Is Sex Pistols guitarist Steve Jones a FAKE musician? Did a WOMBLE create Never Mind the Bollocks?

[@mickward4239]

You do realize Spedding is talking about the demos he produced early 1977 not NMTB.....Spedding was long gone by 1977.Bill Price produced it....and Matlock didn't play bass, Jones did the bass on the album. And Matlock wasn't sacked because of the way he looked, he was sick of Rotten. You are just wrong about a lot of basic facts. There was a year of Jones playing gigs between Speddings one involvement and recording Bollocks and you can't grasp that he improved.

[@doctorskull8197]

Absolutely spot on!

[@mikesame8321]

And I didn't Jones maximize his practice time with speed? I read lonely boy and I got to say I was disappointed because I love Steve Jones so much I thought he had one of the best radio shows going in la that jonesy's jukebox and when I left I'd catching online from time to time. But he was actually hilarious man sounds like you know a bit about him so if you've ever heard him speaking you would know that not just the you know sitting on the gold record and the sex piston sex pistols type rowdy young man and it takes with the guys Dead funny on jonesy's jukebox and he lives and did the show in LA and people love Steve Jones metal guys punk guys everybody seems to Love Steve Jones because he's so damn funny and the pistols are legendary so he got a lot of great gas coming into a show all the time and it was only like 2 hours long in the afternoon. And I had some kid I was doing Uber kid Jesus guy in his twenties it was I was driving an Uber and this guy was in a band you know trying to do his bad thing in LA and I was like hey you mind if I listen to show instead of music and talk to him for a minute and get in the car anyway jonesy's jukebox was on and he was interviewing somebody I think somebody really big slash and somebody this kid got in his twenties was interested in and he got to listen to it and when I wasgoing to drop them off if you asked if we could listen for another minute I was like yeah sure man I want to hear this as well so ya feel free to sit and listen. It was actually Billy idol and Duff McKagan from guns and roses that were in they were talking about all the local la shows they were going to be doing and all these with all these old guys so it's just like Billy idol and Steve Jones and the guys from the dam and they were just dropping the slash will be playing with at some point in the the young guy musician ask me who is this guy man he gets everybody He's got everybody coming to his different shows and stuff who the hell is he and I was like oh okay yeah he was familiar with the pistols and he's like that that is their guitar player this guy is funny and I think I made a Steve Jones man out of a young man that day. Well I think he's probably already a little bit of a fan of the pistols but I think he started listening to the show because he was like what's this called when's it on and he was he was really impressed with how much all these massively famous musicians were just willing to come in and play with Jones come on his show.and I got to say I was also a hugely disappointed with Danny boils miniseries based on because I'm a huge Danny Boyle fan as well and I was really pumped for that thing and it didn't work for me.

[@woody5831]

Great to see someone comment & be 100% right nice one mate

[@JMarinelli]

Thanks for saying it so I do t have to.

[@sawneyhasbean]

Well said Mick. You're correct and Ricky Gervais was funnier in The Office than he is in this conspiracy theory video.

[@klauswigsmith]

Steve is a very competent guitar player. Not a virtuoso, but he knows how to play. I strongly doubt he was not playing guitar on Nevermind the Bollocks.

[@TheSqeela]

Yeah - What the hell does this guy know, anyway? YT pundits are 10 a penny.

[@CIRCLEOFTONE]

I did say that he played on it. I just think it was enhanced by Spedding. If Jones played all the guitars and bass, why didn't anything he release post NMTB get anywhere near the genius of that album? Most of his stuff was basic rock with none of the nuance and oomph. He went from changing the face of rock forever, to falling off the map sonically.

[@klauswigsmith]

@@CIRCLEOFTONE If Jones played all the guitars and bass, why didn't anything he release post NMTB get anywhere near the genius of that album?" Well, maybe 'cos Glen Matlock wrote most of the music one NMTB? He was the real genius behind that band, IMO.... Also, some people are just a flash in the pan....maybe one great album was all Jonesy had in him? I dunno.

[@mousegeek]

@@CIRCLEOFTONE Jones had a heroin addiction by the time of the Pistols ending. That may have something to do with it. You'd think Lydon would have said something given all the arguments and bust ups.

[@simross3914]

@@mousegeek yes exactly. Try to keep John from spilling that little factoid. If jonesy didn’t do all the guitar work we’d know by now.

[@angryeel2864]

In that band picture with the van that's Nils Stevenson, not Spedding. He was an assistant to Malcolm I think. His brother Ray Stevenson took tons of pictures of the band, including that one. He put out a book or two showing his photos also. Sex Pistols File is the one I have. As for Steve, he's a great guitarist and in those days was literally playing for a few months before the band started up with Lydon. The old live recordings with Matlock on bass, especially the 1976 shows at the 100 Club sound excellent. Very tight playing from the whole band. Better Live Than Dead LP (Burton on Trent) is a perfect example. Later gigs with Sid were most likely harder to do since the bass was often minimal or not there at all. The later live recordings I heard sound great regardless. Why? Because the Pistols were an awesome band and Cook is an awesome drummer that always held it together. The Pistols were the real thing. Youthful aggression and excitement. I'm sure thats Steve playing on Bollocks and everything else.

[@KEVMAK13]

Some else who knows what they are talking about, well done

[@themadmattster9647]

By the interviews in Jon Savage’s England’s Dreaming, (especially the companion book with the full interviews), he had been playing for awhile longer than that but had been doing more singing with the pre Mclaren pre Pistols band The Strand.

[@daviddonley3978]

Thank fuck someone jumped in with how it actually was! Cheers Angry Eeel, I like this guy but where he got his info from for this I cant imagine. I've worked with Chris Spedding & Glen Matlock. Met Steve a couple of times so have heard the stories pretty much first hand.

[@nickball2010]

I thought it was Nils myself.

[@comicblueswithjonygitar36]

I agree

[@Cruella_DG]

Steve Jones is completely legit.

[@CIRCLEOFTONE]

His style was key, but Spedding mimicked it imo any reinforced the album.

[@overthewaterx2]

Jones could play, live back in 77 with spit, beer and a rudimentary stage sound then the live shows could be chaotic. A year or two later when playing live with the professionals he was solid.....bollocks is all him.

[@philipholmes5884]

I saw The Professionals at Florentine gardens April 30th 1982 ! It was the best concert I've ever been to... squashed up at the front ! 😀👍🏻

[@galesito1733]

It's no surprise that he didn't sound the same in many live gigs because they often played without monitors. The first time Lydon heard himself on a monitor he kicked it in.

[@spiceycamel]

The thing is ..and I have notvread All the comments,the album was produced very well and Steve's guitar was layered to give it that full ,rich sound it has . Back then and with the equipment they had of course it would sound nothing like the record. I believe absolutely it was Steve.

[@barrynoakes3925]

The key thing for me was that Jonesy was there and his presence added to the creation of the whole thing. Who played it is not too important like you say. He must feel like it’s only him that ever gets questioned on this type of thing though, it’s been bandied around for decades. I think he still has the spirit and attitude to this day and is a great advocate of all music. If you’ve listened to his radio shows you’ll know he’s always saying he’s not the greatest player that ever lived. Talent is one thing, style and being in the moment is another.

[@CIRCLEOFTONE]

Jones style on the demo def had an impact on the direction of the session musician 100%. So no Jones, no golden album.

