Wednesday 12 July 2023

Our figurehead


Monday night, still on a high from my recent Belfast jolly-up, and it's off to Wolverhampton; not the most glamorous of cities, I grant you, but legends know no borders when it comes to treading the boards and letting the world know they're still kicking a ball. Steve Jones, for it is he, has spent the last few weeks with his mates Billy Idol, Tony James and Paul Cook schlepping round Europe under the Generation Sex moniker - half Gen X, half Sex Pistols - and, as you'd imagine, playing a veritable live punk jukebox in front of sell-out crowds. And tonight they're at the recently refurbished Civic Hall.

Whilst Jones has always been happy to let vocalists like Idol and John Lydon hog the microphone, the sheer firepower he provides (courtesy of his iconic Les Paul Custom) is nothing short of  staggering. Totally self taught he has never been hamstrung by the 'rules' of music, and as the clip below attests, his prowess then, and now, ensures that the Pistols will always be seated at the head of punk's top table - no ifs, no buts. And yes, he still plays Pretty Vacant as if his life depends on it, including the two majestic power chords right at the very end. Once a legend, always a legend.  

Steve Jones - How to play all the Pistols' riffs.



14 comments:

  1. I caught a bit of their Glastonbury set on the telly box and became very interested in seeing them live. Then again, I'd happily watch Billy Idol opening a packet of crisps, he entertains me just by existing.

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    1. Would you have Billy down as a salt 'n' vinegar man? Or plain. The public needs to know.

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  2. One of 3 under-rated guitarists from the period: Jones, Jones and James.
    Sounds like a firm of solicitors, but they all made a fine noise.
    Steve Jones guitar playing is seriously under-rated and has real drive.
    Saw some of the Glasto set and am constantly rueing myself for not getting off my a*se and seeing them properly live

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    1. I hear you. Loud and clear. However, you've missed this fella off yor list.

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  3. So great that you saw them; an old friend of mine did too on the Crystal Palace stop the other week and loved it. I echo the comments above re. the Glastonbury set too.
    Jones's guitar sound/style is just so full, powerful and distinctive. When anyone describes something as 'Pistolian', it's that guitar sound I think of before anything else from the band.

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    1. I agree totally. Also, I wonder if there's a Sex Pistols tribute act operating in the South West? You can see where I'm going with this, can't you? The Bristol Pistols.
      I'll get my coat...

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    2. Nearly but not quite, John. Back in the day - no joke - I saw a tribute band called The Sex Bristols in my old hometown.

      My brother’s mate was in a band called The Bone Idols (see what they did there?) but I don’t think they were in awe of Sir Billy…

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    3. Were they any good, the Sex Bristols? What was their Rotten like? Pistolian and Bristolian, I hope.

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    4. In a word, energetic. Probably best experienced with your eyes closed, though!

      There's a solitary clip on YT of them performing Liar
      https://youtu.be/SY6DRbINUB8

      If you can get onto FB, there's a probably more telling clip from 2022, which is probably closer to the sound and experience that I (can barely) remember...!
      https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=1078236122298796

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    5. Thank you, K. I'll be on it like a car bonnet, as they say.

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  4. Some friends went to the Apollo on Tuesday night- your review and theirs made me think I should have gone

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