Review: The SEX PISTOLS Still Define Punk
September 8, 2003Erik Pedersen of the Hollywood Reporter reports that "a spiky-haired 7-year-old standing on a chair down front looked bored for the first few songs by the late-fortysomething SEX PISTOLS [at the Greek Theatre in Los Angeles on Saturday, September 6]. But when the grown-up next to him began offering middle-finger salutes during 'God Save the Queen', the kid had found his calling for the night. Nothing like flipping off Johnny Rotten to bridge a generation gap.
"Similarly coiffed, Rotten reveled in the mock abuse. But this second reunion tour of rock's most notorious one-album wonder seemed more about the band coming to terms with its punk legacy and less about forced or implied shock value. The PISTOLS know their place in rock history and alternately mock and cherish it. 'Do you know who we are?' Rotten said during the encore to the all-ages crowd filled with ghosts of punk past and present. He then ripped the '20 years of wuss impersonators.'
"The still-wild-eyed frontman made a point of insulting the venue, crowd and city early and often, but he slapped hands with fans rather than spitting on them and enjoyed playing the jester as much as impudent antagonist. Still, he often scolded the house for not making enough noise. 'Remember, this is the Greek,' he groused as he gestured to the surrounding hills, 'and all the millionaires are listening.' " Read more.
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