[@ralphtom3431]

Americans never say bollocks unless they're making fun of you and the Ramones kick the shit out of pistols

[@johnkelley4332]

absolutely. no one picked up a guitar because they were inspired by like Chris spedding regardless of how good he was. Steve on the other hand can claim that in spades. the pistols were a magnificent collaboration and its highly probable that the steve we know is an assemblage of ifferent people's input but could anyone else have pulled it off like him? no way. he will always be my favourite guitar player

[@CIRCLEOFTONE]

@@ralphtom3431 Americans all claim everything came from CBGB's. The Ramones debut album peaked at 111 when released and sex pistols shot to number 1 in the UK despite being banned. Ramones is junky rockabilly and it was meeting the Pistols that put them on the map. They were more famous from fighting on stage with each other because they were so bad. It's catchy rockabilly pop though... Punk is UK to the core. NOBODY had heard of the Ramones. They got famous slowly over time.

[@charliebright8027]

He wrote almost all of the music for many great songs. . Fire and gasoline he wrote all the original tracks its a another great album. All bands do studio musicians. Beach Boys. Ramones. Is Steve fake? Your fake. Ridiculous summation.

[@natbvm1880]

I’ve met him twice on his radio show and he is an amazing human. Hilarious, sharp, full of vim and vigor even at his age now.

[@fretboardfodder1037]

It's because Jones is such a down to earth bloke, people don't realise how intelligent he actually is.

[@mikesame8321]

​@@fretboardfodder1037I started listening to jonesy's jukebox when he was like the afternoon guy you know I knew the guy was you know from what he did with the band but he is funny like one of the funniest radio shows ever as far as I'm concerned I mean he's not up there was stern when he started was good but it's his show was excellent for a radio show he was I don't believe we funny he was incredibly well connected so he always had good gas on and he was like a fucking encyclopedia of music you know the guy could just start talking about different genres of music and where they came from and just go the guys the guys brilliant and he damn near wasted it. But I would not put past Steve Jones at 19 years old completely saying fuck yeah pay me to be the fake guitarist in this band. And maybe he started playing afterwards but and maybe I'm wrong about it entirely but my feeling is I would not be a bit surprised at Steve Jones getting involved in any type of scam. Like if this was offered to him like 5 McLaren who think he would have said no? and here's the question I got on a really odd bizarre and disturbing factoid that came up. I was in Washington DC watching the last 24 and it was Sid vicious last 24 hours of people's lives. And I was actually watching with the front of my brothers who was the guy who grew up in London and moved to America when he was in his 20s. He's a few years older than me and I graduated high school in 86 so he probably graduated high school in 81 or so and he grew up in London so he's very familiar with all that music and it's very attached to that whole London seen not so much the punk but you know he knows and is a big fan of the pistols he was around that time and place. But we were watching Sid vicious the last 24 and they just dropped out there like nothing that said should have been gang raped at rikers. Andy said that's why he killed himself and his mother helped him kill himself because he was supposedly already going back there and wasn't having it. But both of us were just like what the fuc and neither one of us had ever heard it before and this was like 7 or 8 years agoand neither one of us had ever heard that before. And I really not heard it since I don't think and I've looked into it like shit is that true? Damn hope not. But if anybody knows if that's complete bulshit that's what I want to hear.

[@LeahDyson-kq4bd]

The Brits always got so much credit and I do like British punk but we had rock n roll in the 1940s in America and then it gets played by Brits and imported back to us and the same thing happened with punk I mean Sid covered stooges thunders they covered no fun roadrunner even Johnny b goode

[@fredfromberg2103]

The photo of the Pistols at 5:23 isn't with Spedding - it's Nils Stevenson.

[@CIRCLEOFTONE]

Thanks man. I squinted at it thinking it might have been Glen Matlock at first so I got it double wrong.

[@derekdykeman9160]

@@CIRCLEOFTONE double mook

[@deep4soul]

So did Steve also NOT play on the Professionals album recorded a couple years later? BTW The Professionals sounded awesome live IMO.

[@poisonflour6723]

He played on all the Professionals recordings and the guitar is exactly the same to Bollocks

[@danielbayer278]

@@poisonflour6723 I was about to post exactly this.

[@ASTRUM502]

I just mentioned that myself in a reply, as well as the Jones and Cook songs from the Swindle. I believe Jones was fully able to play the guitar, and bass, on NMTB. The effects and overdubs gave it that full sound.

[@CIRCLEOFTONE]

@@poisonflour6723 he sounded like a basic rock gorilla on the professionals. Nothing like NMTB polished perfection.

[@MyICONIC]

@@CIRCLEOFTONE well your answer only prove that you have no idea at all regarding guitar production in the studio. When they where making the NMTB the had producer Chris Thomas. And he decided to get layers of guitars on the record. When they record the Professionals stuff they didnt layered the guitars the same way. If you dont are able to hear the similaritys, guitar wise between NMTB and Professionals then it is you that cant hear beyond the production. It is definitely the same guitarplayer on these records. Ill guess you dont play guitar at all as you cant hear all the nuances in Jones playing and style?!! Nuances that is traceable throughout every live take and recording there is. It is not possible to copy these monikers.

[@linuswang6572]

So you mean that this Chris guy played everything on The Great R'n'R-Swindle too? And popped over to Paris to play on Sid's rendition of "My Way"? That song is a prime examples of Steve's fondenss for layering guitars (and doing it very well and very much in his own style and sound). Steve said they had cut "My Way" with a trio of french session musicians, and that it sounded awful and that he had to put on a ton of guitars to get it half descent (and later the strings were added too). "My way": kzbin.info/www/bejne/iJaXdGZpqc2He6c&ab_channel=punkrockrecordings77

[@1969thedoors]

I was thinking the same thing.

[@katoness]

Yeah, don't try and be logical with the person coming out with this tripe.

[@TheFairway8]

There’s always been stories about Jones actually playing on never mind the bollocks. The Spedding demos were recorded in 1976 NMTB was mostly recorded some 8 months later, in between Spunk was kind of a forerunner to NMTB. You have to remember that the Pistols played over a hundred gigs so did have time to develop. I read Speddings autobiography The Reluctant Guitar Hero an excellent book what a list of names he’s been involved with. He loved The Pistols and really championed them in the beginning when no one would give them the time of day. Spedding states in his book that Jones played all the guitars. On NMTB there is quite a wall of sound and indeed it does sound far more professional than the early recordings but then with a good producer and engineer I believe it’s possible. As far as I’m aware Sid only plays on bass on Bodies. I also heard a rumour that Andy Allen who later was in the Lightning Raiders played some guitar on NMTB he was a good friend of Steve and Pauls. Having seen The Pistols live on two occasions both in their comeback Finsbury Park and Crystal Palace there’s certainly no denying now that Jones is a more than competent player. I actually own a white Gibson Les Paul that was signed after the Finsbury Park gig in June 1996. It was offered in a competition and was auctioned on EBay a few years later. I own many guitars now but years back I always dreamed of owning a Gibson Les Paul so it might as well be a white one signed ‘Load of old Steve Jones Bollocks’. I guess we’ll never really know the truth about Jonesy Very interesting video by the way new sub here

[@semajdis]

When interviewed as to how Joy Division was formed, Peter Hook would give the answer that he and Sumner saw the Sex Pistols at the 1976 Lesser Free Trade Hall gig in Manchester and came away saying that if this band was that awful and couldn't play their instruments yet they could get gigs then so could he and Bernard if they formed a band and that had to be better than punching a clock each day. That comment and the first album never sat right with me either as NMTB was an absolute banger from start to finish. Jonesy is still a national treasure though.

[@CIRCLEOFTONE]

That's awesome. I didn't know that.

[@m00plank90]

Yeah, wasn’t morrisey and billy Duffy there too? Was loads of bands came from that gig.

