Pissed-off Pistols get Pissed-On

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Oh how the mighty have fallen.......

Reunited Sex Pistols Showered with Beer
Mon Sep 16,10:13 AM ET

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - In true punk spirit, rowdy music fans pelted the Sex
Pistols with beer as the one-time scourge of the British establishment played its first
U.S. concert in six years outside Los Angeles.

The hailstorm on Saturday may have been meant as an homage to the band's own
anti-establishment roots, but drenched singer John Lydon was having none of it,
labeling one thrower a "turd" and a "wuss," to the delight of the 50,000-strong crowd.

The Sex Pistols, who briefly ruled the music world in the late 1970s with such
incendiary anthems as "God Save The Queen" and "Anarchy in the U.K.," reunited to
headline a punk rock festival at the Glen Helen Pavilion in Devore, 55 miles east of
Los Angeles.

In July, the quartet dusted off their instruments for the first time since November
1996 to play a London show marking their 25th anniversary. Guitarist Steve Jones
told Reuters before Saturday's show there were no plans for the group to perform
again although he was eager for more action.

The band originally broke up during a calamitous American tour in 1978. It reunited
in 1996 -- with original bass player Glen Matlock subbing for his replacement, the
late Sid Vicious -- for a five-month world tour.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Monday, 16 September 2002 19:44 (twenty-three years ago)

two years pass...

Do you think it's going to happen again at Live 8">Live 8?

― StanM (StanM), Sunday, 19 June 2005 13:52 (twenty years ago)

dang.

Sex Pistols reunite for Live 8

― StanM (StanM), Sunday, 19 June 2005 13:53 (twenty years ago)

They should do a medley with Pink Floyd.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Sunday, 19 June 2005 13:54 (twenty years ago)

Great idea, but the name's been taken...

― StanM (StanM), Sunday, 19 June 2005 13:57 (twenty years ago)

their reunion is set to be the highlight of the entire event.

Yeah right

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Sunday, 19 June 2005 14:34 (twenty years ago)

I really like the News Of The World's story on the Pistols at Live 8:

After some lucrative gigs in 2002 and 2003 (and an appearance for Johnny on I'm A Celeb...) the Pistols are now back again for the Live 8 gig on Saturday, July 2.

My source added: "No one ever thought they would see the day that the Sex Pistols would reform. But because Live 8 is such a special event it has made it possible.

Wow, no one ever thought they would see the day, after a whole two years...

― James Mitchell (James Mitchell), Sunday, 19 June 2005 14:40 (twenty years ago)

The `Pistols are turning into Kiss. Despite my fandom for both, this is decidedly not a good thing.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Sunday, 19 June 2005 14:47 (twenty years ago)

News Of The World: "It's another extraordinary coup for the Geldof team who have already lined up the SPICE GIRLS for the Hyde Park concert."

So they're back on again? This is getting mighty confusing, Bob.

(any chance of a Spice Pistols / Sex Girls medley then? OMG: Pretty Vacant!)

― StanM (StanM), Sunday, 19 June 2005 14:58 (twenty years ago)

that would be a perfect pairing!

― latebloomer: We kissy kiss in the rear view (latebloomer), Sunday, 19 June 2005 15:00 (twenty years ago)

Didn't they do a U.S. tour like two years ago? They played at the San Diego Street Scene.

― Tim Ellison (Tim Ellison), Sunday, 19 June 2005 15:13 (twenty years ago)

The `Pistols are turning into Kiss.

OTM...hey guys, why don't you make it just a little harder for me to really like you? damn it!

― Zack Richardson (teenagequiet), Sunday, 19 June 2005 16:38 (twenty years ago)

You expect KISS to milk it for every fucking dollar. When the Pistols do it, they make KISS look halfway credible by comparison.

― Bobby Peru (Bobby Peru), Sunday, 19 June 2005 20:18 (twenty years ago)

Bobby OTM...Isn't it kind of impossible for KISS to "sell out"...I mean, it's pretty much been designed and conceived as a busines/corporation/rock group since day one, right?

― M@tt He1geson (Matt Helgeson), Sunday, 19 June 2005 20:19 (twenty years ago)

Actually, I don't see what's wrong with Sex Pistols shows. I would have liked to have seen them at the Street Scene show I mentioned above but we were watching R.E.M. play at the same time a few blocks away.

― Tim Ellison (Tim Ellison), Sunday, 19 June 2005 20:49 (twenty years ago)

(any chance of a Spice Pistols / Sex Girls medley then? OMG: Pretty Vacant!)

Sporty played it on her first solo tour!

― kit brash (kit brash), Monday, 20 June 2005 08:12 (twenty years ago)

She did Anarchy at Reading. Changed the opening line to "I am the Sporty Spice." Got bottled off.

