All Good Points on Sex Pistols vs PIL for the most part.
I can't remember if it was Mick Jones or Joe Strummer that said this, but said that it wasn't until he saw the Pistols that it occurred to him that a band didn't have to virtuoso-level musicians to be a good band and he found some like-minded people and formed The Clash.
The Pistols were not the first punks, of course. But they do seem to enjoy an Elvis-like status in that they where not first punks and did not "invent" punk, but they broke it into the public eye.
It is true they became a shock band and that they where manipulated by Malcolm McClaren into a showpiece. The whole Sid saga was when McClaren killed the band, I thought Glen Mattlock's work was very good. Turning off Sid's amps in live shows was ridiculous and signaled the end, far before they let him sing My Way.
But that WAS at the end.
I don't agree that Lydon was the only interesting musical participant. I really miss Steve Jones guitar style. Have you ever hear his work on Generation X's "Dancing With Myself"? I recognized his style immediately on the track and I really don't like Billy Idol's version without that bit as much.
When I first heard "Never Mind the Bollocks", I thought it sounded more like metal than punk because at that time Hardcore Punk was in full swing and the tempo wasn't like that of The Ramones. I loved Anarchy in the UK, I still find it one of the best songs to listen to when I'm mad at the world. The other ones had to grown on me, but so must of punk until I acquired the taste. Probably my favorite cut is "I Wanna Be Me", which really captures something for me.
But what they really did was promote an anti-establishment voice in a very dark time in the UK. The recording industry was manufacturing bands and punk came along with a DIY ethic and forced the record companies to consider that they cannot decide the people's music for them.
In short, they where the spearhead of a movement that forced the recording industry listen to the people.
Case in point, how many artists claim PIL on their short list of influences compared to the Sex Pistols.
I did really enjoy a lot of PIL's work, but I really see that is hit and miss experimentation. Some of it experimental to the point of unlistenable. Other work that is outstanding.
I do agree that I wish the Pistols had a larger body of work to really get a bead on, but they also served their purpose.
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PiL is perfect music to put on at a party when you want everyone to leave. I still love 'em, but the stuff without Wobble and/or Keith isn't nearly as interesting.
Linear Mode
