Backspin: Steve Jones on The Professionals

The guitar legend talks about his post-Sex Pistols band with Pistols drummer Paul Cook, the film 'Ladies and Gentlemen, the Fabulous Stains,' and his '80s battle with heroin addiction.
Full interview with Steve Jones for Backspin: yhoo.it/2k80I1b

[@RossBayCult]

I like how he sees fault in himself and takes accountability for the lack of production.

[@Brewzerr]

That’s classic 12-step accountability. Part of working the steps is taking a personal inventory and owning up to your own behavior. Jonesy has managed to stay clean and sober for a very long time now, and that’s a big reason why.

[@jesseonly1327]

Steve Jones, one of my favorite guitar players.

[@IndependentGeorge76]

One of my favourite human beings

[@gregprice103]

Same. 👊

[@robsawalker]

The Professionals did some absolutely brilliant tracks. Love you Jonesy! PS He always moans about 'Didn't see it coming' but I think it's a bloody brilliant album, and I listened to it on vinyl when it came out.

[@twistedspanner]

Best rhythm guitarist ever. The king of the bar chord.

[@Brewzerr]

In those early Pistols/Professionals years, he always had a way of making his guitar sound like it was telling everyone to fuck off. Best guitar tone I’ve ever heard... to this day.

[@blagamuffin]

I love The Professionals material. Play it far more than the Pistols LP.

[@stevenmorley1639]

Love Steve's honesty in interviews and enjoyed his Radio Show on KLOS.....

[@shanetreacy5996]

BEST GUITARIST OF ALL TIME AND A GREAT GUY.

[@sausagefinger12]

Nowhere near but a guitarplayer who knows something about melodies and powerchords ans a great guy

[@scottcrosby-art5490]

He’s a very basic guitarist but he makes it work well

[@Brewzerr]

He was definitely my first big ‘guitar hero’ when I was learning how to play. I tried to mimick every little nuance. He had a trademark style and tone that many have tried to imitate and emulate, and none have ever quite nailed it the way he did it. The great thing about Jonesy is that he has always put the song and the riff first... ahead of virtuosity and shredding. It may sound basic and simple on the surface, but there’s a *LOT* of nuance and complexities going on behind his style and tone.

[@philipholmes5884]

Yes Shane i agree ! Check him out in 1983 ! Type in "The Nothings & Steve Jones" to see ! Fun facts=Steve is playing a Fender & famous groupie/Author Pamela Des Barres is dancing during the songs "Black leather/Dancing with myself/Silly thing" she is the redhead/red dress ! Cheers !

[@johnfogarty5655]

ehhh no. he could barely play before they started recording.

[@robertdavidson9393]

Great rhythm player Steve Jones!

[@monkeyrevolution1964]

Shooting Dope was my first priory . I understand that . Lot of respect for these the guys .

[@guitarlobos5069]

I love Steve Jones s honesty about everything

[@sonsneezer]

If he only knew how much that album meant to me as a 15 year old in 82, the razor sharp slashing guitars and melodic impassioned vocals were sooo good. Yes the drums are squashed and small in the mix,The professionals were the template of the Foo fighters years later imo,they were just ahead of thier time. Little boys,payola ,the magnificent ,Friday night square ,kick down the doors and Crescendo were my favorites,they should have included Just another dream and Has anybody got an alibi and maybe taken off Too far to fall and one more, it would have made it even better i think.._

[@philipholmes5884]

Hey Sonsneezer we played 2 of those songs with Steve in 1983 ! Type in "The Nothings & Steve Jones-Little boys/Just another dream" if interested ! Cheers !

[@sonsneezer]

@@philipholmes5884 Yeah I checked it out not bad!!! The crowd was kinda WAC and Jonesy was definitely on somethin tho!!🤪

[@simonhunter3430]

I hope Steve gets back with the Professionals for a few shows.

[@philipholmes5884]

Hi Simon ! Me too...check him out with my old band in 1983 ! Type in "The Nothings & Steve Jones" we played 5 Professionals songs that night !

[@Coal-Creek-Rider]

One of the best shows I saw, and enjoyed hanging out with you and Cookie after the gig.