― Marcello Carlin (nostudium), Monday, 20 June 2005 08:24 (twenty years ago)

The only two 'hit' songs with the line "It's the only way to be"

Spice Girls : "2 become one"
Sex Pistols : "Anarchy in the UK"

― mark grout (mark grout), Monday, 20 June 2005 08:25 (twenty years ago)

"Don't question why she needs to be so free
She'll tell you it's the only way to be"

Ruby Tuesday

― Marcello Carlin (nostudium), Monday, 20 June 2005 08:29 (twenty years ago)

fair enough.

"And We Dont Care"

Sex Pistols: "Pretty Vacant"
The Smurfs : "The Smurf Song"

― mark grout (mark grout), Monday, 20 June 2005 08:33 (twenty years ago)

Fair dos on that one. There was "Thanks For The Night" by the Damned but that wasn't a Top 40 hit, and obv "We Don't Care" by Kanye West but that wasn't a single.

― Marcello Carlin (nostudium), Monday, 20 June 2005 08:41 (twenty years ago)

Oh there was that "We don't care" audio bullys, but the "And" is missing.

― mark grout (mark grout), Monday, 20 June 2005 08:42 (twenty years ago)

I thought of "Some Good Advice" by Girls Aloud, but that goes "And I don't really care" which isn't the same thing, except it is, but it isn't if you see what I don't mean.

― Marcello Carlin (nostudium), Monday, 20 June 2005 08:43 (twenty years ago)

Or even "No Good Advice" by Girls Aloud as opposed to "Some Good Advice" which was (a) by Bill Fay; (b) not a hit; and (c) doesn't include the line "and we don't care."

― Marcello Carlin (nostudium), Monday, 20 June 2005 08:44 (twenty years ago)

I take it the NOTW story is a fib then?

― mark grout (mark grout), Monday, 20 June 2005 08:47 (twenty years ago)

.. from the NME..
However, Live 8 have rubbished rumours that the Sex Pistols are set to reform for the event.
A spokesperson for the gig told NME.COM that the reports are “bollocks”.

This on the page that posits the possibility that Elton John is maybe doing a duet with Pete Doherty. Apparently, they have a mutual friend.

― mark grout (mark grout), Monday, 20 June 2005 09:53 (twenty years ago)

"A spokesperson for the gig told NME.COM that the reports are “bollocks”."

Never Mind The Sex Pistols, are The Boomtown Rats going to reform? Or rICH kIDS?

― Stewart Osborne (Stewart Osborne), Monday, 20 June 2005 09:56 (twenty years ago)

Heck, let's have Slik back. (Me first actual real gig, if you discount Yehudi Menhuin)

― mark grout (mark grout), Monday, 20 June 2005 09:58 (twenty years ago)

Good grief, Slik! The Boogiest Band In Town! The Kid's A Punk!

(both Scottish number ones, number nowhere in the nationals)

― Marcello Carlin (nostudium), Monday, 20 June 2005 10:04 (twenty years ago)

Ah the days when Scotland was a 'region' and London was the 'nation', so hits local to Scotland were excluded and hits local to London were not.

(umm, this still happens though, right?)

― mark grout (mark grout), Monday, 20 June 2005 10:07 (twenty years ago)

I suppose it must do. In 1974, for example, "Flower Of Scotland" by the Corries was number one for weeks and weeks and weeks (the World Cup kind of helped) but because it sold zero south of Carlisle it was excluded from the nationals. "Easy Easy" by the Scottish World Cup Squad from the same year was likewise a massive seller, but in the main chart only got to #20 (expatriates buying it in London, I guess). Whereas "Back Home" by England WC '70 was number one nationally and in the Top 40 for six months.

― Marcello Carlin (nostudium), Monday, 20 June 2005 10:17 (twenty years ago)

The most recent example of that kind of thing I can think of was "Caledonia" by Frankie Miller, Scotland's biggest-selling single of 1992 (a Tennent's Lager ad that was never seen south of the border) - again, number nothing nationally.

― Marcello Carlin (nostudium), Monday, 20 June 2005 10:20 (twenty years ago)

Back home, they'll be thinking about us
When we are far away
Back home, they'll be really behind us
In every game we play
They'll share every goal we are scoring
Out there
We will still hear them roaring
And we'll give all we've got to give
For the folks back home

Back home, they'll be watching and waiting
And cheering every move
Back home, though they think we're the greatest
That's what we've got to prove
Once more we will meet with the best
Like before we'll be put to the test
Oh we will give all we've got to give
For the folks back home

They'll see as they're watching and praying
That we put our hearts in our playing
We'll fight until the whistle goes
For the folks back home

― Dr. C (Dr. C), Monday, 20 June 2005 10:22 (twenty years ago)

.. whereas the "We want Falmer" by Atilla the Stockbroker presumably only (got) sold in Brighton.