[@semajdis]

@@m00plank90 You are right, however there is Modern Manc Mythology (MMM) about the gig. Everyone and their dog that formed a punk band from Manchester said they were at that gig. From what I remember Pete Shelley and Howard Devoto saw an early Pistols gig in London and put on a Pistols show in Manchester. They then formed the Buzzcocks after which they put on a second Pistols gig later on that year (both in 1976) where they opened for the Pistols and that gig was a lot more well attended. It is thought that many people confuse the two gigs. But the first one had about 3 dozen people attend and a lot went on to form bands, some successful like The Smiths, The Fall and Joy Division. Not one has ever commented on how well The Pistols played their instruments.

[@richardfinlayson1524]

I love Chris Spedding, his playing on the first couple of Nucleus albums is sublime,he actually played on a fair bit of British jazz , great guitar player.

[@richardfinlayson1524]

This is way before the Wombles

[@cangong]

yes, and don't forget the Battered ornaments!

[@clownose2831]

Dude! great channel 😀 can't believe we're digging this ol' chestnut up again!😂 I don't doubt for a second jonsey played all guitar and bass parts! He had massive guidance under Chris Thomas to keep tuning/ re doing more and more overdubs! The biggest part of the album is professional production and layering parts! Chris speding is on record saying he didn't play on it and I think was out the country while recording! He's not on any credits whatsoever anywhere and if you were him wouldn't you tell everyone your playing on it! Yup!😀🎸

[@marcelbr815]

I agree. The producer (Chris Thomas) was a veteran, having worked with The Beatles and tons of other artists... he did a lot to that album, starting with sound quality, the engineering is flawless, way better than many albums (punk or not) from that period. Guitar and drum tones are outstanding. As far as guitar playing (and vocals), I think it's a case of doing many takes and getting the tightest ones. Rotten didn't sing that good on live performances either, but it still is his voice on the record. Because he was able to take the time to do it right.

[@ASTRUM502]

I agree too. This is all Jones.

[@Russtyman01]

All Jones

[@johnburns3703]

Still love Wilko Johnson's quote when asked where his pedals were?' I'm a guitarist not an Effing cyclist!!' God rest his beautiful soul.

[@pigknickers2975]

Love that, what a man he was :)

[@cactus-mcjacktus]

Steve Jones did a pretty good job on the Neurotic Outsiders stuff. the lead line on “Feelings Are Good” stands out to me.

[@CIRCLEOFTONE]

I loved that era of production. Just on the cusp before protools replaced tape. Yep he had some swagger.

[@replaceablehead]

These kinds of rumors have been swirling around for years. You've let a couple of bad clips get in your head and you've ruminated on it, I just watched the whole of Winterland and aside from a few moments of string-raking bravado I get the exact opposite impression, there is more than enough there to convince me he can play what we hear on the album. Some people actually do very well in the recording studio and producers do play a lot of tricks, they have a whole bag of them, some of it's cheating, but some of it is simple psychology. I remember John Leckie saying that when he would record a punk band he'd load up a nice big real, set the tape speed low and go next door to the pub for an hour. Usually, by the time he got back, the band would have at least one usable take. Plenty of examples of musicians who are sloppy live and scrub up pretty good in the studio. Anyway did Malcolm lock them all in a loft and force them to rehearse for 12 months straight? I think they were all talented, and I even include Malcolm in that. You don't write clever creative songs by accident. Remember when people said John couldn't sing? Is it a session musician on the PiL albums? I mean, it's all nonsense, of course they were all talented.

[@CIRCLEOFTONE]

It was mostly Matlock that did the writing. Spedding also helped with lyrics etc. Do you honestly think Jones did all of the bass and guitars after hearing him live and demos? There isn't that much to listen to before the album. It's not like I'm cherry picking. Did you watch btw? I stared that I do think Jones played on the album. Just not all of it.

[@replaceablehead]

@@CIRCLEOFTONE I get what you're saying. I do hear enough examples of him playing with his right hand locked in so to speak, and he only has to do it some of the time to convince me that he can do it if he wants to. To me, he's got a very similar right-hand feel to what is on the album. He's also pretty solid in 2007 and I don't think he is the kind of guy who goes on a 6-month training regime in lead up to something like that. He seems pretty lazy, I'd say they just played often enough, and also the only way to learn back then was by playing along. I think he just plays with a lot of swagger and bravado live, more than most people do. If anyone's claims are suspect, I'd say it's Matlock's. He doubtless contributed a lot of small things to arrangments, but it's come to light that John came up with his own vocal melodies. And since the guitar riffs are heavily based on rhythm and feel, it's hard to imagine anyone writing them, and then teaching them to someone else, with the obvious exception of melodic lines such as the intro to Pretty Vacant. Also, his handwritten lyric sheet for Pretty Vacant is missing far more of the final lyrics than the one line he claims John added, the line he claims John added is the "cheap comments" part, but if he wrote that, it seems logical he also wrote the bit about being "out to lunch", and sure enough neither line appears in Matlock's copy. Finally, he has the strongest reasons of any of them to be upset and therefore the strongest incentive to exaggerate. I'm sure he contributed to the lyrics and some technical aspects of the arrangements, having the most technical skills he would have naturally refined a lot of the small details, but I think his role, like every other member, has been warped. The best book I've read on the whole subject is without a doubt Viv Albertine's Clothes, Music, Boys. She's such a gossip hound and busybody that it's hard not to believe her version of events. Her stories fit the facts and personalities extremely well and clear up apparent conflicts. Not only does she provide plausible explanations for falling outs, but if she's right, it fits perfectly with why they would lie about it. There has always been a mystery around the rivalries and conflicts of that band and the wider scene, she explains it so perfectly my curiosity is finally satisfied.

[@datsshowbiz8558]

"If you ain't got the look you'll never be one" Generation X one hundred punks rule.

[@weatherburngary]

The only downside to the album was the inclusion of the four singles..recorded November 76-October 77. Speddings commitment to this project was pretty impressive in that case? And did Spedding also play on Silly Thing, damn good continuity of the "Steve Jones" sound in that case and Spedding Must've been busy playing on Iggys Blah blah blah album? If so , that Cry for Love solo is another classic SJ impersonation????..That Freddie story? Sid was a huge fan, felt the ssme about Abba. and was made up to run into him at a studio. Paul Weller having a physical altercation with Sid in 77 is the story Please turn your forensic analysis to "Paul is dead" next?

[@jessejorgensen3931]

Listen to the soundboard/ sound check for the 78 winterland show. Unless someone else is playing for him at sound check, he's noodling on that guitar pretty well.

[@NotBCT]

14:38 according popular urban legend, the response was "ah, yes, Mr. Ferocious, we're doing our best, dear." According to the late Mr. Mercury himself, he merely called Sid "Simon Ferocious," and after Sid reacted negatively, it was then that he said "what are you going to do about it?" It were one of Queen's roadies what embellished the story by saying Freddie grabbed him by the lapels. Apparently Freddie's witty yet withering response alone was enough to cower Sid. That's an Alpha Gay for you.

[@rickg8015]

You nailed Asheton’s tone man.. I love Spedding with John Cale back then in the 70’s.. I think Jonesy and Spedding both played on NMTB.. I like Jonesy’s sessions on Thunders’ solo album, and Thunders’ playing was influential on him (in his best days..)

[@LeahDyson-kq4bd]

Little London boys

[@adamwalters5850]

The Spedding demos were the first demos the Pistols did in May 1976. The Demos that ‘Got them signed’ were the Dave Goodman ‘Denmark St’ demos made in August 1976

[@coolbuzz23]

Exactly... This Ricky gervais lookalike knows zilch about punk rock, zilch about the pistols and a lot less zilch about Steve Jones...