[@Coal-Creek-Rider]

@@philipholmes5884 I saw the at a club called "The Place" in Knoxville it was not 83 but May of 82'

[@tacman1974]

For me Steve Jones is the epitomy of rock n roll. The Pistols is the epitomy of rock n roll. I dont care if it started as a joke. It is the greatsest band ever. Love them all as a group but also individually. I adore their music, their attitude, their characters!!

[@craigbenttimaki2806]

They did not start out as a joke, the started out as Malcolm's boyband. I like the songs but they were a package made for sale.

[@4th_Lensman_of_the_apocalypse]

@@philipholmes5884ugh you again Philip….shameless….

[@NA86737]

For a mess during that time 123 is a great song

[@Elizabethleaf]

G I just found it yesterday but I've honestly played it no less than 15 times. I have no shame.

[@Brewzerr]

SO MANY great songs.

[@PrivateWalker]

Have always respected Steve & Paul hugely!

[@Bazonthebass]

I still like playing guitar along to Pistols and Profs stuff. It's fun and most of it fairly easy. But nobody sounds as good as Jonesy at these tunes!

[@pointnozzleaway]

I LOVE THIS GUY !!!

[@gregprice103]

Steve jones. Brilliant talent/ song writer

[@santiagomramos]

The Professionals reunion would be really awsome

[@twinsmm1]

I remember seeing The Fabulous Stains on USA Up All Night back in the 80s.

[@Brewzerr]

I recorded it to a VHS cassette back then, and watched it so many times that by the early 90’s it was so worn out that it wasn’t even watchable any more. I was so happy when they finally released it on DVD.

[@simonhunter3430]

i hadnt heard of the film tbh

[@deedeesplectrum9924]

What a great guy and so honest and open. Its great to see this. I've learned that he had a really shit childhood - obviously he was the innocent victim, as are others. So great to see this. And what a fu*king ass-kicking rocker who can write shit hot tunes :-)

[@BadRonald1]

Anyways to add That would be fuckin awesome if The Professionals got back together. All the songs kick ass. Do it Steve !!!

[@Brewzerr]

Yeah, for me it just isn’t the Professionals without Jonesy. God bless Paul Cook for reviving the band, but that new album just doesn’t have the same punch.

[@DaleHodgkins0n]

"We've all got our hair - hair and teeth"....... classic! Top bloke.

[@Brewzerr]

Except it’s more like “air and teef”.

[@honestcommenterseany441]

Oh leave it out 😭

[@BadRonald1]

Always really liked The Professionals, I can remember when my friend Eric Erlandson ,used to work at Licorice pizza and got to hear albums before they came out. When I heard " I didn;t see it coming" I instantly liked it. Now I know what Steves talking about the fidelity. They had the potential to be a really great band. I remember they were playing a show here in L.A. I couldn't make it and I thought I'll go see them the next time around. bad mistake. The same mistake when Ozzy came to Long Beach Arena with Randy Rhodes.. That was around the same time come to think of it.

[@Brewzerr]

I was living in Houston when they broke up mid-tour. They were booked to play at this weird venue called the Rama Room, and I had my ticket... but then they broke up before it was to happen.

[@Mr75044]

Steve the professionals was the bollocks.. My favourite song of all Time is JUST ANOTHER DREAM...WHITE LIGHT HEAT IS FUCKING ACE. I was a punk in 77 But it was the professionals that got me to pick up the guitar. Still at it......

[@Elizabethleaf]

It's wild! He doesn't look anything like he did when he was younger. He's completely unrecognizable.

[@Brewzerr]

Well yeah. That’s called “aging”. Happens to everybody if they don’t die young.

[@Elizabethleaf]

Brewzerr A lot of people are recognizable when they get older. They still keep their traits . Like with cookie, you can still tell that it's him! Lol. Or John, you can still see it's him. If I put a picture of Steve side by side from then and now, I wouldn't place him as the same person.

[@KermitKeir]

Love ya, Jonesy!

[@norascott2565]

Love this movie!!!

[@jonathanlocke6404]

"Join The Professionals" and "Conned Again" are two of the greatest punk rock songs of all time...

