Conference marvin::uk_music

    I haven't read the book, but I have got an lp, 'The Original Pistols
    LIve', recorded at somewhere like Buxton sometime in 1976, and cracking
    stuff it is too.
    
    Bob
    
    p.s. yes it really was that long ago (strokes long grey beard and gazes
    misty-eyed and nostalgically into the middle distance).

    I have a copy of Savage's book and it is well written and *very*
    detailed.  A lot of it is quite sad, as you see the toll in lives and
    careers.  Any of you thinking of careers in music should read it.  
    
    						Brian

One of the more light-hearted moments in "England's Dreaming", 
which at times verges on a heavy social history of the UK in the 
1970's, is the band's ill fated signing to A&M records. It went
something like this. 

A limousine takes the band to Buckingham Palace where they sign
the contract outside H.M.'s house. In order to avoid police 
suspicion the whole affair is carried out at breakneck speed with
the limo circling the central island twice. Publicity shots 
taken, all this approved by A&M incidentally, the band is then 
whisked off to a press conference just as a Palace policeman
attempts to intervene.

The Pistols start drinking at the conference and take the odd 
bottle or two with them to Wessex studios where "God Save The
Queen" is being mixed. Cook and Vicious start fighting and then
it's onto A&M's New King's Road HQ. Not before an almighty row
errupts in the limo mind. Cook get's a bloodied nose, Vicious cut 
feet and the loss of his shoes, thrown out of the car window by 
Cook. Rotten's watch, a birthday present from his mother a week
earlier, is broken, leaving Rotten "furious". Steve Jones, the 
group's hardman is too drunk to intervene and is "completely 
helpless".

At the label's offices Vicious collapses into an executive's
chair and Steve Jones disappears. The group, already fragmented,
fail to listen to the final mix of the single because, by now,
they are all too catatonic. When Vicious regains conciousness, he 
requests first aid from a secretary thus: "My foot's bleeding,
can you find a f****** plaster for me, you b****!" On a visit
to the toliet Vicious somehow manages to smash the toilet bowl,
gets up, stands back a couple of steps and inadvertently puts his
elbow through a window. Meanwhile, Jones, wanders into the ladies
toilets by mistake shouting at some girls unfortunate enough to 
be there at the time. 

The group then retire to Jones' Denmark Street flat where TV 
crews catch the band collapsing onto Jone's bed. Sid Vicious
looks up and says: "I've had the greatest time of my life. This
is my first day and as far as I'm concerned it's great being in 
the Sex Pistols."

    Oh dear, they seem to have returned. Rumours of a reform are
    rife. A best of is being released along with "Anarchy In the
    UK". 
    
    bIll GrUnDy.
    
      

    A "Best of .." record should be interesting considering they only
    released one album! Maybe they should exhume our Sid for the occasion,
    now that would be Anarchic.
    
    Andy
    
    

    Andy, I was thinking the same about this "Best Of". Can't quite
    envisage Lydon agreeing to the likes of "Friggin" or "No One Is
    Innocent" being included on a "Best Of". As for exhuming Sid, good 
    name for a band that. :^)
    
    barry.
                                           
    
    

You know, I always preferred the band in the Glan Matlock era.

And -- as he is the only surviving ex-Pistols bass player around -- reports
in the music press suggest that he is taking part in the discussions
with regard to reformation.

Jolly good.


Terry

    Wasn't Matlock the original guitarist? I thought Steve Jones moved from
    Bass to Lead Guitar when poor Glen admitted he liked the Beatles and
    was subsequently "rightsized".
    
    Matlock wrote most of "Never mind.." and was it not he that started off
    all the swearing in the Grundy interview? 
    
    Poor chap never gets any recognition!
    
    Andy
    
    
    

    Matlock was the orginal base-player. He, Jones and Cook were in the
    Swankers before McLaren took a hand. Incidentally, the original Pistols
    line-up also had Nick Kent and Steve New, but they never made it past 
    "rehearsels". Steve New teamed up with Matlock again in the Rich Kids.
    

