Pistols’ shot in the dark

Press, 7 May 1981, Page 14

Pistols’ shot in the dark

(By our resident punk rocker,

DAVID SWIFT)

The Sex Pistols — a group that would be “vastly improved by sudden death” (a quote from “The Great Rock ’n’ Roll Swindle”) or the most exciting band of the last decade? See the film at its lastscreenings at the Cinerama today and make up your own mind. Tpis has been a rare week for followers of alternative sounds because “Jubilee” is also in town. This film features Adam Ant, Wayne County, Siouxsie and others, and should not be missed either. “The Great Rock ’n’ Roll Swindle” is not the Sex Pistols’ story, it is Malcolm McLaren’s version of the formation, and destruction of “his” group. No wonder John Lydon (Rotten) refused to have anything to do with it once the quartet split. His appearances are restricted to the concert scenes and the interviews with-the press, which are the most enjoyable scenes in the film. The guitarist, Steve Jones, is the only member of the band to have a prominent actingrole. The script was allegedly written by the director, the British Film School graduate, Julien Temple, but I suspect McLaren was looking over his shoulder, and holding the pen, for most of the way. The swindle is completed in ten lessons, .the; first being How To Manufacture Your Group. i ; Of course McLaren, who was their manager, did not really manufacture the Sex Pistojs,..they knew each other from school: before he came on the d’cene — the.film does not tell you. that., -,.,. :• Glen Matlock, the-original bass.'player, r very-early clip- from. “An-. archy In The U.K/.'But .that, is all. •/'■>.. v’, McLaren ;is more interested in playing. up. the nuisance value of -.his replacement. Sid .Vicious.. (Matlock was kicked out for"not being reactionary enough.)' ' The unscrupulous;'; manager’s philosophy was “forget about the music, concentrate on forming generation gaps.” The Pistols did not form a gap, they dug a canyon, playing in “any hole .that didn’t reek of rock ’n’ roll.”

The vital ingredients to the image McLaren concocted included the banning of their records on the radio, the councils preventing them from playing, and mass ' media coverage of their every breath. The problem with the “Swindle” is that it is very disjointed. It does help to know a little about the circumstances. In between the “lessons,” there is some excellent live footage of the band at their best (with Matlock) and worst (the final gig, in San Francisco, in January 1978). “Ready to Roll” regulars might remember the “Pretty Vacant” film clip, which was shown on that programme for several consecutive weeks in 1977. The Sex Pistols used an assumed name then (London) to get on television. There are some clever animated sequences. One features the famous . Heathrow Airport incident, where Cook, Jones, Vicious and Rotten vomitted in the international departure lounge in the presence of press photographers. The action suggests that they were put up to it. Steve Jones spends most of his time with various young women, diverting him from his task of looking for McLaren to see what he did with the money they swindled out of record companies. The total reached about 700,000 pounds sterling. Cash from chaos! . \ A highlight for me was the Jubilee Week Thames River concert cruise, .. and just watch the . “Foul ;” Four” rocket into the charts with “God Save The Queen,” undoubtedly the best rock song since “Satisfaction.” ; ; Crime is for mugs, get into ' .the pop world, said- Ronnie Higgs; who lounges around ..Rio de Janeiro with Cook and Jones. Spend a week with the train robber of your choice, make a record, and break the Top Ten — more money! "The Great Rock ’n’ Roll Swindle” is not the perfect music' film, but it leaves "Times Square” for dead. See it just once, it finishes tonight, even if it is just to confirm how bad, or great, you thought the band was. It sure beats listening to the radio.