar among the establishment, especially after a notorious TV interview which included the first F-bomb on British TV. It was in the backlash to that that album burning and the like took place.
Definitely The Clash, but also Ramones, Stiff Little Fingers, Buzzcocks, oh, and probably Green Day.
@@markrankin1094 Green Day definitely does not belong on that list. They are pop punk commercial mainstream music. They are the system they're not sticking it to the system
@@Will_Wel Which is why I put them last and after a possibly.
@@markrankin1094 right on. But growing up from classic rock to Hard Rock to punk to heavy metal to extreme metal and so on and seeing that whole Evolution and experiencing it. There were so many political punk bands in the '80s and thereabouts and by the time punk had already been dead for over a decade and Green Day came around they were pop punk crap that drives me crazy with disgust. Sorry but I can't stand them. It's the furthest thing from punk rock, even though it follows the musical formula correctly. It doesn't have the attitude aggression or lyrical content of punk rock. It's corporate mainstream bubble gum pop crap, sorry. :)
The Clash - I'm so Bored with the U.S.A.
Anarchy = radical individualism and self-determination
Megadeth had a great cover of this song! Sex pistols are some pioneers in the genre for sure
Daves voice ruins it
Another interesting cover of this song is by Green Jello / Green Jelly called Anarchy in Bedrock.
@@donjackson5522 that ones pretty good
no rock band ever did a good cover of any punk song, period, they all sounded and still sound shit , stick to rock :P
England was going through a lot during that times. I just loved this band!!! They were exciting and totally different. The Clash came out then too & were great.
3:56 it’s been 46 years and people still react that way. Thats real punk.
Anarchy isn't about chaos it is about doing away with a hierarchy saying no man or woman is above the rest
Ahhh, the g-o-o-d o-l-d t-i-m-e-s , when musicians (in part) still stood for true values and needs, though their manager and brain-behind-the-scene, did everything to make them a pure marketing object.
Congrats to Smokey, for his understanding of anarchy and, last but not least, his wonderful t-shirt of great musical taste.👍
Many have suggested that they succeeded in spite of McLaren, rather than because of him. He took credit for a lot that wasn't his doing. When he took more control, stage managing the controversy, that really pushed them into breaking up.
Without sounding too highbrow I think that it's true to say that the Pistols were the voice of a generation. Had Beethoven been alive then, he would have been cheering in the audience!!
Why would a deaf Beethoven have gone to a Sex Pistols show-to pogo and get the snot kicked out of himself?
Give me a break. Beethoven would never have thought about this noise.
You guys have very thoughtful and intelligent responses to everything that you listen to and I really appreciate that. I think listening to this music as a very impressionable teenager really galvanized me into doing the work that I do now. I really really like your comments.
I just stumbled over your channel guys, and being one that doesn't watch reaction videos I actually enjoyed this. If you want to do more Sex Pistols you should do "Bodies". The song is basically about Pauline, a mental patient that after her release travelled to London and became a punk rock fan. Uncompromising lyrics about a theme still controversial and hard to talk about 46 years years later. It's like a punk version of Prokofiev's Dance of the Knights, make you want to run through a brick wall, beat up your neighbor and start a revolution.
When I heard Never Mind the Bollocks I was instantly in love!!! Talent wasn’t their forefront, lol, but the message and delivery?! EVERYTHING! Anarchy 🤘! And I loved Sid endlessly! I named my daughter, Sydney, after him and she loves explaining all about her namesake 🖤
Well, Sid looked like a PUNK, yet he could barely play the Bass.
Lemmy, from Motorhead tried to teach him and Lemmy said that Sid was a Moron.
Sid had the sneer.
Sid was the media's Poster Boy for PUNK's image.
Credit to Sid though, he did prove that he was a true Punk, by dying on 2/02/79
Anyway, all the people were Pawns in Malcolm McClaren's GREAT ROCK n ROLL SWINDLE.
That was the title of The Sex Pistols' second album.
The great irony about The Sex Pistols is that they sacked their musical genius, GLEN MATLOCK.
Glen wrote PRETTY VACANT one night coming home 'pissed' on a train.
The story is that Glen admitted to liking Paul McCartney, which was taboo when you're a PUNK.
Glen & Rotten were clashing and Sid was good friends with Rotten.
Sid wasn't a tough PUNK; he was a pussycat.
Sid went into Queen's recording studio in 1977 and they physically abused and threatened him.
