A set of stand-alone essays written by the cream of rock music's commentators—among them Rob Johnstone, Clinton Heylin, Legs McNeill, Greil Marcus, Kris Needs, Judy Nylon, Alan Clayson, and Nigel Williamson—this work could well be the final word on the symbol of 1970 punk they once called "Rotten." Love him or hate him, 30 years after the release of the Sex Pistols' first record, John Lydon—the man who was the focal point of the British punk movement—is impossible to ignore when discussing the history of rock. Was the Sex Pistols' album Never Mind the Bollocks the one true masterpiece of punk's first wave? How did the Pistols influence American punk? How does Lydon's post-Pistols work in PIL compare in influence and artistry? Contributors delve into these questions and more in this fitting tribute to an underdog who went on to become an antihero to millions.
Author(s): Rob Johnstone
Year: 2007
Language: English
Pages: 320
Contents......Page 8
A Foreword......Page 10
Introduction......Page 12
1. The Ballroom Blitz: From New York To Baghdad......Page 30
2. Glorious Rage: The Look And The Sound Of The Voice......Page 42
3. Idiot Dancing: 30 Years Out On The Floor......Page 56
4. Build Me Up Buttercup: Rotten Rubrics & Pistol Prototypes......Page 106
5. In With The In Crowd: The View From Under The Floorboards......Page 128
6. Into The Mystic: When Johnny Met Tommy Interview......Page 154
7. No More Mr Nice Guy: The Brand New Us And Them......Page 164
8. Goodbye And Hello: Holding Court In Troubled Times......Page 186
9. The Wrecking Ball: Public Image Limited 1978-83......Page 210
10. Time Loves A Hero: The Fury Returns......Page 278
11. Stir It Up: Thoughts From A Mind Less Ordinary 50 Quotes......Page 302
Afterword......Page 310