     
    The Sex Pistols have reformed and will be touring the UK, Europe, the
    USA and the Far East later this year. I heard interviews with the band
    members on Radio 1 last night and it was interesting to hear each of
    then give different reason for reforming - each preceded with
    statements like "We've decided...." . It seems that collectively
    they've decided to reform because ...they still have something to
    prove or nothing to prove; for the money or the the money is not
    significant; for the music (?) or not... depending on who you ask.
    
    One things for sure, the hype will once again be far bigger than the
    reality, just who are they going to appeal to this time around ?
    
    Oh yes, someone at my local has heard a rumour that Syd may be touring
    with them in his urn - although trhis has not been confirmed yet %^)
    
    Graham

    After all the things that Lydon said about the band I find it beyond
    belief that he's lowered himself to this level. Who's going to play
    bass?
    
    Phil Gill.

    Isn't it the original members (Matlock on bass?).
    
    I'm not really into reformed bands myself, but I guess that in this age
    of repackage/re-issue we shouldnt be surprised. I suppose it is in
    keeping with the original scam tho.  Its always a shock to see your
    boyhood heroes as fat old men.
    
    Mikef

    The UK dates are Finsbury Park at the end of June and The Phoenix
    Festival.
    
    Stuart

    I think they're playing the Glasgow SEC as well. And, just in case
    there is such a rush for tickets that they sell out, Radio 1 will be
    recording and then presumably broadcasting one of the gigs.
    
    You never know, if this actually works next year could see them playing
    support to Status Quo, as long as they don't mind going on before
    Steeleye Span of course %^)  

    One of them (John Lydon) said in the press conference that Sid's
    ashes had been scattered over Heathrow Airport and that he'd need
    a hoover to take Sid on tour.
    
    Goldy.

    Isn't there a story about Courtney Love being stopped at an airport and
    searched?  One of the customs people pulled open a container sending
    grey powder all over the place.  He asked 'whats that?', and she said
    'My husband...'.
    
    Mikef
    

    There's no more to this reunion other than the fact that the coffers
    are getting a bit empty. 
    
    Barry.

>    There's no more to this reunion other than the fact that the coffers
>    are getting a bit empty. 
    
well that's pretty much what the band seem to be saying, anyway...

Chris.

    
    I'll bet the groupies are a little bit thin on the ground this time
    around.....
    
    "show us yer beer gut big boy!"

    
    They were all a bit thin the first time around - to much glue and other
    dubious substances %^)
    
    G.

    * The Sex Pistols' 1996 reunion tour was delayed in January for
    a month so the band members could "rehearse."  According to a
    Virgin Records spokesman, the members have become such
    accomplished musicians in the 20 years since the band folded that
    they needed practice to get down to their old sound. [Columbia
    Tribune-AP, 1-12-96]

    Stretch - if you are interested in the Pistols, there is a good book
    about them, whhc I think was written by Fred Vermorel?  It was based on
    interviews with them back in the 70s, and is very interesting.  I have
    it at home somewhere, i can pass it onto you if you want to borrow it.
    
    mikef

    
    Accomplished musicians?  are we talking about the same band here.  that
    Lydon bloke always sounds the same.......
    
    
    
    I.

    mike
    I have the tour diary of the American tour (cannot remember the name)
    where it all went pear shaped. Rather a good read though. 
    
    I am loathe to spend money on Lydons book at the moment 'cos all I hear 
    ringing in my ears is his sneered line -  "Ever get the feeling you've
    been  had" - as he walks offstage having p*ssed a large number of San
    Franciscans off!!! End of tour, end of Pistols (until now) 
    
    I would be very interested in reading the interviews from that era so
    if we can sort something out I would be very keen (perhaps you would
    like to borrow the tour diary ?) No big rush though, so don't go tearing
    the house apart right away!
    		
    			
    
    			Stretch.

    No problem, I'll sort it out on Monday after I have returned from the
    Balders soiree....
    
    mikef

    Cheers Mike!  Are you interested in the book I have?
    
    
    
                 Stretch.