NME dissects 'Never Mind The Bollocks'
I wanted to share this article from the NME which is in equal parts abrasive and thought provoking. NME are running a series of articles entitled ’sacred cows’ which revisits older classic albums and tries to put the legend in context, in this entry the album on display is the debut (and only official) album by The Sex Pistols – Never Mind The Bollocks. Of course you already knew that…
image courtesy contactmusic.com
Before I write this paragraph please understand that when I grew up and became exposed to punk/new wave/post punk (1978)- the Pistols were already finished whilst The Clash had just released Give Em Enough Rope. I spent my teen years waiting for the next move by The Clash, The Jam and The Specials, before later adding Echo and The Bunnymen, Joy Division, New Order, The Cure etc to my list of records I had to get. So in that sense the Pistols never felt ‘current’ it seemed like a look backward and I also saw the divided camps between the Pistols and The Clash – few I knew were fans of both which I found myself being a part of (I was young!). Naturally there are merits in both bands but I don’t think I ever changed my initial assessment that The Clash spoke to me more. So what of the article and the album itself? The Pistols debut has a worthy place in the history of music and more specifically punk rock. Its the only ‘punk’ album I’ve consistently seen in some people’s very pedestrian music collections that are otherwise cluttered up with Tracy Chapman, Pearl Jam and REM. Perhaps that in itself is a testament to the ‘must have’ aspect of the record? I’m not so sure, though it’s got some very strong (yes landmark is fair to say) songs speaking for myself I find half the album is sub par and not something I return to often. I own the album and always have, I don’t find myself returning to it as often as I do the earliest work of The Clash, The Saints, The Damned, Buzzcocks.
I’m not sure why – the main reasons are probably the production coupled with over-familiarity. I liked the raw ‘tinny’ debut of The Clash debut, the error strewn noise of The Buzzcocks and The Damned whereas ‘Never Mind…’ always seemed quite polished to my ears. First impressions last longest…while I’d admit that the Sex Pistols were absolutely vital (even if you just focus upon who they motivated) I only feel 4 or 5 tracks can be elevated to the inner circle of music history – so as a result I can’t consider the album amongst my personal top 50 of all time. That leaves me at a loss to explain how I the Pistols were one of the 15 most important bands ever and probably in the top 4 for the 1970’s.What can never be denied is that in 1976 The Sex Pistols flipped everything in music upside down….which was crucial to The Clash and the music that followed.
Anyway, please read the article if you can **and especially the comments** some that mention The Clash. Incidentally McLaren ‘managing’ the New York Dolls is one of those great myths, he was consulting on some clothes for the band, not planning their music career.
T
Hiya TIM just been reading the NME article ,badly written,shallow and poorly researched about sum it up.I was never a big Pistols fan,by strange coincidence for the same reasons as you,but I do realise that without them what followed would never have happened.In their early days the gigs must have been amazing even just for the fact that 90% of the audience would go on to form or be part of some fantastic bands.Thats where their importance is,I can’t believe nobody mentioned the original version of NMTB the bootleg album SPUNK,that should grace anyones record collection,and is the true sound of the Pistols.THE COMMENT I’d like everyone to read though is the reply by someone called SANDWELL(PRICK)and his/her suggestion that they debate if LONDON CALLING should have been a single album hahahaha sorry but it gets funnier,they then go on to say that side 1 and 3 are embarrassing.Now call me picky but come on if one person can tell me they’re embarrassed by side 1 and side 3 of London Calling I’ll attend a Robbie Williams concert,thats how confident I am as frankly I’d rather die.So come on nows your chance to get back at JOE and the boys for causing you such terrible embarrasment….I DARE YOU..DAVE
Social comments and analytics for this post…
This post was mentioned on Twitter by theclashblog: London Calling: NME dissects ‘Never Mind The Bollocks’ http://bit.ly/2Dy3qG...
I’m a little bit older than you Tim.
Bought Anarchy in the week when it came out in ‘76.
just like the Damned’s New Rose ,Stranded by the Saints and the first Ramones album ofcourse.
But even then I liked the Clash better than the Pistols.
Not that I think that there records were bad but because I always felt that they(the Clash)were more “one of the people” than the Pistols.
I liked there music and lyrics also better and that Joe was a better singer than Lydon.
I think Don Lets says it best..the Pistols want you to hit a wall but the Clash give you a reason to hit a wall.
Great reply Peter…thanks for your input. That Don Letts quote is one of my favourites….