SEX PISTOLS: HISTORY
(Timeline 1972-Present)
 
While bunking off school Steve
Jones and Paul
Cook – together with
Wally Nightingale – decide to form a band. Steve is singer, Paul drummer
and Wally guitarist.
Until they can think of something better they are calling themselves
either
"The Strand" or "The Swankers".
Glen
Matlock joins as bassist. Matlock had been working in Malcolm McLaren's
shop 'Let It Rock'. Where Steve and Paul would often hang-out; pestering
Malcolm to take an interest in their band.
Malcolm McLaren finally becomes the bands manager. Wally Nightingale
leaves. Steve Jones moves to lead guitar. Malcolm suggests the name "QT
Jones & His Sex Pistols". Later shortened to "Sex Pistols".
After being spotted on London's Kings Road – with hacked green hair
and a homemade "I HATE Pink Floyd" T-shirt – John
Lydon is invited to
audition as singer at Malcolm McLaren's shop.
Sex Pistols, with John Lydon, play their first ever live show at St
Martin's College of Art, London, November 6th 1975.
The Pistols begin to play live regularly throughout London and Britain.
They also play their first shows abroad in Paris.
Sex Pistols sign to EMI and release their debut single 'Anarchy
in the UK'.
Appear on 'Today' show. Interviewer Bill Grundy goads the band into
swearing live on early evening TV. Due to the media furore the band find
themselves banned from playing live in the UK.
 EMI
sack the Sex Pistols. Bassist Glen Matlock leaves to be replaced by
Sid
Vicious. Pistols sign to A&M Records. 10 days later they sack
the Pistols.
Sign to Virgin Records and release 2nd single 'God
Save The Queen' during
the Queen's Silver Jubilee celebrations. Despite technically outselling
the Number 1 record it only peaks at Number 2. Members of the
band are attacked in the streets.
Record their debut album 'Never
Mind The Bollocks' with producer Chris
Thomas. The album is released in October and preceded by 2 singles 'Pretty
Vacant' and 'Holidays
in the Sun'.
Pistols tour USA. They split up after last date in San Francisco. John
returns to the UK. Paul and Steve head to Brazil to team up with
Train Robber Ronnie Biggs. Sid overdoses and is admitted to Hospital.
First post-Rotten single is released. Double A-side featuring Sid Vicious'
cover version of 'My Way' and 'No One is Innocent' with Ronnie Biggs
on vocals.
Sid's girlfriend Nancy Spungen is found dead in the couple's New York
hotel room. Sid is chief suspect and is charged with her murder. He has
no memory of the events.
Sid Vicious fatally overdoses while released on bail from New York's
Rikers Island Prison. He is just 21.
Malcolm McLaren continues work on a film of the Sex Pistols story. Several
singles featuring either Sid Vicious or Steve Jones on vocals are released
to fund the film.
John Lydon begins court action against Malcolm McLaren over contract
rights and unpaid moneys. A receiver is appointed to control the Sex
Pistols assets, and the forthcoming film.
The release of 'The
Great Rock n Roll Swindle' film. Malcolm McLaren's
fictionalised satire of the Sex Pistols story.
John Lydon's case against Malcolm McLaren finally comes to the High Court
in London. McLaren agrees to hand control of the band's assets back
to the Sex Pistols.
 The
Pistols original line-up returns – Lydon, Cook, Jones & Matlock – for the 'Filthy Lucre' world tour. Over 70 dates throughout Europe,
North and South America, Japan & Australasia.
Appear live on BBC 'Top of the Pops'. Banned from playing Northern Ireland
on grounds of "blasphemous content".
Release of album 'Filthy
Lucre Live' recorded in front of 30,000 people
at their homecoming show in London's Finsbury Park.
Release of 'The
Filth and the Fury' – a feature length Sex Pistols documentary
containing new interviews with the band, unseen footage and archive
material.
To celebrate their Silver Jubilee Sex Pistols play a special show at
London's Crystal Palace National Sports Centre. They perform their
whole back catalogue and some surprises.
Dance remix of 'God
Save The Queen' by Neil Barnes (formerly of Leftfield)
and the Sex Pistols is released 25 years to the day of the original release.
Pistols headline the 'KROQ Inland Invasion Festival' in California.
Playing to 50,000 people.
Pistols play North American Tour. They set up the tour themselves without
the support of a record company or the music press.
John Lydon offers to take the Pistols to Iraq to play for the people
(not Allied troops). Red-tape eventually scuppers the project.
Pistols are nominated – without their approval – for inclusion in the
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. They are turned down.
 
Sex Pistols are finally inducted into the Rock
and Roll Hall of Fame.
They refuse to attend and instead send a hand-written letter stating
their contempt for the institution.
Sex Pistols re-record 'Anarchy in the UK' and 'Pretty Vacant' for use
in 'Guitar
Hero' video game; after it is discovered the original
multi-track masters have been misplaced.
30th
Anniversary of 'Never Mind The Bollocks'. Limited edition vinyl
replicas of the LP – together with their first four 7" singles – are
released.
Pistols play 5 sold-out nights at London Brixton Academy, plus Arena
shows in Manchester and Glasgow.
Headline Isle of Wight Festival and set out on the 'Combine
Harvester Tour 2008'. Over 30 dates headlining various European
Festivals.
First ever shows in Russia. First live dates in Japan for 12 years.
Release of 'There'll
Always Be an England' concert DVD recorded at November
2007 Brixton Academy shows.
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