Queen were all upper middle-class toffs & soft cocks.
All great Bands have great Drummers.
Have a look at Paul Cook's Drumming, he is bloody good.
Spedding taught Steve Jones how to play Guitar.
Steve listened, watched and was a quick learner.
As opposed to Sid, Steve was a smart guy and became a very clever Guitarist.
I regard THE SEX PISTOLS to be the 3rd most important cultural entity in the last 4.6 billion years.
@@alanstrom2221 totally heard the same thing! Lol
It’s not about the musical talent. It’s about the message
Sid did nOt kill Nancy. The US actor Rockets Redglare went to the hotel room, sold sid smack, then when sid went on the nod,Redglare robbed and stabbed Nancy. Cops ignored the testimony. Sid was innocent.
The Damned released the first British punk single. When they heard “Anarchy” for the first time they pissed themselves laughing. Captain Sensible said Johnny Rotten sounded like “old man Steptoe” on the record. Ramones were the initiators of 70s punk rock.
Great reaction!!! This was part of the soundtrack to my youth. Johnny Rotten is still relevant. Happy New Years guys!!! Volbeat: Cheapside Sloggers. Hell yes.
Thank you so much for playing this from the bottom of my orthopedic shoes. This was the music of my youth and it was like nothing we had ever heard before. Notice that there is no etiquette in the mosh pit although we didn't use that expression.
Without the Pistols Punk would never have been the cultural phenomenon it was. They inspired people to become musicians who otherwise would never have dreamt of getting on a stage at all. The cultural inspriration this band gave a generation cannot be underestimated. They didnt invent punk but they created its existence in the UK and made it known worldwide when no other band had that capability.
Gtfoh…Ramones
@Mr.SmithGNR Smith Ramones never did anything to raise the profile of punk worldwide, they were only commercially successful after Punk in the UK exploded onto the world stage. They were influencial in punks growth not spearheading its growth and thats the big difference.
The best thing the pistols did was that one gig in Manchester, Vivienne westwood had more to do with it than the band members
@@travis_thompson Bollox, McLaren and Westwood would have died on the vine if they hadn't accidentally created the most influential band of that era, all they wanted was a promotional tool for their little shop but the band outgrew them and McLaren didn't have a clue how to manage them, all he was interested in was keeping all the money to himself
Dam dude, why you gonna dis THE RAMONES like that.😡😡😡😡😡
Punk Rock had a slow but noticeable development. The earliest traces that would inspire Punk can be found in the 1958 instrumental Rumble by Link Wray, with the way it used power chords (a typically two-note Rock chord) in a very dirty and blunt way. Though of course, it wouldn't have ever been considered Punk after the 70s, but it was a start that showed the power of Power Chords. What really started the Punk style was Garage Rock, which came up in the late 50s and 60s, partially spawning as an underground variant of the British invasion that was more riff-based and DIY.
Possibly the first true commercially successful Punk Rock hit was in 1965 with My Generation by The Who. It had the same driving power chord feel of Garage Rock with more attitude in the vocals and lyrics that were almost, but not quite explicit, and presented itself as an anthem of youth culture at the time. This was a milestone for the Punk sound, but it still had ways to go. Also around the same time you had The Rolling Stones which were often described as more street version of The Beatles (though ironically were actually much more privileged in upbringing than The Beatles were) and had similar attitude with singer Mick Jagger pioneering Punk vocals. By the late 60s, English and American bands started to experiment with grittier guitar tones, energetic performances, and unsophisticated lyrics and demeanor. Bands like The Stooges and MC5 would be crucial to this development.
Around the early 1970s, Glam Rock began to skyrocket in popularity and brought with it many underground elements of Punk Rock, such as gritty distorted power chords and trashy androgynous performances. Around the same time, Progressive Rock was enjoying similar success, especially in Europe, and many bands were embarking on bigger grand concerts with complex and classically-influenced songs. It got so big despite most of the UK not resembling this high class style of music, and so Punk exploded around 1976, particularly with the album "Never Mind The Bollocks, Here's The Sex Pistols" which was released in direct response to Progressive Rock, and it killed the genre as fast as Disco Demolition Night killed Disco. While America was enjoying a more fun and silly breed of Punk with bands like the Ramones and Television, British Punk was much angrier and had something to say. And as soon as it was born, it began to fade away, but not in the same sense that Prog Rock and Glam Rock did.
