History YMMV / SexPistols

* SeinfeldIsUnfunny: Nowadays in the age where being "edgy for the sake of being edgy" is mostly seen as more annoying than genuinely shocking, it might be hard to understand today just how ballsy it was to do what they did during the late 1970s.

* SeinfeldIsUnfunny: Nowadays in the age where being "edgy for the sake of being edgy" is mostly seen as more annoying than genuinely shocking, it might be hard to understand today just how gutsy they were for their time.

* SeinfeldIsUnfunny: Nowadays in the age where being "edgy for the sake of being edgy" is mostly seen as more annoying than anything else, it might be hard to understand today just how gutsy they were for their time.

* SeinfeldIsUnfunny: Nowadays in the age where being "edgy for the sake of being edgy" is mostly seen as more annoying than genuinely shocking, it might be hard to understand today how truly revolutionary they were for their time.

* SeinfeldIsUnfunny: It'd be hard to understand why they shocked the masses today, but back in the day they started a revolution.

* FaceOfTheBand: [[Music/JohnLydon Johnny Rotten]] and Music/SidVicious.

* [[SugarWiki/HeReallyCanAct He Really Can Play]]: Steve Jones. See VindicatedByHistory below.

* MisBlamed: The Pistols for the Bill Grundy controversy. The band were angry that Grundy refused to take them seriously, was drunk on live television, and tried to goad them into saying something controversial. While John Lydon played coy and muttered "shit" under his breath, the most famous swearing during the broadcast actually seemed to be unintentional. Steve Jones only swore at Grundy after [[DirtyOldMan he made a sexually explicit pass]] at the band's friend [[Music/SiouxsieAndTheBanshees Siouxsie Sioux]], who was also present in the studio. Jones only gave Grundy [[PrecisionFStrike exactly what he wanted all night]] out of rage, on the spur of the moment.

* ValuesDissonance: The profanity on the Grundy show appearance is not so shocking now. But what is is that the middle-aged Grundy seems to have no problem with the idea that [[DirtyOldMan he can publicly talk about trying to pick up the 16-year-old Siouxsie Sioux after the show]]. (Subverted a bit in Jones immediately calling him out on it, although in context at the time it comes across as the band just [[BatmanGambit responding to Grundy's provocation]].)

* GenreTurningPoint: The entire stereotype of TheQuincyPunk is based mostly on things that the Sex Pistols did and said, giving punk rock its ethos of confrontational trollishness and rough living.

* MisBlamed: The Pistols for the Bill Grundy controversy. The band were angry that Grundy refused to take them seriously, was drunk on live television, and tried to goad them into saying something controversial. While John Lydon played coy and muttered "shit" under his breath, the most famous swearing during the broadcast actually seemed to be unintentional. Steve Jones only swore at Grundy after [[DirtyOldMan he made a sexually explicit pass]] at the band's friend [[Music/SiouxsieAndTheBanshees Siouxsie Sioux]], who was also present in the studio. Jones only gave Grundy [[PrecisionFStrike exactly what he wanted all night]] out of rage, at the spur of the moment.

* TearJerker: The [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3K3uAlyNL5o performance of "No Fun" as the last song of their last show]] (pre-reunion) is pretty heartbreaking, as you get to both see and hear Johnny Rotten realise it's all over mid-song.

* SugarWiki/HeReallyCanAct: He Really Can Play: Steve Jones. See VindicatedByHistory below.

* ValuesDissonance: The profanity on the Grundy show appearance is not so shocking now. But what is is that the middle-aged Grundy seems to have no problem with the idea that [[DirtyOldMan he can publicly talk about trying to pick up the 16-year-old Siouxsie Sioux after the show]] (Subverted a bit in Jones immediately calling him out on it, although in context at the time it comes across as the band just [[BatmanGambit responding to Grundy's provocation]]).

* ValuesDissonance: The profanity on the Grundy show appearance is not so shocking now. But what is is that the middle-aged Grundy seems to have no problem with the idea that [[DirtyOldMan he can publicly talk about trying to pick up the 16-year-old Siouxsie Sioux after the show]] (Subverted a bit in Jones immediately calling him out on it, although in context at the time it comes across as the band just [[BatmanGambit responding to Grundy's provocation]].

* VindicatedByHistory: The band, except Music/SidVicious but especially with Steve Jones, who is finally being recognized as a surprisingly talented guitarist. Those used to the strict ThreeChordsAndTheTruth version of PunkRock often come away thinking the Sex Pistols sound more like a HardRock band after hearing Steve play.

* MisBlamed: The Pistols for the Bill Grundy controversy. The band were angry that Grundy refused to take them seriously, was drunk on live television and tried to goad them into saying something controversial. While John Lydon, played coy and muttered "shit" under his breath, the most famous swearing during the broadcast actually seemed to be unintentional. Steve Jones only swore at Grundy after [[DirtyOldMan he made a sexually explicit pass]] at the band's friend [[Music/SiouxsieAndTheBanshees Siouxsie Sioux]], who was also present in the studio. Jones only gave Grundy [[PrecisionFStrike exactly what he wanted all night]] out of rage, at the spur of the moment.

* TheWoobie: Say what you will about the guy, but what is known of Music/SidVicious' life, both before and after the Sex Pistols, is actually pretty heartbreaking.