― mark grout (mark grout), Monday, 20 June 2005 10:22 (twenty years ago)

I'm amazed Scotland has / had it's own chart.... what else has charted there that failed to make a dent dahn sarf?

Have The Associates, Beta Band, Fire Engines, Josef K, Life Without Buildings and The Scars all charted? Have there been long strings of number one's by Aztec Camera, The Bluebells and Orange Juice? Has the latest Momus album been top of the charts for the last few months?

― Stewart Osborne (Stewart Osborne), Monday, 20 June 2005 10:33 (twenty years ago)

(xpost)

And yet, in 1978, "Ally's Tartan Army" by Andy Cameron managed to get to number six nationally, despite its key line of: "For England cannae dae it 'cos they didnae qualify." Maybe the British Market Research Bureau took pity, and kept it in the chart as a consolation prize or something.

― Marcello Carlin (nostudium), Monday, 20 June 2005 10:35 (twenty years ago)

"Back home, they'll be thinking about us
When we are far away
Back home, they'll be really behind us
In every game we play
They'll share every goal we are scoring
Out there
We will still hear them roaring
And we'll give all we've got to give
For the folks back home
Back home, they'll be watching and waiting
And cheering every move
Back home, though they think we're the greatest
That's what we've got to prove
Once more we will meet with the best
Like before we'll be put to the test
Oh we will give all we've got to give
For the folks back home

They'll see as they're watching and praying
That we put our hearts in our playing
We'll fight until the whistle goes
For the folks back home"

For the Doc only:

T/S - "Back Home" by The England World Cup Squad, Mexico 1970 vs. "World In Motion" by New Order + The England World Cup Squad, Italy 1990.

― Stewart Osborne (Stewart Osborne), Monday, 20 June 2005 10:41 (twenty years ago)

".... in 1978, "Ally's Tartan Army" by Andy Cameron managed to get to number six nationally, despite its key line of: "For England cannae dae it 'cos they didnae qualify." Maybe the British Market Research Bureau took pity, and kept it in the chart as a consolation prize or something."

I always assumed that was sanctioned as some sort of sort of quid-pro-quo for having a supposedly "British" National Anthem, the 6th verse of which is:

"Lord grant that Marshal Wade
May by thy mighty aid
Victory bring.
May he sedition hush,
And like a torrent rush,
Rebellious Scots to crush.
God save the King!"

― Stewart Osborne (Stewart Osborne), Monday, 20 June 2005 10:45 (twenty years ago)

(Stewart xpost)

Well, in my day you had the Radio Clyde Tartan Forty every Thursday lunchtime with Richard "Dr Dick" Park (the same one who later turned up on Fame Academy) plus the Scottish national top 40 was counted down every Friday on BBC Radio Scotland. Have no idea whether either of these are still going. But I kept assiduous records of both when I were a lad.

Off the top of my head I can recall the following being enormous (i.e. top five/top ten) Scotland-only hits:

Sensational Alex Harvey Band - Sergeant Fury, The Faith Healer
Billy Connolly - The Wellie Song
Alexander Brothers - Nobody's Child
Simple Minds - practically everything before 1982; "I Travel" was a Scottish number one, everyone I knew had a copy, but it just never crossed over
Orange Juice - Poor Old Soul
Fire Engines - Candyskin
Positive Noise - Give Me Passion
Leisure Process - FOUR top ten hits; Love Parade, A Way You'll Never Be, Cashflow, Anxiety
Associates - White Car In Germany
Endgames - Waiting For Another Chance (Brian McGee, ex-Simple Minds, project - big in the Glasgow Ultratheque circa '83)
Set The Tone - Dance Sucker
PVC - Put You In The Picture (Slik after they were Slik)
Josef K - The Missionary
Paul Haig - Heaven Sent
Strawberry Switchblade - Trees And Flowers (actually a bigger hit in Scotland than Since Yesterday)
April Showers - Abandon Ship
Friends Again - Honey At The Core
Love and Money - Hallelujah Man
Momus - The Hairstyle Of The Devil

Also the Scottish charts seem to have had a weakness for lachrymose country music; among the titles which were enormous up North but invisible down South were The Crystal Chandelier by Charley Pride, Before The Next Teardrop Falls by Freddy Fender, and Always On My Mind by Willie Nelson, only #49 nationally but number one right through the summer of '82 in Scotland.

Oh yes, and there's Cryin' Time by Sydney Devine, and Glen Daly Live At The Ashfield, but we don't like to talk about those...

― Marcello Carlin (nostudium), Monday, 20 June 2005 10:48 (twenty years ago)

I knew abt the Scottish Charts, but some of those are amazing hits. How is it compiled?