Quickly after 1977, multiple genres found their way into the mainstream, such as Heavy Metal, Punk Rock, Disco, and New Wave. These were all generally reduced forms of music, I say reduced meaning not as focused on complexity, and more focused on music to move and jam with, and Punk was the most reduced of all. It was regulated to 3 chords and typical verse-chorus songwriting. Needless to say, a genre like that wouldn't find much else to do for more than a few years, so it branched out. New Wave was partially a result of this, but had a more avant-garde approach and often used synthesisers and effects. Post-Punk is what primarily grew out of Punk. It kept the instrumental elements of Punk but added more slightly complex songwriting that offered more than just energy and yelling. It could have quieter portions, groovier portions, experimental portions, et cetera. It was pretty much Progressive Punk, but nobody would have wanted to call it that, so Post-Punk was adopted as the name.
You also had Hardcore Punk and Horror Punk which went in the opposite direction by keeping the simple songwriting and energy, and turning it up louder and adding more aggressive lyrics and performances, the latter having elements of Shock Rock integrated in the lyrics. These genres would eventually combine with Speed Metal to create Thrash Metal in the 1980s, while also living on in the underground with bands like Misfits and Black Flag. The mid-80s is where the genre developed into Post-Hardcore (which again added more complex and varied songwriting devices to the aggressive instrumentals) and it's sister Emotional Hardcore, later shortened to Emocore and then simply Emo. This was the sound of Post-Hardcore, but the vocals had more melodic, yet equally powerful and aggressive tendencies, often touching on more melancholy and depressing lyrics and tones. This would evolve into the mainstream in the 90s and 2000s, until merging with Pop Punk.
Speaking of which, Pop Punk was a direct result of Punk bands that actually cared about fame and wanted to create more radio-friendly Punk songs. Ramones arguably pioneered this more light-hearted Punk sound but it wouldn't show many signs of growth until the 90s with bands like Green Day and Blink-182 adding very clean Pop performances and songwriting to the fast energetic Punk instrumentals. This would be the longest-lasting variation of Punk that is still popular to this day. The last notable development of Punk was the combination of Pop Punk and Emo in the 2000s. Fall Out Boy and My Chemical Romance spearheaded this change where Pop Punk was suddenly self-loathing and depressing, and that inspired a whole wave of Teen culture that lasted the entire decade, and it would be here where Punk was last in the limelight.
Today, reminisce of Punk still exist in more underground and generally lesser-known bands, with very occasional resurfaces into the mainstream, such as Machine Gun Kelly. It's still one of the most favoured genres, especially with young listeners, and will likely remain as such for years to come.
Punk is as much an attitude as a sound, too - you could argue that someone like Johnny Cash belongs in that history for his anti-authority stance.
@@jamesdignanmusic2765 True, though rebellion and anti-authority stances have been around for much longer than the Punk movement have. To suggest that if you rebel, then it's a Punk stance, I don't think that is a necessarily logical statement. Punks are Rebels, but Rebels aren't Punks.
Before the genre, a Punk was considered a low-class sketchy street individual. Often they could be rebellious, but most of the time, they were labelled punks for how they dressed, how they presented themselves, where they hung out, what practices they would partake in, and most importantly their behaviour. If a 19-year old came into a store acting rude and snotty, making a bunch of immature jokes and knocking over merchandise, the store owner would say "You punks get out of my store!!!" It was just another informal social class of people.
I've never heard such self Indulgence and pompous bollocks ever. Punk was the brainchild of a very clever Mr.Malcom Maclaren. An amazing business brain and an opportunist. It had nothing to do with the Ramones or Iggy and the Stooges. The far left music press of the day used it as tool to try and create a social revolution. That's why it died away so soon. The kids were NOT in such a shit situation. The kids today are far worse off,what with Covid,rising unemployment,a dying NHS,the woke brigade,he/she transgender whatever they are......Putin.........its far worse today......bring back the Pistols.
Iggy pop and the stooges were probably the archetypal first punk band
Yeah, this is what I was trying to say in my comment lol!!!!
