I Was a Teenage Sex Pistol (Paperback)

~ (Author), Peter Silverton (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

This punk rock survivor's tale seems as media-induced as the obnoxiousness surrounding the Sex Pistols, one of the movement's seminal groups. This first-hand account by the band's original bassist relates the negativism, fetishism, and poor management surrounding the band. Matlock tells of the band's influence on the rest of the movement, its reckoning with the early careers of more illustrious Pistols Johnny Rotten and Sid Vicious, and other present-day post-punk rockers like Billy Idol, Iggy Pop, Chrissie Hynde, and Siouxsie Sioux. At the end of this collection of bored anecdotes, Matlock concludes that the Pistols were "a total failure . . . deeply unsatisfying . . . one of history's big 'So What?'s." Given that, one wonders why he bothered to write about it.
- Donald W. Maxwell, Stone Hills Lib. Network, Bloomington, Ind.
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Description

The most candid account of the Sex Pistols you will ever read, this new updated edition marks the 30th anniversary of the band's first recordings. Glen Matlock, original bassist for the Sex Pistols, was also one of the band's founding members. Those were the days before punk, when the group (known as The Strand) was more influenced by glam rock than by the New York Dolls. Then things changed—with Malcolm McLaren as their new manager and Johnny Rotten as their new lead singer, the Sex Pistols became ultimate punk band. Matlock's account of the Pistols' rise to global infamy is a frank and insightful account of a group of intelligent malcontents, determined to change the music industry and attack the stale conventions of society. His story vividly captures the flavor of 1970s Britain, a society seething with creativity and social discontent. For this updated edition, he's added new material on the reunion tours of 1996 and 2002—and speculates on what may be next step for the group.

Product Details

• Paperback: 286 pages
• Publisher: Reynolds & Hearn; 2nd edition (April 1, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1905287313
• ISBN-13: 978-1905287314
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.1 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #927,886 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Most honest telling of the Pistol's story, September 27, 2007

By	Joeythunders "Captain Doofus" (NY NY USA) - See all my reviews

This book is by far the most honest and candid telling of the Sex Pistol's story. Other books (England's Dreaming) and films (The Filth and The Fury) tell it in a dramatic fashion set against the socio-political backdrop of 1970 Britain, but this one is "just the facts" told by a guy who was there for all of it (well, the parts that mattered anyway).

Recommended for those who want to know the story without any of McLaren's "boy band" revisionism.

0 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Average book, February 15, 2008

By	Okan "big-o" (Baltimore,MD) - See all my reviews

Do not try to use this as a good play for detailed information. It only has about two dates in it.

3 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Good Toilet Reading., June 1, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: I Was a Teenage Sex Pistol (Paperback)

I tried reading this book cover to cover and ended up putting it down. It's a good book to flip through while sitting around or taking a dump. Sid would've wanted it that way.