10 Most Influential British Acts On American Rock
4. The Sex Pistols
From all accounts, the Sex Pistols' first and only US tour was an all out disaster. Shows were canceled due to visa delays; Johnny Rotten had the flu; Sid Vicious was going through withdrawals, and getting into punch ups; and, Paul Cook and Steve Jones were fed up with the whole thing. The culmination, was the dissolution of the band, and the end for any hopes that punk might overthrow the monarchy.
In many ways it was the perfect end to the tale. No other group had stirred up so much excitement and controversy. Their ferocity burned bright, but like a firework, was soon extinguished after the initial loud bang. It all fed into to the group's sordid legacy.
With just one album, the Sex Pistols changed the face of rock music. They inspired scores of new groups to carry on the anti- establishment fight for freedom; proving you didn't need refined skill or talent to get your message out there, you just needed some bite.
Although the Ramones are praised for releasing the first true punk record, the Sex Pistols were the first to embody the ethos of punk so vehemently. Anarchy in the UK, and God Save the Queen, encapsulated everything punk rock stood for: distain for authority; hatred for the class system; and a willingness to hold the 'man' to account. The Sex Pistols set the bar for outrage, that few rockers have come close to since.