Gotta love old school Punk. You gotta check out Subhumans - ‘The Day The Country Died.’
john lydon {lead singer}still performs with his own band public image limited he lives in the states saw them in uk last year
Sex pistols, and Clash, like a number of "prepunk" artists (eg. Patti Smith) had huge inpact on music and youth culture for the coming decade, in slightly the same way as the Beatles had in the early 60s. In other countries, like Sweden, both times, so many garage band was formed! Most famous was probably "Ebba Grön" and the song "Staten och kapitalet" (actually a cover of a song from 1972) - like Sex pistols also quite political. (Try that song!) A special path took Sex pistols singer John Lydon / Johnny Rotten with his project pil (Public Image Ltd) - maybe to be included in "The new wave"? A typical song from pil may be "The order of death" from 1984. Quite different from "Anarchy in the UK"! 1977 became a breaking point for many music styles!
The original Greek meaning of the word 'Anarchy' simply means NO RULERS. It doesn't mean 'no rules' or 'chaos', that's a more modern distortion of the word. A true anarchist in the original sense of the word will accept the rules of natural law (which some have condensed to 'do no harm, but take no shit'), but would not recognise any human being's authority or ruling over them.
I just found your channel, but was happy to hear that Smokey basically knew the general concept of what Anarchy truly means. As far as the Pistols, they are music for smarter people. To truly understand you have to do a little research and learn what they were actually singing about. I bet many punk fans wouldn't say the Sex Pistols were the first Punk band. First of all you kinda have to define punk, which is really hard to do. You can trace it's origins back to bands like the Stones, Beatles, Elvis, black rock and blues artists etc. All of those bands and people were rebellious or controversial in their own ways and some of their music. To really see "punk" start to form look at a band called The MC5 or Motor City Five. They took sort of the rocky bluesy styles and turned it up faster and heavier while singing about issues like race riots in Detroit.
Sex Pistols was back in the day pretty much like Nirvana was for the grunge. They were the face and the headline material but burned out very fast, the members becoming disillusioned as well, growing tired to their manager's publicity stunts. Other groups such as Clash, Stranglers, The Jam and even The Police moved on and became hugely successful.
Because the music wasn’t there…The Ramones wrote good songs that last
I completely disagree, nirvana was just a band making music and the sex pistols were a movement.
@@mr.smithgnrsmith7808 I knew if I scrolled down there would have to be someone mentioning the Ramones, lol.
Couldn't help yourself, could you.😂
@@mr.smithgnrsmith7808 I would disagree. Had their manager been any good he wouldn't have made decisions that caused them to break up so early. For the amount of songs they have, they had a pretty good success rate with them.
Great Reaction Guys! There is a documentary on The Ramones called End of the Century where they talk about not hardly being able to get a gig here in the U.S. so they went to the U.K. They ended up playing place that held 3K people, which was way bigger than anything they had ever played and Joe Strummer from the Clash tells a story about them throwing a rock at the window (2nd story) and The Ramones pulling them up using a human chain for them to get in and they met The Ramones and Joe talked about if there was no Rockets to Russia album there might not have ever been a Punk Scene in the U.K. One guy, who was with The Ramones said Johnny Rotten (singer of The Sex Pistols) wanted to get in the meet them and asked this guy that if he got in and met them would they beat him up. He said over there they thought The Ramones were a gang from the Bronx or something. So The Ramones definitley came first before the British Punk Bands. The documentary is here on YT.
Ramones weren't a punk band in the same way as the Pistols. They had far less impact culturally too.
Oh, this brings back memories from my teens, we used to binge on Sex Pistols, Toy Dolls and Bad Religion. Fun days and crazy music...
The Sex Pistols were certainly the band the brought punk to the public's attention, but the first punk single (in this UK style of punk) was "New Rose" by The Damned, coming out a few weeks before this.
This is one of those songs that is like screaming into a pillow. You play and sing it loud and you feel like you have released the tension of the day. My way of keeping my mental health level.
John (Johnny Rotten) Lydon developed the most interesting singing voice. Check out his post-Sex Pistols band Public Image Limited (PiL). Bad Life, Rise, Disappointed, Happy, Seattle, This is Not a Love Song...
they were actually much better musicians than most people ever give them credit for. the record label force-formed them into the mold that they eventually turned into the Sex Pistols.
Except for sid. He couldn't play for shit. Lemmy tried to help him play but he was always too fucked up
US critic Griel Marcus once called Johnny Rotten "the first truly terrifying rock singer". You need to listen to the song Bodies from the Never Mind The Bollocks album to hear him in full flow.
I saw these guys live in San Antonio, Tx at Randy's Rodeo. As good as their record sounds, they were even better live. Best $4 I ever spent on a concert ticket!!!