[@adamwalters5850]

@@coolbuzz23 Plus the fact that on the outtakes you can hear him speaking between takes, then you have the Manchester Square Demos from Dec 1976 and the Gooseberry Studios demos from Jan 77 where, again you hear him betwixt takes. ‘The Engineer’ on NMTB Bill Price was one of the most revered engineers in the country who worked with with everyone. He would not have passed compliment on Jones’ guitar playing for no reason. Chirs Spedding spent most of 77’ with Bryan Ferry😂

[@TracyFClark]

The sound of Bollocks is Chris Thomas and Bill Price. Jones played all the guitars and bass on almost all the tracks. They kept Matlock's bass part for Anarchy In The UK. Apparently Sid plays on "Submission" but he was in the hospital during the recording sessions. I believe it was Bill Price that suggested they overdub Jones's guitar tracks multiple times to get that wall of sound. To his credit Jones add the overdubbed parts perfectly. There are actual photos of the band minus Sid recording the basic tracks of vocals, drums and guitar at Wessex Studios.

[@CIRCLEOFTONE]

If you think that was all Jones on bass you have not tried to record before. He played guitar for one year and you think the FIRST time he ever picked up a bass he sounded like a seasoned session pro? There is no way. If you play guitar, cast your mind back to your first recording. I do think Jones played on the album, but no way did he play all of it and most of the bass. It went through MANY hands before being released and IMO some fairy dust was sprinkled on it

[@TracyFClark]

@@CIRCLEOFTONE Actually I have logged MANY hours in recording studios including MY own for about 45 yrs. That being said it's not like Steve Jones is Jaco Pastorius on bass he just played single notes along with the power chords he played on guitar. He also started playing guitar in 1974-75 two to three years before recording anything. The Pistols also played well over 100 gigs before recording. The sessions have both been documented by Bill Price and Chris Thomas. You obviously have no idea wtf you're talking about. Have a nice time!

[@derekarmstrong1408]

Love your take. Same age here, and remember being a 14 year old starting to play punk with no lessons and my dad explaining that the bands I was trying to copy were actually skilled, accomplished musicians before they became "punk". Took another decade or so before I could hear the difference. Looking back at my own recordings that sound like the original Germs album, and comparing to FEAR, The Damned and Sex Pistols really makes sense. Totally agree that McLaren did produce an album Milli Vanilli style. Real question: what show are those clips near the end from, with the guitar posed by keyboard guy, and the Spinal Tap style bass discussion? Is that "The Wombles"?

[@CIRCLEOFTONE]

That is Bad News. They started shooting a few months before Spinal Tap and it was a similar thing. They did two shows. One was Bad News Tour. And the other was More Bad News. I'll dig up some links.

[@CIRCLEOFTONE]

Here is the first one Bad News Tour (a bit dated but I love it) kzbin.info/www/bejne/ZnSVeJ2nnpeUnc0

[@CIRCLEOFTONE]

Here is More Bad News kzbin.info/www/bejne/nZKnmpmGjr1rY9k

[@derekarmstrong1408]

@@CIRCLEOFTONE Nice, thanks for posting that! First 30 seconds feels like a flashback or ST meets Young Ones or Absolutely Fabulous. PS That's a trip to find out your dad was in Badfinger. Been watching your channel for a while since picking up the guitar again and going on the tone-chasing journey. Had no idea you were pedigreed.

[@phil3034]

@@CIRCLEOFTONE jimmy page didn’t write stairway to heaven until he was 27🤣 Classic, thank you for the link, I’m going to relive my youth ❤️

[@nickball2010]

Two things make me believe Steve played the guitar on NMTB, first John Lydon was in the studio at the time and I'm pretty sure he would have been only too happy to mention it in his book if Chris Spedding had done it, plus in the studio is completely different to playing on stage with one guitar, there's something like seven multi tracked guitars on Anarchy in the UK on the record no wonder it sounds better and the songs are not that difficult to play it's basically bar chords and Chuck Berry licks.

[@CIRCLEOFTONE]

Just because you play on something, does not mean you make it to the final mix. I stated both the musicians and the producers could buy know because the tapes passed through so many hands.

[@nickball2010]

@@CIRCLEOFTONE No idea what your saying here.

[@overthewaterx2]

@@CIRCLEOFTONE so everybody involved either lied or was an idiot unable to see what was happening in studio...I spent a lot of time with Bill price....didn't figure him as a liar but apparently you know better.

[@TXRBL]

Glen was and is an amazing artist who wrote most of their songs.

[@markwilliamwestonwilson1503]

He was a knob should have stayed with the Rich kids

[@marcelbr815]

Then the pistols would never have been the pistols.

[@jeydanwilliams6378]

John lydon wrote all there stuff

[@marcelbr815]

@@jeydanwilliams6378 Even the riffs?

[@theintruder5401]

Glen didnt write most their songs 😅 he was responsible for the music writing of a few but lydon had the lyrics sorted.

[@chrismccormack3081]

Steve Jones played every guitar part on every sex pistols recording and all the bass on Never Mind the Bollocks apart from a few snippets they saved from Sid. He's a phenomenal guitarist and was then too... sloppy live at times but it was all him.

[@CIRCLEOFTONE]

Why hasn't he equaled NMTB since?

[@chrismccormack3081]

@@CIRCLEOFTONE They only made one album and that band was about the combination of people that made it what it was. That doesnt have anything to do with him playing guitar on the record though

[@muzzymuzzmuzz1]

@@CIRCLEOFTONE why didn't Kurt Cobain match anything up to Nevermind? Why didn't John Squire match anything up to the Roses' debut album? It's all a moot point. Fundamentally they created moments of magic...and that alone is enough

[@paull.6026]

Exactly. He was a great player in those days especially for having little experience. Times he played sloppy live were usually because the bass was nonexistent, bad PA sound or maybe being drunk. You listen to gigs with Matlock on bass and the band is tight as hell.

[@dgenerated]

@@paull.6026 Obviously the band Never should have gotten rid of Matlock as it was (ultimately) the end of the group as the band you see with Vicious was a band coming apart at the seams, with a bassist that half the time had his amp off, or turned down to an inaudible level!..

[@weatherburngary]

This is such fun. .please can you analyse "Paul is dead" next? I'll start the ball rolling, I think the current one IS Billy Shears🤣🤣

[@philippendletonmusic]

This video is a nostalgia trip - I'm little bit older than you and as a child I loved the Wombles! And then the Pistols came along when I was 12 and I loved it. Motorbiking was a song that's always stayed with me as well. Oh and my dad was in the Pretty Things - David Gilmore said the Pretty Things make the Stone's sound lame!

[@CIRCLEOFTONE]

Dude! TPT are amazing. Speaking of Punk I wonder if MC5 was influenced by your dad's band?

[@philippendletonmusic]

@@CIRCLEOFTONE I'm not sure about MC5 but Joey Ramone called the Pretty Things “the biggest influence” on the Ramones and said they “invented garage bands.”

[@Ryan-vg4wn]

your Dad played a great slide guitar!

[@killforpeae69]

Much respect and love bro

[@RavnerRavner]

​@@philippendletonmusicI got turned on to The Pretty Things by Sylvain Sylvain in 2000. He played Come See Me with his band The El Caminos at a dive bar in Birmingham Alabama.... Incredible song.