[@philipholmes5884]

Hi Johnathan ! We played 1 of those w/Steve in 1983 ! Type in "The Nothings & Steve Jones-Join the professionals" ! Fun facts=Steve is playing a Fender & famous groupie/author Pamela Des Barres is dancing away ! (Redhead-reddress) Cheers !

[@ianwhitehead691]

Steve Jones 🎸❤️

[@alanknotts1844]

One of the most honest people in punk. The so called punk'attitude' would be nothing without him.

[@howlinghuntley1688]

The professionals had some great songs make no mistake

[@pawel115]

I like "Kamikaze" from the debut album

[@WyattScott]

Love The Professionals, and I Didn’t See It Coming is fantastic. don’t be so hard on yourself Steve the mix is actually fine. At least it wasn’t overproduced right!?

[@TheGreatAlan75]

When you're addicted to opiates/opioids, EVERYTHING else is secondary, because you are in pain and depressed without it.

[@Brewzerr]

That’s just addiction in general. Not just opiates/opioids.

[@jimmann8659]

its a petty that Jim pursy did not join the pistols

[@gabbax2hey77]

I love Steve's honesty and humility ... & viva Jonsey's Jukebox !!!

[@Satanatemyknob]

The Magnificent is one of THE coolest songs ever. Ever. Bloody ever.

[@Satanatemyknob]

@@philipholmes5884 I can't lie. I'm a bit jealous haha. That's cool as shit 🤘😎🤘

[@paulgriffiths1062]

Steve you're a top guy ...the professionals were/are top band.

[@Captain_Rhodes]

friday night leicester square was a good tune

[@willieluncheonette5843]

First time I heard the Professionals album I didn't care for it cause I was expectibg abd hoping for a punk album. Then someone said to me "Look at it as a virtuoso rock album" Eureka! Everything fell into place. Now I really like it.

[@samwindmill8264]

Lydon claimed in his 2014 autobiography that Richard Branson approached him in 1980 to ask him to sing over Professionals tracks...which of course John refused 😆 Also, I love the Fabulous Stains movie. I'm pretty sure Paul Simonon's role in the film is why several tracks on "Sandinista!" have other bass players like Norman Watt-Roy

[@PrivateWalker]

Norman Watt-Roy! There's another guy I respect big time!

[@danmoss2080]

I enjoy Jonesy's singing!

[@KLuqman01]

I Didn't See it Coming is a great album; good songwriting. They could have gained wider recognition if they would have survived the 80s.

[@Brewzerr]

Those other recordings he’s talking about are even better. Some of the songs from that Bill Price session were released as singles, like “1-2-3” and “Just Another Dream”, but there’s an album’s worth of songs from that session. They finally got a proper release in their entirety on the “Complete Professionals” anthology a few years ago.

[@KLuqman01]

@@philipholmes5884 I'll check it out. Thanks.

[@annamaj2943]

Grande Steve mito

[@karlbertilsvennson7671]

If sex pistols could drop an album or even just a song now 2019 it would be insane

[@youjoker9647]

He's already said that they tried in 2003 & Lydon just not interested despite the other 3 going for it

[@Brewzerr]

Yeah, I don’t know. Lydon’s voice is so blown out now. Probably wouldn’t have the same power.

[@10INCHCRUSHER]

Jonesy's the best. He's a rocker.

[@jeffsmith50001]

A month!, I tip my cap. Must be a man of steel.

[@adda89]

I'd definitely go see the professionals if Jonesy came back

[@andchat6241]

Quite surprised he's so hard on 'I D S I C' lp- 'the Magnificent ' is a great opener & Steve's occasionally slurred, downbeat vocals on other tracks give an apt sense of it 'being after the party' ,which after the Pistols it was really ,as the '80s sound' didn't really have a place for them.. What 'different mixes' does he mean - the 7"s not on the lp ?, or is there different recordings of the lps tracks ?

[@deedeesplectrum9924]

His crap childhood caused him problems that he has worked through. What a star in many ways.