I've seen MOTORHEAD THREE TIMES 🤘👏👏👏
R.I.P LORD LEMMY
Yeeeess!! I'm glad y'all are listening to sex pistols. If y'all ever need more punk bands, there are misfits, the exploited, gbh, black flag, the jabbers, circle jerks, minor threat, rancid, and nofx
Great reaction. Please do a reaction to something by Amyl and the Sniffers, The Chats or Cosmic Psychos. All Aussie punk bands. I am a Brit but the some of the best punk these days is coming from Australia.
During the 70s..... we had the 3 day week .... electric and gas would be cut off at random times .... bodies weren't buried.. still recovering from the war.... I still remember bomb sites and I was born in 73!! There was a collective feeling of discontent. Still banging on about an empire which the sun had firmly set! Out of this came a group of young angry men!
The sex pistols burst into the music scene when it was getting stagnant in the late 70s . The energy they display right from the get go propelled them to the top punk band. I was fortunate to see them at Leeds polytechnic in December of 1976. It was fantastic
great reactions.
There has always been "punk". People make a big deal about "punk" as a genre because it became popular, same as everything else that becomes popular.
And everyone who thinks "the people" can rule or protect themselves from "the people" are morons. "The people" is why there are always rulers. Rulers rise from among the people and have always represented a certain segment of the people at the onset of their rise to power. People are a constant threat to people and require rule. No, people as a whole cannot get along with one another and will never live without rule. Humans are ruled by nature and require resources. Resources are limited. End of story.
Civilization is simply the construct of lessening the impact of nature on human life. Every piece of that construct creates dependency and dependency creates rule. A punk is a dependent, same as everyone else.
And Anarchy In The UK is a great song. It's a great song and this is a classic recording.
Agreed. People can’t be trusted to govern themselves.
Syd vicious is a legend, gotta love sex pistols pretty vacant is amazing so is liar friggin in the riggin is definitely worth doing, it is a classic worth doing the lyrics version tho, especially for our brothers and sisters who are not from the UK
KEEP ON ROCKING DUDES 🤟🤟🤟
For a far better punk band [one that still tours nowadays but who started in the 1970s] is Stiff Little Fingers. Loads of great tracks [often very political]. 'The Cosh', 'Alternative Ulster', 'Who Died and Made You Elvis?', 'Tinderbox', 'At The Edge', 'Each Dollar A Bullet' plus dozens more.
Seen SLF So many times and never disappointed. Loved the Clash, Pistols, Damned, Dead Kennedys but Fingers greatest punk band of all time
By the way, I just found your channel! I subscribed!
I was 8 in 1978, heard this on tv in Australia. I was hooked, This was my music. Still love it.
you put the video up of the song that deserves a like. after watching you lot u get a sub too. love from london
R.I.P. Vivien Westwood,Godmother of Punk !
like it or not. made the history of music.
They were like a nuclear device going off at the beginning amazing band that sparked a musical revolution
You are good guys!!! Love your reactions. This was an unic band. There's a movie about the bass player, Sid Vicious. Greettings from Argentina
Been waiting for this 👍👍
Happy new year
I was lucky enough to be in the Roundhouse,Chalk Farm, London, (1979)watching a great line up of punk bands Penetration,999,Buzzcocks,Slaughter and the dogs, and x-ray specs.....when completely unannounced the Sex Pistols did a suprise set.......They were not just a punk band,they ROCKED.......Steve Jones is a very underrated guitarist......they were fire back then. It was an amazing time to be in London.....the place was absolutely buzzing with great bands coming out almost daily......punk was the last great musical revolution.
but all the gobbing...
Er........yeah,what was that all about🤮😳
"They were not just a punk band,they ROCKED.......Steve Jones is a very underrated guitarist."
Yes, that's the key... that's the key. Musically, they were no MERE "punk" band. WAY beyond it. Possibly the greatest and greatest sounding rock/rock 'n' roll band of ALL TIME. Nobody can get the same sound and feel as Jonesy nearly as well as he can. There's something magic in what he does. No guitar store kid playing power chords is going to get close to it. Paul Cook, too. Crisp powerful sound, tight with incredible groove. Rock WITH roll.
I was in Manchester at the time, but not at That Concert that everybody claims they attended. The Pistols kicked off the scene that developed into Madchester a few years later.
@@Itelkner totally agree 👍...Steve Jones solo album "Fire & Gasoline" is a gem.