[@winnipegperfectcircleflyin7859]

After hearing so much about the huge rock bands using backing tracks at concerts, it makes me appreciete the Pistols live gigs even more

[@CIRCLEOFTONE]

Yep rock and metal went from spit and sawdust to on rails protools cut n paste

[@qxpxqx]

What is that final song you're recording at the end of the vid? It's FANTASTIC. ;)

[@CIRCLEOFTONE]

It's from my video on Adam and the Ants kzbin.info/www/bejne/rGitaZatgppsb9E

[@allyourbasearebelongtous2191]

Kurt did get talked into double tracking on Nevermind. Butch Vig reminded him that Lennon did it and he gave in.

[@MarginWalker]

Did anyone understand what this lady was talking about?

[@christopheralton-moonn2097]

That is all Steve on that record. Matlock played all the bass. Steve and Sid played bass on Holiday in the Sun and Bodies.

[@CIRCLEOFTONE]

Matlock was a great player but I think the NBTB was less busy than his style. I could be wrong though.

[@christopheralton-moonn2097]

He played on Pretty Vacant

[@mattgriffin2545]

There was a very good classic albums documentary about the making of ‘Never Mind the Bollocks’ where the producer Chris Thomas talks in great depth about the recording process and Steve Jones’s contribution, he praises his technique and how tight his playing is and how he added the bass lines as root notes so that they sit underneath the main guitar track and form a very strong dynamic; it is this along with Rotten’s vocal phrasing that is the essence of the Sex Pistols appeal. The Chris Spedding rumour has been doing the rounds for years but is not the truth, he did produce the pistols ‘Spunk’ bootleg however.

[@CIRCLEOFTONE]

Right you may want to watch this video.

[@jayblair4344]

FYI Chris wrote the slide guitar parts on George Harrison ' All Things Must Pass ' ........... like gas . George copied the parts , Chris got the Das Boote . I did a session with Chris in my Toronto Studio . We went to the Pub .

[@CIRCLEOFTONE]

Damn! As it happens my dad's band Badfinger played on that album too.

[@ericmalone3213]

Quite a lot of conjecture here. Chris Thomas was not the kind of producer who snuck around bringing in session musicians to play uncredited without telling the band about it. There's a video on KZbin of Steve Jones playing all the guitar parts from Never Mind The Bollocks and explaining how he came up with them, taking speed & practicing all night. And Jones did indeed steal lots of gear before he joined The Pistols. For example, he stole Mick Woodmansey's cymbals, & paid Woodmansey back for them in cash decades later when Mick was a guest on Steve's radio show. Pete Townshend did indeed play on Can't Explain. Jimmy Page was brought in to do the solo, & session singers were brought in to do the backing vocals, for which they're credited. As to the CIA's involvement in Modern Art, that had to do with the manipulation of the market to place America at the center of the market, instead of France. And it just so happened that the painters whose work sold for what were then very high prices, happened to be incredibly talented artists, such as Willem de Kooning, Philip Guston, Robert Motherwell, Joan Mitchell, et al. Back to session musicians: The Byrds only sang on their first album. The instruments were played by The Wrecking Crew. The group were furious, and demanded to be able to play on at least one song. When the producer finally agreed, it took them 77 takes to get a useable track. The Sex Pistols had been playing regular gigs before they recorded Bollocks. Jones was perfectly competent with the material. Paul Cook was the weak link in the pre-Sidney The Vicious Pistols. Shortly before they went into the studio, he was still having a bit of trouble coming out of a drum fill while still keeping time, but got it together by the time they went into the studio.

[@lookherelooklisten7462]

Personally I feel the myth that they couldn’t play live was around the US tour Steve’s gear got abused during transit necks needing adjusting, bridges needed setting he had no roadies that’s why you hear him constantly go out of tune and also the band was on its last legs so he just didn’t care most likely if you listen to live shows from 1976-1977 you can play he plays really well I think the best two shows that are good audio quality is screen on the green and Baton Rouge

[@RevStickleback]

Maybe if you factor in Sid's genuine lack of ability, they were pretty much a two-piece band, instrumentally.

[@lookherelooklisten7462]

@@RevStickleback yeah that’s true steve had to cut out a lot of his playing ability to compensate for the lack of bass like he wouldn’t play the solo to EMI and the wouldn’t play liar live either or satellite

[@gavinreid2741]

Steve Jones changed his gear when the Sex Pistols signed to EMI. The Les Paul that he used on the Dave Goodman Spunk sessions and famously at the 100 clubwas sold to Brian Chevette of Eater. Eater were produced by Goodman. It sold in a Christies auction in 2010 for just over £16k

[@CIRCLEOFTONE]

Did you know at the EXACT time that Speddings setup was SPECIFICALLY a Femder Twin and Les Paul? The exact setup "Jones" used on NMTB? The guitar also sounded really basic and clumsy vs the polish of NMTB. Everything Steve touched after NMTB flopped. Great info btw.

[@witchfindergeneralelectric8758]

The Wombles were way more punk than the Pistols. 1. They lived in a commune 2. They gave a shit about the planet, made good use of the things they found and recycled decades before it was cool, trend setters 3. They were straight edge. You never saw Orinoco popping pills or hammered on booze 4. They were vegetarian, I reckon, never seen a Womble tucking into a steak 5. They feckin rocked, 'Remember you're a Womble' is an absolute banger They basically invented modern post punk.

[@CIRCLEOFTONE]

Haha. Spot on. You just described the average Portland Crust Punk squat.

[@goodlookingcorpse]

Holy shit. The Wombles were Crass.

[@helenbartoszek243]

That makes the Wombles hippies, not punk

[@goodlookingcorpse]

@@helenbartoszek243 anarcho-punk is hippies plus mohawks.

[@RevStickleback]

Nah...they had they own TV show and merch from the start. Complete sell outs.

[@joeyday1252]

First time I heard Never Mind the Bullocks.... I was really surprised by how slow the songs were and how "professional" the music sounded. I remember thinking "If you remove Rotten's vocals, this could be a Foreigner album".

[@CIRCLEOFTONE]

Haha

[@fives.]

I genuinely tend to believe that Spedding did the scratch tracking of Anarchy, God Save the Queen etc. and all of the early stuff, and that all of the extra layers on those songs are Jonesy tracking his parts properly over Spedding’s scratch tracks (essentially playing along, on his best, most focussed takes) which were left in the final mix, and when Matlock left, Jonesy was able enough that he could make his rhythm gimmick translate over to the bass without much issue; Bodies was where they employed the “straight into the board bottom-string-chugging next to the kick & snare” trick he showed on the Classic Albums episode, ‘cos Sid’s was playing was that weak. Jonesy is all over Bollocks, but I seriously wonder if Cookie tracked drums to Spedding’s guitar/bass scratch tracking for the songs’ early development. It just goes to show - Lloyd/Verlaine, Johnny Ramone, Sylvain and eventually Dr. Know from Bad Brains - the Americans had their shit together way earlier and way better than their British counterparts. It was guys like Sumner/Hook, Keith Levene, John MacGeoch etc. that saved the skill and musical ability of British punk when it was all said and done. Mick Jones and Paul Simonon also, but they really were song-writers as opposed to riff-builders sculpting songs from their instrumental ideas

[@innocentoctave]

This is the most credible explanation, I believe. The idea that Spedding played all over that album, but that all involved - including all the flaky people around the Pistols - have kept that a secret for over four decades, I don't find convincing. I can also see someone taking Steve aside and explaining how to build up guitar tracks in layers; whether Spedding, or an engineer, or a producer, would hardly matter. I think Steve Jones was tight enough at the time to play what we hear on the record - particularly if he had a guide track to play to. Live performances at the time could be very hit-and-miss, because of limited monitoring and excessive onstage volume. This makes live recordings - often on dodgy equipment from the audience - a poor guide to ability. I was at an early Siouxsie gig: the band sounded better in the street outside than in the hall. In the clips here, Jones to me sounds like many another guitarist of the time - he can't hear himself properly.

