Sex Pistols

English punk rock group. Its members were Steve Jones (b London, 3 May 1955; guitar), Johnny Rotten (John Lydon; b London, 31 Jan 1956; vocals), Paul Cook (b London, 27 July 1956; drums) and Glen Matlock (b London, 27 Aug 1956; bass), who was later replaced by Sid Vicious (John Simon Ritchie; b London, 10 May 1957; d New York, 2 Feb 1979; bass). Initially named the Swankers, the group was assembled in 1975 by entrepreneur Malcolm McLaren (formerly the manager of the American punk group New York Dolls), and during a three-year career they combined corrosive music and lyrics with a determinedly...

English punk rock group. Its members were Steve Jones (b London, 3 May 1955; guitar), Johnny Rotten (John Lydon; b London, 31 Jan 1956; vocals), Paul Cook (b London, 27 July 1956; drums) and Glen Matlock (b London, 27 Aug 1956; bass), who was later replaced by Sid Vicious (John Simon Ritchie; b London, 10 May 1957; d New York, 2 Feb 1979; bass). Initially named the Swankers, the group was assembled in 1975 by entrepreneur Malcolm McLaren (formerly the manager of the American punk group New York Dolls), and during a three-year career they combined corrosive music and lyrics with a determinedly anti-social lifestyle. A series of spectacular performances in small London clubs and halls and fervent publicity from a small clique of journalists sparked record company interest. In 1976 EMI Records signed the group and issued Anarchy in the UK as a single. The furore following a television appearance caused EMI to cancel the contract and after another brief signing to A&M Records, the Sex Pistols were signed (1977) by Virgin, which issued God Save the Queen in the month of the silver jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II. Despite being banned by all British radio stations and the refusal of chain stores to stock it, the record was a substantial hit. Like its predecessor, God Save the Queen combined a cacophonous wall of sound constructed by its producer Chris Thomas from Jones’s guitar chords with lyrics expressing rudimentary but savage social criticism, delivered with malevolent glee by Rotten. By this time Matlock had been replaced by Lydon’s friend Sid Vicious and the group was recognised as the spearhead of a punk rock movement whose other leaders included the Clash, the Damned and the Stranglers.