What a great song to wake up to this morning! I Love the Sex Pistols. To name THE innovators of Punk is hard for me. Is it The Stooges, The Ramones or Sex Pistols? All 3 are at the forefront IMO. ALL Great Bands!
Happy New Year!!!
To me, Sex Pistols' sound is just the replica of that of New York Dolls. But no one can deny that "Nevermind the Bollocks..." is one the best albums in the history of Rock Music.
The Stooges' music is commonly deemed as Proto-Punk.
Also Ramones are widely accepted as the father of Punk Rock though you will find some opposing opinions.
@@EmrahUncu I just know I Love and respect them all. They all have their special place in Music History. Many don't care for John Lydon but I adore him. I could listen to him talk and tell stories for hours. I find his mind fascinating. He seems to have disdain for so much and so many but occasionally he drops his guard and let's it slip that he cares and has a heart. I really respect how much he loves his Wife.
Unfortunately I never got to see any of these bands live but I did meet Iggy after a show touring his solo Instinct Album and Steve Jones was his guitarist. Close as I can get.
Be safe out there
This debate will rage forever. I don't think any one band can fully claim the mantle of the starters of punk. Because you keep going back. Before the Stooges, was it the MC5, the Stooges 'older brother' band? Was it the Velvet Underground? New York Dolls? Or in the Pacific NW - was it the Sonics? Or before them, the Wailers? Or was it the Pretty Things in England, or much more intense and ragged version of the Stones? Or even the Beatles in their raw Cavern Club/Hamburg days before the suits and Brian Epstein, pretty close to punk. Lemmy vouched for that one.
@@EmrahUncu You can hear the New.York Dolls in the Pistols, especially Jonesy's playing. But the Pistols have a much tighter more alloyed sound, less loose and ragged. Bullocks was much more influential worldwide partly because of this. An extremely powefful, concise, tight sound. And great anthemic songs.
@@Itelkner Fantastic Comment. I completely agree.
You have to remember when the sex pistols started they were pushing back the boundaries on all fronts the uk had never seen anything like them, for the short time they were on the scene they changed the way people viewed a band their influence can still be felt to this day
Sex Pistols and Ramones and The Clash were the bands that brought Punk Rock to the world. Got to see Johnny (Rotten) Lydon when he fronted a different band called PiL (Public Image Limited), quite a few years later, maybe ten years later, but he still had, and has, the punk attitude. There was a "sedate" section of the crowd on the side of the stage and Johnny yelled at them "Rock and Roll is to be danced to, not looked at!" You tell 'em Johnny!!!
public image by P.I.L is a proper tune!
I was studying at Leeds polytechnic in 1975 and a small band came on stage called the sex pistols. When they fired up it was loud and explosive, it changed the musical landscape with this new punk genre
They shook up what was becoming a very stagnant music scene in the late 70s and punk evolved into several genre's including new wave but by the end of the 80's mainstream music documentaries would leave it out like it had never existed. Only comparatively recently has it re-emerged as an important part of music history to the mainstream. Johnny Rotten has always been around since but you should listen and react to him singing "Open Up" by Leftfield, He nails it in a way only he could!!!
Brilliant song
Sex pistols one of the most important British influences of all time .
X-Ray Spex - Oh Bondage Up Yours would be a great song to react to. 1970s punk with a female lead singer and a saxophone. I think they only put out one album but it had a hell of an impact.
great tune, identity is a banger as well!
First, you have to understand the times. Music had entered the doldrums. The “Muskrat Love”-“Afternoon Delight” era had taken over much of radio. Great bands were dead or dying. 95% selling out to record companies and putting out s**t. The young said “no more.” The Pistols in the UK and the Ramones in the US (picking up where the MC5 left off) simply roared for a very brief time and turned music around. This was necessary to save music.
YOU two MUST listen to “Submission,” as it’s right up your alley. It’s in the BULLOCKS LP.
Fascinating bios-esp Sid and his death in NY.