[@OtherMike5000]

KINGS OF THE WILD FRONTIER is unparalleled! If you were my neighbor I would just want to do Adan and The Ants 🐜 covers.

[@Loxx_Sustainar]

Just recently discovered your channel and loving it man! This one is really interesting... I've heard this Spedding thing many times, I always kinda thought, if he did do it all, or most of it, wouldn't he have claimed that by now? Surely wouldn't have just kept tip lipped watching this thing become the masterpiece that it became over the last 45 odd years.. plus all the documented Pistols gigs are fucking wasted! None of them were willing to take the stage even almost sober, Jones in particular spoke about how he used to throw up before a lot of gigs. In the studio he was obsessed with Roxy Music and really wanted to get things right? Also, this comment is just an open stream of thought as you have me doubting everything... haha look forward to your next vid. You just about nailed Damned and Stooges there! Awesome stuff, thanks for sharing

[@CIRCLEOFTONE]

Thanks man! Glad you like it. I'm working on Deftones as we speak.

[@Loxx_Sustainar]

@CIRCLE OF TONE. oh yeah! Looking forward to that! Great content mate 👍

[@jessejorgensen3931]

If you watch videos, you can hear his playing progress. It's amazing what you can do in a few months with time and the right mentor. I think spedding definitely coached him along the way. I've been at home sick and would just play for hrs. The amount you can improve in that period of time is insane. That being said, as I've gotten better, I've realized what's on that record is not just some dude banging out 2 chords in 4/4 time. I can't believe lydon wouldn't out jonsey if he didn't play on that record.

[@CIRCLEOFTONE]

Yep but I mentioned the band may not even know that some got swapped out. Spedding once released a song where he mimic's other guitarists styles. Wink wink.

[@jessejorgensen3931]

I would believe it. I find it harder to believe he came up with some of those licks all on his own. But yeah, i understand what you're saying. I love mr jones and want to give him all the credit i can. Maybe not image wise, but he's the punkest dude in that band.

[@maverikk521]

Yup, I used to have near every single bootleg recording from their 75-77 shows and you could hear his progress. He did a lot of speed in the early days and spent hours and hours practicing.

[@maverikk521]

@@CIRCLEOFTONE you're making some conspiracy out of nothing.

[@BrianMarcus-nz7cs]

​@@maverikk521if U want more U Kan ask, 🤺🦕🦩🦩🦩

[@mgoshko1963]

Great vid! I was a metal fan (Sabbath, Zeppelin, Rush) when the Pistols hit. But I was blown away by the energy of that record that I named "violence on vinyl." Still love it.

[@LeahDyson-kq4bd]

Rush oh lord

[@marcraygun6290]

I think may be as simple as Steve was always drunk live but not in studio

[@Johnniehaha]

The guy in that picture isn't Spedding actually.

[@JustAnAnonymousViewer]

You're wrong about I Can't Explain. Producer Shel Talmy has clarified that Jimmy Page only played on the B-side of the single, Bald Headed Woman. That's why the fuzz-pedal guitar on that track sounds like nothing else Townshend recorded at the time. Whereas the style and tone of the guitar on I Can't Explain matches Townshend's output of that period. And regarding NTMB, it was not switched between numerous Producers. There were just two involved, Bill Price and Chris Thomas. Spedding had merely been involved in recording a demo session 6 months prior to the start of the NMTB sessions. Also, there was no bouncing back and forth with remixing before the album was finally accepted. It was just a case of running orders being altered. The 2017 Record Store Day release of God Save Sex Pistols (the original title of NMTB) has the original (and rejected) tracklist. Exactly the same mixes as NMTB. PS; the bass on NMTB. Some of it sounds like a "proper" bass player because Glen Matlock recorded his Anarchy part before he left the band. The rest of the album pretty much does follow the root etc. in the rudimentary style of someone who's not a "proper" bassist. Listen to Anarchy's bass style and compare it with the rest of the album. It sticks out like a sore thumb as being more technical because Matlock could actually play bass.

[@ronmorey3475]

I think your theories are pretty spot-on. DEFINITELY, please do a deep dive into the power pop influence of your dad's band! Man, they were so good! Cheers

[@vegetariansuniteworldwide8091]

Who was /is his father?? I adored Badginger back in the day😄😄

[@ronmorey3475]

@@vegetariansuniteworldwide8091 Is that Prince Harry's new band?

[@jeffmalm9708]

Great video. First I'm seeing this channel. And I have so much love for Badfinger! The tragedy of Badfinger...

[@BenGilbey]

There’s a good interview with Chris Spedding on the Rockontuers podcast where they talk about the Pistols, recording the demos, Fender Twins, NMTB and that rumour. Oh, and the Wombles.

[@CIRCLEOFTONE]

It's awesome that the Womble musicians played for Rod Stewart, Bryan Adams etc etc.

[@BenGilbey]

They also have a podcast with Mike Batt if you want more Womble stories 😉

[@lightningstrikes7314]

The 'Wrecking Crew' model goes across the whole industry. The entertainment industry's product is allegedly self-contained bands that write, sing and play everything themselves. Thus we celebrate their all round genius. The truth is they get a little help from their 'friends' under the guidance of the central figure of the Producer. These tend to be ruthless and will tend to bring in a session guy who can nail it in the first take with the correct feel, attitude and musicianship if things aren't right. See George Martin/Alan White on the Beatles first EMI sessions.

[@randomhuman19]

Interesting video. I could certainly see why both CS and SJ would fabricate stories. But I dont know why the two production guys in the documentary you showed would lie.

[@whojamfan]

It’s well documented by the engineer that recorded NMTB that Jones did ALL the guitars and most of the bass. The engineer went on to say Jones was the tightest rhythm player he ever recorded, and the all the bits and ringing chords and accenting different parts were his idea was nothing short if genius. Do your homework and watch the video the engineer made with track isolation and explanation of Steves abilities. Get the facts before saying a lot of rumors and bs that is unsubstantiated-like the title of this video. Steve wanted to be a rock guitarist, not some shlub that studio fannies had to carry. Steve Jones is legit-his work with Joan Jett, The Professionals, and Billy Idols guitarist before Steve Stevens where I think a heroin problem took him out of the equation for a bit.

[@whojamfan]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/kGixc4dmrrKmo9k

[@J.C...]

Nonsense. All nonsense. The only person that couldn't play was SID VICIOUS.

[@68Warpigs]

OK.. you got my sub and respect to your theory, albeit with a lump in my throat.. I'm 55 and a life-long Pistols fan and I have always been under the impression that Steve did the lead AND bass parts for all songs on NMTB apart from Bodies which they took Sid's bass recording. I'm aware of Spedding's heavy involvement in and around the band but never knew he could have been the (at least in part) lead guitarist. I'll accept the theory from a guitar professional which you clearly are, but leaves a nasty taste I won't lie. Interesting watch, thanks I'm off to watch your Killing Joke session.

[@overthewaterx2]

so you swallow this crap regardless of all the information available from people actually involved? some fan.

[@PedrSion]

Matlock was kicked out of the band for asking McLaren where his royalties were given that he was the lyricist

[@CIRCLEOFTONE]

That sounds about right

[@bloppysloppy2283]

According to Glen in his memoir the only Lyrica he wrote were for "Pretty Vacant" and part of "Submission". Glen and Steve wrote most of the music.