**For the Doc only:

T/S - "Back Home" by The England World Cup Squad, Mexico 1970 vs. "World In Motion" by New Order + The England World Cup Squad, Italy 1990.**

I can't take sides. Both great World Cups. 1970 was the first that I followed closely (only 4 yrs old when we won in 66). As records, Back Home is magnificent in a wholesome, earnest way. Noo Ordah is great because it's Noo Ordah and because of Barney's rap. Football was still good in 1990 too.

― Dr. C (Dr. C), Monday, 20 June 2005 10:57 (twenty years ago)

IIRC the Scottish charts are/were taken from the same BMRB/Gallup/Official Chart Co database, but based only on sales from Scottish record shops.

― Marcello Carlin (nostudium), Monday, 20 June 2005 10:59 (twenty years ago)

"PVC - Put You In The Picture (Slik after they were Slik)"

I don't think I've heard this - who's it credited to and is it the same song as the "Put You In The Picture" that was included on rICH kIDS' Ghosts Of Princes In Towers album (where it's credited to Midge Ure)?

― Stewart Osborne (Stewart Osborne), Monday, 20 June 2005 11:43 (twenty years ago)

Quite probably. I remember the PVC sleeve, the songs were 'published by Sliksongs' which was a bit of a giveaway.

― mark grout (mark grout), Monday, 20 June 2005 11:45 (twenty years ago)

"Put you in the picture/Pain/Deranged, demented and free" now I remember.

― mark grout (mark grout), Monday, 20 June 2005 11:46 (twenty years ago)

track three was the one that made me go "oh Dear" and not buy it.

― mark grout (mark grout), Monday, 20 June 2005 11:48 (twenty years ago)

"I can't take sides. Both great World Cups. 1970 was the first that I followed closely (only 4 yrs old when we won in 66). As records, Back Home is magnificent in a wholesome, earnest way. Noo Ordah is great because it's Noo Ordah and because of Barney's rap. Football was still good in 1990 too."

Assuming all the members of both teams were the same ages as they were in 1970 and 1990 respectively: which team would win a football match if they were able to play against each other?

What about a fist-fight?

(NB: Members of the popular beat combo. "New Order" will not be premitted to take part in either the football match or the punch-up; and the same goes for Keith Allen too).

― Stewart Osborne (Stewart Osborne), Monday, 20 June 2005 11:49 (twenty years ago)

""Put you in the picture/Pain/Deranged, demented and free" now I remember."

Aaaaah.

What I remember is:
"I'm going to put you in the picture
I'm going to put you in the picture
This house is not your home
But I don't want to live alone...."

Doesn't look as if it is the same song based on that.... a bit of a coincidence 'though!

― Stewart Osborne (Stewart Osborne), Monday, 20 June 2005 11:51 (twenty years ago)

Umm, that was the three tracks on the single, not the first verse!

― mark grout (mark grout), Monday, 20 June 2005 11:52 (twenty years ago)

Aaah. How did the first track go then?

Was it anything like:
"I'm going to put you in the picture
I'm going to put you in the picture
This house is not your home
But I don't want to live alone....";
by any chance?

― Stewart Osborne (Stewart Osborne), Monday, 20 June 2005 11:56 (twenty years ago)

I don't know, I never bought it. track three looked too much like trying too hard to be 'punk and all that'.

― mark grout (mark grout), Monday, 20 June 2005 11:59 (twenty years ago)

So.... not at all like the rICH kIDS then....

I can't help but wonder what would have happened if Midge Ure had accepted Malcolm McLaren's offer for him to join Steve Jones, Paul Cook and Glen Matlock....

― Stewart Osborne (Stewart Osborne), Monday, 20 June 2005 12:05 (twenty years ago)

Too easy...

Everyone would have pointed and gone "ooh, him from Slik"

and Malcolm, Steve and Paul would have said "urr you never told us?" and booted him out.

And carried on auditioning, until some good looking punk lad called John came into the shop and impressed Vivianne. Who told Malcolm. Who got the wrong bloke. and the rest you know...

― mark grout (mark grout), Monday, 20 June 2005 12:15 (twenty years ago)

Public Image Ltd's surprise 1979 number one hit "Vienna"

― Marcello Carlin (nostudium), Monday, 20 June 2005 12:20 (twenty years ago)

"Everyone would have pointed and gone "ooh, him from Slik"

and Malcolm, Steve and Paul would have said "urr you never told us?" and booted him out."

Malcolm already knew; and I rather suspect Steve and Paul would have quite liked him at the time (and I'm almost certain Glen would have!); and even if they didn't, Malcolm didn't seem to care what they thought of John, so why would he have cared what they 'thought of Midge?

― Stewart Osborne (Stewart Osborne), Monday, 20 June 2005 12:39 (twenty years ago)

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