Sex pistols definitively had highly social commentary songs . Bodies I remember as I experienced someone telling an real story of similar nature at the time ! England was in full decline in 70s due to industrial changes and large social problems . I remember bag ladies living under bridges . Not after EU , But after Brexit ? We will see…note vivienne westwood that just passed away created the looks of punk and Malcom mclaren the evil managers genius was fun too . John Lyndon the vocalist is very funny in small doses . Steve jones the guitarist has fun stories in his video shows as well as great interviews with artists . Ramones and New York dolls and iggy pop were all important inspiration
The Ramones are generally considered the first punk band. Either them or The Saints from Australia (who tend to get overlooked in the Histories of Punk). Also, the CBGB scene in New York was a happening scene before Sex Pistols were formed. Also, the Australian Pub a rock scene, which was a close cousin of the CBGB scene only more commercial was already on fire before The Ramones was formed. Feel sorry for you blokes in the USA & UK that missed out on the Australian Pub Rock scene. Yes some of the bands did have some critical success overseas (AC/DC, The Saints, INXS, Midnight Oil) but that really was the tip of the iceberg and not necessarily the tip for that matter. I’d rank The Angels (AKA Angel City), Rose tattoo, and Cold Chisel on par with those bands that did make an impact overseas.
But the Pistols dragged the movement kicking and screaming into the spotlight. They bagged news headlines, appeared on mainstream media and made news across the world. The UK pub rock scene, bands like Dr. Feelgood certainly contributed, but when the Pistols released Never Mind The Bollocks, everything changed.
New York dolls were credited has the first punk band, as I remember, but they suspiciously look glam rock to me they do originate from 1971 and Ramones looked heavy/prog rock , compare these to proper punk bands such , pistols, angelic upstarts, dammed, clash , stiff little fingers, buzzcocks, exploited, UK subs, , and many more, these bands looked the part or sounded a lot different from the pioneer bands
Upstarts, best band in Jarra...
What a time that was, JL's laugh at the begining intro 3.48 always worth putting on repeat....Capstain full strength grade.
Great test of time and a time line 1976 47 years later still going strong great live band live last summer
Now do Bodies from the same album.
I suggested it also... :)
THe Sex Pistols had a better bass player than Sid Vicious but they kicked him out the band because he liked the Beatles. LOL They were so ANTI. It was crazy. They scared me as a kid. I just had to have the record. lol
Glen Matlock, the original bass player and songwriter was 'sacked' from the Pistols for 'liking the Beatles.' But this was actually a publicity stunt by Malcolm McLaren after Matlock quit to spin the story, save face, and make the story more interesting.
The pistols were about protest although tbh I’m not sure they ever believed in anything except making waves as big as possible. They basically were aiming to be considered’ Outrageous’ and anything that served that purpose was fair game. Malcom Mclaren curated everything and was perhaps the ultimate marketing man on the planet at the time.
John Lydon is a national treasure
No, he is not. He is a twatt.
John lydon, aka Johnney Rotten, the lead singer often comments on art and and literature on BBC radio 4. Clever man
Johnny Rotten has came out and said Sex Pistols weren’t actual anarchists. He said anarchy is mind games for the middle class. I think that’s why they have the lyric “I use the enemy. I use anarchy.”
It’s actually NME, which was a UK music rag back in the day (stands for New Musical Express
@@seancorker5815 crap lol. I had a feeling I was wrong lol.
Ramones already were signed and released lp in 1976. Sex Pistols in '77
I love the Ramones but their punk was very pop compared to the Pistols which was much darker and harder. To me the Pistols typify the punk genre more so than the Ramones interpretation.
I am now 78 yo, it took a while but i love the Sex Pistols, I was bought up in the Music revolution, stones, etc there was so much truth in the music, and it the same today. The Governments are still the same, say what you want to hear before in power and become the same as the one's you wanted out.
anarchy means doing whatever you want, like picking up trash that you didnt drop or helping people with out being told to do it,
They were the Punk Band to compare other Punk Bands to, back in the early 70's. Never got to see them because even though they toured the US did not come to NY.
Ok you showing video thats great.
The Sex Pistols changed music, fashion, hairstyles for men and women! Their attitude of do what you want who cares what people think! Even 48 years later is an example to new bands!
I'm a Brit and I'm giving "First punk band" to The Stooges.
Ok proto punk. Ok😁🤭
The most proto punk for sure
love that you got to the pistols great song Megadeth did a killer cover of this song
As much as I may want to point to Sex Pistols as THE first true punk band, I know there's just as many who believe it was The Ramones. Also gotta get to EMI, Pretty Vacant and my favorite, Bodies
New York Dolls formed in 1971...The Stooges just before them. A bit of a rivalry about who was the first Punk band. Sex Pistols I think formed in 1975.
Ramones in 1974.
Iggy was playing punk around 1970...