[@derekdykeman9160]

Rotten wrote all the lyrics

[@bloppysloppy2283]

@@derekdykeman9160 Except for "Seventeen" and "Did You No Wrong" both written pre-Rotten and "Pretty Vacant" words and music by Glen. Submission lyrics were a collaboration of Rotten and Glen. Rotten wrote all the rest of the lyrics.

[@duane8829]

@@derekdykeman9160 vacant and lazy sod were already written when he joined.

[@trelard]

Malcolms tenet was always "Cash From Chaos". All these years later and we still don't know the full truth about that album. It's still a best selling album, even with the chaos. Yes, Jones has improved greatly over the years, but his live performances at the time of recording of the recording leave a lot to be desired. TBH, as a huge Sex Pistols fan, the only performer I can trust as having the talent expressed on the album is Lydon.

[@jackbyrd4921]

Studio musicians have been used on countless tracks because they brought something to it that couldn't be had anyway else. They were no different, the live band is one thing the recording is different beast. On a side note No Matter What is a killer tune.

[@chrisgray4651]

Like Jimmy Page doing the solo on you really got me by the kinks! Many bands use session musicians.

[@ASTRUM502]

On a live show, you have Sid barely playing, chaos on the venue, not good sound, and no studio overdubs and effects. If you look at the live shows with Matlock, the sound is much tighter and better.

[@erikhilsinger9421]

It was a swindle. Basically a boy band with a different theme, a bad boy band. The fashion was forward with the marketing and that's why it was an art project, and not really a band.

[@zombiemosher1139]

I love your vids man but I think your off here. The live thing, the guy was a junkie in the live stuff. Listen to Billy Idol Dancing... & The Professionals. He has a style & a sound. Damn, he's also on Megadeth's Anarchy... his playing personality is on Bollocks. Love The Wombles BTW. :)

[@CIRCLEOFTONE]

He'd only been playing 3 months. I just could not wrap my head around it sounding that good without shenanigans.

[@daverice2426]

​@@CIRCLEOFTONE Actually he claims to have only been playing for three months before their first gig, in '75, so he had a couple years under his belt by the time of "Bollocks" I'm with zombiemosher, I think it was him; those live clips seem consistent with booze, chaos, lousy '70s club monitors, dodging spit, lack of live experience, shaky rhythm section, you name it, I can easily see him playing that sloppily under the circumstances. In the studio he would have had as many takes as he needed and I'm sure some excellent coaching from the brilliant Chris Thomas and maybe Spedding too, especially on those amazing multi-guitar arrangements. Plus his subsequent stuff sounds like the exact same guy. PS You nailed the Damned/Stooges covers!

[@CIRCLEOFTONE]

@@daverice2426 Ah I got that 3 month thing from a comment on this vid today. I don't think Substitute etc sounds on par with NMTB playing wise. Like I said in the vid, I think whoever played added tracks had way more finesse than 70's Jones. Jones was very important to NMTB from your opinion of events and mine. I just can't believe it's all him AND that killer bass.

[@zombiemosher1139]

@@CIRCLEOFTONE so he says but as you pointed out there is a lot of embellishment on facts.

[@batelly211]

@@daverice2426 Agreed Also loved the Adam Ant cover at the end. Although he didn't sound insane enough like Adam did.

[@DavidMorley]

"New Rose" hit me full on. What a song. As for Jones on NMTB. Who knows. Love Steve Jones though.

[@nickmurray3545]

Yeah that's right. Chris Thomas lied. Bill Price lied. Jonesie lied. Matlock lied. Lydon lied. And they've been lying ever since. BOLLOCKS. The facts: Jonesie played every lead and rhythm on NMTB. And every bass line except Anarchy (Matlock). Vicious' bass is barely noticeable on Bodies. And that's the true, historical facts. You say you love 'Em mate but you don't seem to acknowledge that the reason NMTB is one of the greatest rock n roll records of all time is down, to a large part, Jonesie. He's one of the most simple, yet distinctive, intuitive and unmistakable leads in rock history. And don't get me started on his tone...thousands have tried - and failed - to get near it. It's funny how you like Marco so much...a bloke who idolised Jonesie back in the day and was a major, major influence on him....

[@weatherburngary]

You are correct... My list of who would have to be aware of Spedding being the guitarist from Anarchy onwards.. and keeping quiet about it since December 1976 Steve Jones Chris Spedding John Lydon Paul Cook Glen Matlock John Beverley Chris Thomas Bill Price Dave Goodman Malclm McLaren Vivienne Westwood Rodent Nils Stevenson Nora Forster Arianna (Up)Forster Viv Albertine Rest of the Slits....etc etc McLaren would have spilt the beans years ago if it was true, it would fit perfectly with his "manufactured" band BS...if it was true and he hadn't mentioned it he missed an open goal there!

[@CIRCLEOFTONE]

Why did Jones sound like a Gorilla on the follow up? Why has he not got anywhere near NMTB on his own stuff?

[@weatherburngary]

Which follow up?

[@CIRCLEOFTONE]

@@weatherburngary practically all of them haha. If he was this prodigious bass player and master of subtle guitar layers why didn't he put his magic on his own releases after this? NMTB was head and shoulders above anything he did since. Suddenly the next step was basic rock plodding?

[@weatherburngary]

I'm not sure what point you are making? The Pistols and SJ's success and influence came from the perfect combination of song writer, lyricist, attitude, the need for change etc. A TEAM effort 1975 to 78....once it was over why would anyone expect any individual member of the band to have the continued magic touch on their own, or with new musicians? Steve alone wasn't responsible for the Pistols legacy, they all where when together Who ever said he was magic? I'm only saying it was him on the first 4 singles and album, in my opinion

[@wrongchordsrecords]

this is an interesting topic, some people think matlock came back to play bass on the record . someone like spedding could have come in ( i know the damned liked him ) but i personally think some of those demos especially Anarchy sound just as good ,that one has more energy i think. Would jones admit it in interviews? Johnny would def have said something ! Or Malcolm , it would fit his ''swindle '' story very well..... i can never understand the idea that he used a fender twin, i dont think you can get that sound from a silver twin.

[@CIRCLEOFTONE]

And it just so happens by complete coincidence that Speddings main setup back then was a Les Paul, Fender Twin and mxr pedals haha. I mentioned in the vid that the band often don't know they have been overdubbed by others. I think Jones was on the album, but the embellishments and doubling etc was added by Spedding who actually had a record of him impersonating world class guitarists.

[@Cfolger]

Everybody knows Glenn got fired cuz he washes his feet too much

[@CIRCLEOFTONE]

Lol

[@iansutherlandcraig]

Bill Price could not have been clearer about Steve’s abilities on his guitar and takes us through track by track.

[@CIRCLEOFTONE]

Yeah I covered that. It went through many hands...