[@twistedspanner]

I bought I didn't see it coming on it's release and I loved the song The Magnificent (which I think is about Rotten) but I thought the album sounded lame. Couldn't understand why it didn't have the power of Bollocks. It was Nigel Gray's fault. They could have remixed it like Johnny Thunders and Tony James remixed LAMF Revisted back in 1984. I've just got the Complete Professional and I hope they corrected it cos I ain't listened to it yet.

[@Brewzerr]

Nope. The “Complete Professionals” versions are the exact same mixes from the original album. I agree with you. They should have done a complete remix and remaster, but there may have been issues with licensing, since IDSIC was on Virgin Records.

[@twistedspanner]

@@Brewzerr I still haven't got round to listening to the Complete Professionals but I did notice the dub versions which I never knew existed. They were great. Must get round to them. Along with The Neurotic Boy Outsiders my mate sent me. To see what Jonsey's been up to over the years. Now in his 60's He hopes to find the motivation to record another album but admits to being a lazy bastard 😁 C'mon Steve get Generation Sex on the road! You can't go wrong.

[@semmcstevenson]

One cool dude.

[@Brewzerr]

I agree about the official album (I Didn’t See It Coming) being much weaker than all the non-album and single recordings they did with Bill Price. IDSIC sounds much too slick and polished. The Bill Price stuff has that raw, rough edge that suited their style much better. Too bad the dope ended the Professionals prematurely. They were such a great band.

[@tezotezo8532]

👍👍👍

[@version736ha2]

Thought this was going to be him talking about Bodie and Doyle

[@fredfonebone5108]

“All got hair and teef.” :D

[@dannymiller7880]

Very honest

[@mcfcguvnors]

I learnt in my bedroom doing whizz for 12 hours hands cramped to the guitar neck funny how you get better when you stop the gear

[@carobinsonrobinson3109]

Jones , why did you not help Sid when he needed it? You knew how fucked up seems his mom was , and then .... Nancy?????? Seems like a good friend would say something???? Co e on Jonsey

[@kimrunic5874]

'All got hair and teef'

[@MusicDementia]

BadRonald1 "You get your music nicer at Licorice Pizza"

[@norhythmjim]

“All got hair and teeth”

[@twinsmm1]

..."All got hair and teef."

[@LeroyKinkade]

Had the album... some fucker nicked it.

[@glennoc8585]

I heard Steve Joness swings both ways. Find that hard to believe.

[@dantofthegenxfamily9529]

glenny oc I don't. I spoke with him a few times back in the 90s he was a bit suggestive,, the wanker.

[@Brewzerr]

Why is it hard to believe? Is there some specific way a bi person is supposed to look or act?

[@SuperAnimelover100]

Eweeeeeeeeeeee, say it aint so !

[@SuperAnimelover100]

Steve's step-father, Ron Dambagella, sexually abused him. Maybe that caused it but hope you are Wrong !

[@MusicDementia]

All got hair and teeth. LOL. Hilarious!

[@duffbaker9554]

Hair an' teef, that is.

[@engineboom]

Steve is so straight up, no bull shit. After all these years he really hasn't changed. Unfortunately Mr Rotten has tried so hard to intellectualise the Pistols and appease the ones he hated and to add further insult became a Trump supporter WTF.

[@1999step]

not all the pistols have hair and teeth

[@SuperAnimelover100]

Steve sure did swell up .:(

[@David-mg1yj]

I saw The Professionals live at an all weekend Punk Festival in the 80's... 'Can't remember where it was, but I remember being disappointed. But not as much as I hated the Xmas thing they did with Thin Lizzy. That was really shit.

[@semmcstevenson]

We all got hair and teeth!! Ha!! Rare tho!!!

[@patrickkever706]

very funny

[@LeroyKinkade]

steve jones wanys to b e Michael caine !

[@juanbravo5662]

Nasi do Ira😂

[@Scumpinator]

Whooo number 69th like

[@kevinrhea7332]

Pros > Pistols

[@antyeardsley]

steve could never surpass Never mind the bollocks....

[@geneevans7885]

This guy is a huge reason why I play les pauls.

[@Satanatemyknob]

The Magnificent is one of THE coolest songs ever. Ever. Bloody ever.