@@michaelakkerman407 I made this same point on their Patreon yesterday how Ramones would not have been the same if it weren't for Iggy Pop's group The Stooges just as Sex Pistols would not have been as influential if they were themselves were not influenced by David Johansen's band New York Dolls.
Although to me, Stooges and NYD were more like proto-punk. And don't forget MC5, who got their start in '64.
@@mikethemotormouth MC5 gets little no rep at all. Although they still had that heavy rock sound. They would be big today and headlining shows. They were so far ahead of the pack. I still Rock MC5. They never seem to get old to me.
Agree 100% but it's hard for me to think of them as punk. They influenced so many bands on the east coast. I'm sure Alice Cooper was a huge fan. Detroit was popin' back then.
@@michaelakkerman407 You could also point to The Kinks, with songs like "All Day and All of the Night" for giving music a raw edge in the early 60s that really hadn't been there until then.
Steve's guitar sound is legendary. Les Paul + Fender Twin Reverb. According to legend, he taught himself guitar, whilst out of his mind on pills, for three months before his first Sex Pistols gig
In the UK the first punk single to ever be released is widely accepted to be the Damned -- New Rose. But none of the bands really called themselves punk until the media created it. It really had its roots in the late '60s with bands like Iggy and the Stooges and the MC5. Joey Ramone once said: "We had no idea we were punk, we thought we were a surf band."
Johnny Rotten is a really nice man
Check out “Pretty Vacant”….killer punk song ….no need to say which album it’s from cuz they only made 1
Try The Clash "Guns of Brixton". Or The Stranglers "No More Heroes". Or why not some ladies? Go for X-ray Specs "Oh Bondage, Up Yours". Or Siouxsie & the Banshees "Spellbound". You won't regret either of them, all classics.
I've never seen a band emit raw anger quite as much as the Sex Pistols, I love this band. At the time when they were doing this, it was very controversial and influential on the younger generation.
The greatest punk rock album of all time IMO. Hail! Check out "Bodies" ... the greatest punk rock song of all time.
The Ramones were the 1st punk band. The Sex Pistols snuck into a Ramones show before The Sex Pistols were even developed.
Hey guys , luv the reaction , check out an Aussie band called The Saints - I’m stranded , was released in oz prior to sex pistols , story goes Malcolm mclaren heard The saints and loved the sound , they influenced the sex pistols apparently 😊
Punk was all about being the exact opposite to the over the top “Glam Rock” styles of the earlier 1970’s. This is where the fashion for ripped clothing really started. The music was aggressive and meant to flip the bird to polite society. A friend of mine saw this band live and the guitarist Syd Vicious spat on him. My friend was so happy! He still has the unwashed T-shirt as a trophy from that gig.
The album burning scene is from the pistols film the Great Rock n Roll Swindle. The album is the pistols own album Never Mind the Bollocks
My cat is named Sid Vicious...lol...
I like your.t-shirt, Ivé tried the yellow one and Toppslätskivling.
I grew up a punk and this was my gospel
If you like them, then you will love Tbe Damed.
The Sex Pistols on the Queens Silver Jubilee were organised on a boat to float down the Thames outside the Houses of Parliament and did a few songs for the public and got arrested.
The people who assisted them in this venture was the now passed fashionista Vivien Westwood, the man who hired the boat Richard Branson and their agent Malcolm McLaren.
Please review for an interesting change away from loud punk/rock tunes
The Divine Comedy - National Express or Something for the Weekend.
The pistols changed everything !
Thank God
Randys Rodeo 1978 San Antonio Tx..... A country music club where occasionally heavy metal bands. The Latino metal kids were perplexed and outraged.
Would love to see you guys react to PIL.
John Lydon ( Johnny Rotten ) band.
Flowers of Romance would be awesome
My brother saw their last show at Winterland, San Francisco. He felt bad for the drummer because of all the stuff being thrown onstage and he couldn’t put his hands up to deflect the deluge! Yeah, throwing stuff was a thing. Cheers and glad you enjoyed!
My mother is from London, and she was 20 in 1976, so she was part of the punk scene. She didn’t pierce her nose of face thankfully. She used to see the Sex Pistols whenever she could and the audiences were always nuts. The first time she was them was at a large club in London, and for absolutely no reason, a woman she had never met before just walked up to her and punched her in the face, then tried to pull her hair out.
Check out 'Holidays in the Sun' too