* MemeticLoser: Sid Vicious gets a lot of this in guitar/bass playing circles, due to being a DreadfulMusician

* MisBlamed: The Pistols for the Bill Grundy controversy. The band were angry that Grundy refused to take them seriously, was drunk on live television and tried to goad them into saying something controversial. While John Lydon, played coy and muttered "shit" under his breath, the most famous swearing during the broadcast actually seemed to be unintentional. Steve Jones only swore at Grundy after he made a sexually explicit pass at the band's friend [[Music/SiouxsieAndTheBanshees Siouxsie Sioux]], who was also present in the studio. Jones only gave Grundy [[PrecisionFStrike exactly what he wanted all night]] out of rage, at the spur of the moment.

* AwardSnub: Inverted. The band snubbed the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, calling it a "piss stain." [[http://www.lettersofnote.com/2010/09/rock-and-roll-hall-of-fame-is-piss.html The entire letter, for those who are interested]].

* PainfulRhyme: "I am an antichrist! I am an anarch-eye-st!" Made on purpose of couse, as the way he sang was the equivalent of sneering.

* VindicatedByHistory:
** Inverted in the case of Music/SidVicious. During the eighties he was frequently touted as a musical genius whereas now he's recognized for the DreadfulMusician he really was.
** Played somewhat straight with the rest of the band, but especially with Steve Jones, who is finally being recognized as a surprisingly talented guitarist. Those used to the strict ThreeChordsAndTheTruth version of PunkRock often come away thinking the Sex Pistols sound more like a HardRock band after hearing Steve play.

* SugarWiki/FunnyMoments: They were banned by police from performing "God Save the Queen" [[ExactWords on British soil]], so they performed it [[LoopholeAbuse on a boat]] instead.

-->Oh bollocks, why should I carry on? (...) [[CreepyMonotone No fun. This is no fun. No fun.]] [[SuspiciouslyAproposMusic It is no fun at all.]] (...) Ever get the feeling you've been cheated? Goodnight. (MicDrop)

* FaceOfTheBand: [[Music/JohnLydon Johnny Rotten]].

* {{Misblamed}}: The Pistols for the Bill Grundy controversy. The band were angry that Grundy refused to take them seriously, was drunk on live television and tried to goad them into saying something controversial. While John Lydon, played coy and muttered "shit" under his breath, the most famous swearing during the broadcast actually seemed to be unintentional. Steve Jones only swore at Grundy after he made a sexually explicit pass at the band's friend [[Music/SiouxsieAndTheBanshees Siouxsie Sioux]], who was also present in the studio. Jones only gave Grundy [[PrecisionFStrike exactly what he wanted all night]] out of rage, at the spur of the moment.
* PainfulRhyme: "I am an antichrist! I am an anarch-eye-st!" Made on purpose. The way he sang was the equivalent of sneering.
* SeinfeldIsUnfunny: They'd barely be a blip on the radar of shocking the masses today, but back in the day they started a revolution.

* VindicatedByHistory: Inverted in the case of Music/SidVicious. During the eighties he was frequently touted as a musical genius whereas now he's recognized for the DreadfulMusician he really was. Played somewhat straight with the rest of the band, but especially with Steve Jones who is finally being recognized as a surprisingly talented guitarist. Those used to the strict ThreeChordsAndTheTruth version of PunkRock often come away thinking the Sex Pistols sound more like a HardRock band after hearing Steve play.
* TheWoobie: Say what you will about the guy, but what is known of Music/SidVicious’ life, both before and after the Sex Pistols, is actually pretty heartbreaking.

* FunnyMoments: They were banned by police from performing "God Save the Queen" [[ExactWords on British soil]], so they performed it [[LoopholeAbuse on a boat]] instead.
* [[HeReallyCanAct He Really Can Play]]: Steve Jones. See VindicatedByHistory below.

* {{Misblamed}}: The Pistols for the Bill Grundy controversy. The band were angry that Grundy refused to take them seriously, was drunk on live television and tried to goad them into saying something controversial. While John Lydon, played coy and muttered "shit" under his breath, the most famous swearing during the broadcast actually seemed to be unintentional. Steve Jones only swore at Grundy after he made a sexually explicit pass at the band's friend [[SiouxsieAndTheBanshees Siouxsie Sioux]], who was also present in the studio. Jones only gave Grundy [[PrecisionFStrike exactly what he wanted all night]] out of rage, at the spur of the moment.

* LoveItOrHateIt: For all their fame and influence, there are still many people out there who hate the band. Let's face it folks: The Sex Pistols are either one of the greatest bands to form and influence [[Music/JoyDivision certain]] [[Music/TheSmiths bands]] to become big ''or'' are just a very painful band to listen to, complete with their assumed [[TheGadfly Gadfly]] personalities. Especially Rotten.
** This also applies to the fact the band itself was marketed by Malcolm to ''be just that'', so either they were a GoneHorriblyRight "concept" or aren't really what people can consider a ''punk rock band''.

** This also applies to the fact the band itself was marketed by Malcolm to ''be just that'', so either they were a HorriblyGoneRight "concept" or aren't really what people can consider a ''punk rock band''.