Sex Pistols to play at this year's EXIT Festival

I'm off to the Exit festival this summer and am over the moon to have found out that the greatest Punk band ever will be headlining. BRING. IT. THE. FUCK. ON July 13 2008 / Main Stage Although they lasted only three years, they have recorded one album and four singles, which forever changed the world music scene. At the Exit, they will perform in their original line-up: Johnny Rotten, vocals, Steve Jones, guitar, Glen Matlock, bass guitar, and Paul Cook, drums. Best of all, after 30 years, the fans at Exit will get the opportunity to hear the new songs of this legendary British band. According to egigs.co.uk, Paul Cook confirmed this possibility, but he also expressed his doubt regarding the release of a new album, since John and Steve live in USA, whereas Glen and he are in the UK. "We might not pull together an album but hopefully there will be some new stuff in time for the summer," said Paul Cook. The Sex Pistols are not the first punk band, but they certainly are the band which participated in the making of the massive independent underground scene in England and America. The release of the album "Never Mind the Bollocks, Here's the Sex Pistols" is considered as one of the most important events in the history of the popular music, and the album is regularly cited on lists of the greatest albums ever. In 1987, Rolling Stone Magazine listed this album at No.2 on the "Top 100 Albums of the Last 20 Years"; while in 2004, it was listed at No. 58 on their list of the "100 Greatest Artists of All Time". In Q Magazine, the only Pistols' album ranked No. 27 on their list of the "100 Greatest Albums Ever".

Their live performances became legendary. Such was the show in Manchester, in June 1976, when they performed to a crowd of just 42 people. This show became one of the most important and the most mythologized live acts in rock history, since among the audience were many people who are today significant for the punk history, including Anthony H. Wilson (founder of Factory Records), Bernard Sumner, Ian Curtis, Peter Hook, Adam Ant, Morrissey, Mick Hucknall... If it were not for this band, many musicians would not have existed. Often, these musicians didn't even have a direct musical connection to the Sex Pistols' initial three-minute blasts of rage. Bands which have been influenced by the Sex Pistols include The Clash, The Offspring, Siouxsie & the Banshees, Nirvana, NOFX, Oasis, Green Day... When Johnny Rotten joined the original line-up, which comprised Steve Jones, Glen Matlock and Paul Cook, the band played simple rock & roll, but Rotten instantly and arrogantly started singing about anarchy, violence, fascism and apathy. In this way, he provided the band's conceptual direction � to oppose the British Royal Family and authority as much as possible. Soon afterwards, the band released the singles "Anarchy in the U.K." and "God Save the Queen", and following was the record "Never Mind the Bollocks, Here's the Sex Pistols". BBC refused to broadcast the second single, and Matlock was fired. According to popular legend, it happened because he liked The Beatles. Matlock was replaced by Sid Vicious, a street kid, a guy who could not play bass, self-appointed ultimate Sex Pistols fan... He was recruited on account of his punk attitude and his look. The manager of the Sex Pistols Malcolm McLaren explained: "If Rotten is the voice of punk, then Vicious is the attitude." Sid Vicious died from a heroin overdose on 2nd February 1979. The Sex Pistols disbanded soon after the release of their first and only album "Never Mind the Bollocks, Here's the Sex Pistols", and only 14 days after the beginning of the American tour. In 1996, the Sex Pistols reunited for their 20th anniversary, and since then, they have occasional live performances. When asked about their unexpected reunion, Rotten stated: "We have found a common cause, and it's your money". www.sex-pistols.net www.myspace.com/philsingleton