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Disc One is the July 1979 album Some
Product: Carri On Sex Pistols. This reached the dizzy heights of no. 6
in the UK charts, incredible for a non-music album. Of course, it was
panned by the music papers as a money grabbing exercise, but lapped up
by fans eager for more 'Sex Pistols', a band that had already ceased to
exist.
It was actually a
fabulous document,
superbly compiled, which somehow managed to distil all that was great
about the band into 40 minutes of verbal mayhem. It is still the 'go
to'
reference for an eye of the hurricane experience of the chaos these
lads managed to cause in such a brief period of time.
The next couple of discs
are from BBC
Radio. Worth remembering that the BBC were happy to ignore the
existence of the Sex Pistols during the first half of 1977, but showed
signs of thawing during the summer with the airing of the Pretty
Vacant promo video on TOTP. No doubt sensing their historical
importance, they saw fit to interview the band following the release of
Never
Mind The Bollocks at the end of October.
Disc Two is the full John Tobler BBC
'Rock
On' interview with John and Sid. It gives a fascinating insight into
their personas and their relationship; John is quite happy to point out
Sid's limitations while Sid himself is not bothered in the slightest!
Sid indulges in belching throughout and damns all and sundry, but he is
actually sharp and articulate when a topic excites him. Most
enlightening is hearing them pull apart myths such as the man who
alledgely kicked in his TV set after the Grundy show. "How did the
papers find out that story ? Did he ring them up? Fabrication. I just
hope if we're responsible for anything it'll be to make people think
about things like that - the media." (The interview was previously
included as part of the 2012 NMTB 35th Anniversary Super Deluxe Boxset,
but its inclusion here makes it more accessible).
Disc Three brings together two local
BBC Radio interviews. The Radio Metro,
Newcastle, interview is the most well known amongst fans, partly for
the ernest DJ who "talks too much". The
interview shows John
and Paul to be a great double act. Despite having their own distinct
perspectives on the band, they are very much in sync. There's no hint
here of tensions that would lead to the band to split in 2 months time.
The
Radio Forth, Edinburgh, interview is the least familiar entry in the
box set. It's also the most animated, led from the front by Johnny with
Steve and Paul chipping in now and again. The Damned, Caroline Coon,
The Clash, Roger Daltrey, The Vibrators and the Spunk bootleg come in
for a bashing. What will the band do when they call it a day? Steve: "I
wanna buy a brothel!"
These
regional interviews are important - not least for their non "London
centric" angle. The impact the Sex Pistols had on the whole of the UK
was
immense and the band were treated with respect when they ventured away
from the capital. The regions were delighted to have them pass
through, and these interviews therefore carry an overwhelming positive
vibe.
More
Product is a tastefully presented addition to the Sex Pistols archive.
The interviews breathe life into a period of time now fast receeding
into the dim distant past - these were real people and this is what
they had to say for themselves. Never mind the music, this is who the
Sex Pistols were.
Review
by Phil Singleton |