[@theoriginalt-paine3776]

This is very interesting, I had the same experience. I heard about how terrible the Sex Pistols were, that they couldn’t play their instruments, etc. but I always felt like that didn’t jive with the album at all. Don’t get me wrong, it’s a fairly straight forward, and simple good ol’ fashioned distorted fast paced Rock ‘n’ Roll album, there’s not a ton going on, the songs are all fairly simple, so it’s not like one needs to be a Prog-Rock Jazz-steeped genius to play them well. If you can keep time, you can play Sex Pistols as well as the people that recorded the album. However, compared to their demos & live recordings they sound absolutely nothing like the album & Johnny Rotten’s vocals are the only remotely consistent part of their music. So I’ve always personally believed they are not the ones playing on the album, but I had no idea who it could be. If it was Chris Spedding that played on the album, I think that’s really fucking cool actually. Likewise, I would not be even remotely surprised to learn that the CIA, or MI6 played a role in the birth of Punk Rock. It would make a lot of sense, and it would be a really smart play on their part, after all the best opposition to have is opposition that you control. What better way to prevent counter-cultural movements from actually affecting change within your society than by controlling, shaping & steering those movements in the direction you want them to go from behind the scenes. Promoting a group like The Sex Pistols to be leaders of a counter-cultural movement, over other groups that had much more potent, and effective messages, and who actually could have led people to affect real social change. The Sex Pistols were an ineffectual drug addled mess, and I say this as a person who loves drugs, and firmly believes that all of them should be legal for adults. However, the thing about drugs is you have to know how to use them in a responsible way, otherwise they can consume you & destroy you & prevent you from managing your life effectively, and affecting the changes you wish to see in the world. The Sex Pistols definitely fell victim to that, and that made it next to impossible for them to be effective leaders, and effective messengers. Rather than spreading a message of real political change & reform, their message amounted to nothing more than aimless nihilism & hedonism, and that is not an effective way to affect change. Steering the Punk movement towards pure nihilism & hedonism was a brilliant way to prevent it ever posing a real threat to the political & social power structures of the UK & the US, and ensuring that it would fall on its face & fizzle out. So it wouldn’t surprise me in the least to someday learn that The Sex Pistols were an industry plant.

[@jaysea1553]

l think you might be on to something why not latch on to a bunch of useless twat's as against people who really were into political change,l mean let's face it it was all about the fashion as much as anything else and your right about the drugs

[@punkoid76]

Two reasons why the demos sound so different. 1 Glens bass playing was much more melodic and carried the songs against the more minimal guitar tracks. 2 Chris Thomas’ wall of guitar approach to the album tracks, Steve played it, just so many times overdubbed on each track it was never going to sound like the demos.

[@ziggylayneable]

2:47 Is that picture of you playing that crackly red guitar one of those 29 fret washburn's from the 80s?

[@CIRCLEOFTONE]

It's a Tokai v-75 from the late 80's. A Rand copy.

[@ziggylayneable]

@@CIRCLEOFTONE thanks man I. I just remember the guitar magazines from the 80s when I was a teenager. The crackly guitar with 29 fretz always look so cool I wouldn't mind having that Tokai though

[@michaelturner6469]

Thanks so much for this. I joined a Pistols Tribute act a few years ago because I thought " 3 chord thrash = easy peasy " as I started learning the songs I was amazed - I really had to be on my toes to get this stuff right. Then I learn Steve Jones like learnt to play guitar less than a year before recording!! Im like...really?? Thanks for clearing it up - I knew there was something going on.

[@CIRCLEOFTONE]

Right!? It's so nuanced and busy to play.

[@charliebright8027]

Except he's wrong

[@derekdykeman9160]

Multiply guitar tracks Jones played on that whole album period no on else

[@ASTRUM502]

These songs are not that hard, I'm a crap player and I've covered many of those songs, they are on my channel here, among other covers, solo, and band live and recorded stuff.

[@GordonCaledonia]

No, no, no, a Womble _found_ the mastertapes of _Bollocks_ that some folks had left behind on Wimbledon Common and VOILA!

[@rikantony6571]

spedding was a womble but steve was the bollocks

[@CIRCLEOFTONE]

They both formed a more swole pair of bollocks.

[@jeffmurray6219]

The wombles live on Clapham Common was legendary. I was there.

[@sonijam]

What is that last song you're singing/playing?

[@0KT0BER]

Adam and the Ants - Kings of the Wild Frontier. Owen has a recreation video on here for it.

[@sonijam]

@@0KT0BER Thanks!

[@CIRCLEOFTONE]

Check out my Killing Joke vid here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/l3u1o6qjm7loq8U Adam ant the Ants: kzbin.info/www/bejne/rGitaZatgppsb9E Womblin free, from tyranny.

[@DieNetaDie]

Hi from Nepal, just subscribed and then I find out your dad was in Badfinger. :) Good music is universal.

[@johnvandenheuvel6792]

Steve Jones did all the Guitar work and bass on the album. I've been a professional for 35 years and even bringing up this question is an insult. Phil Emmanuel (R.I.P.) told me that Steve Jones was a great unique guitarist. I'll take his word over anyone any day. NO Sub here because you need to grow up mate. All the best

[@CIRCLEOFTONE]

Crazy how he never matched that album with his other recordings eh? He sounded like a Gorilla on later records. Crazy that eh? Peaked on his very first signed recording then "forgot" how to create magic. The bass was so good on the first album I'm suprised he was never a saught after bass session player. ;-)

[@johnvandenheuvel6792]

@@CIRCLEOFTONE In approx 3500 gigs the best ones are well rehearsed because we change our sets between 200 covers and 50 originals. When you're on the road in Australia the band likes to keep it fun too and the following you gain like a change as well. . . When it came time to record it's a different world. A lot depends on the producer and the rest. You need experience mate. Steve got worse with drink and drugs later and I can relate to that. Steve Jones had good and bad days. We all do but when you record with someone who's right for you, it will bring out the best in you. I am trying to get along mate. Kind regards. Johno

[@CIRCLEOFTONE]

@@johnvandenheuvel6792 You are making a lot of excuses for him. Crazy coincidence Spedding used Gibson/Fender Twin combo before the Sex Pistols and released a song where he mimicked world class guitar players on one single eh? What are the odds that Jones who was Malcolms driver and had never played guitar before suddenly became world class for ONE album only eh?

[@overthewaterx2]

@@CIRCLEOFTONE you just don't learn do you regardless of evidence presented, piss poor way of growing your channel.

[@BrianMarcus-nz7cs]

​@@CIRCLEOFTONEjealous 🐎🥂

[@douglasalexander4348]

Punk was heavily influenced by Wombles. Check out captain sensible from the Damned with his pink womble top. Vivian Westwood started out as was a designer for her womble friend uncle Bulgaria, and that’s how the whole punk and Tartan fashion started.

[@CIRCLEOFTONE]

Haha. Nice.

[@brainawayfilms1687]

As someone whose band in the 80s used to deliver a completely sincere punk version of 'Remember You're a Womble' and shares some of your insider insight into the often unpretty biz, I have to say this really hit the spot. I'll be back for more.

[@davidlomax4028]

Waste of video.. I want 22 mins of my life back!

[@johnnieriot13]

Great video man. Got my sub. Ramones came out in 76 and they were playing shows since 74

[@tytlersbicycle]

I loved Bad News Tour as a kid.

[@CIRCLEOFTONE]

I remember watching it as kid. So funny.

[@kevinbrewis6014]

went to see them live on tour in 1987

[@tytlersbicycle]

@@kevinbrewis6014 They actually played gigs? lol. Who knew.

[@MrWhippy-i9e]

The Flying V you see Jones in the studio with was Spedding's guitar that was given to him by Nora when was going out with her in the very early days of punk. Jones then got off with Nora and eventually Lydon married her (another of the reasons Jones and lydon don't get on) . As much as it'd be good to be true Spedding never played on the Bollock album and as a session musician you can be sure he'd have tried to get the royalties from an album that's sold millions. No denying he played the overdubbed lead lines on the Spunk album though

[@CIRCLEOFTONE]

I believe Jones 100% played on Spunk because it sounded like a Gorilla playing it

[@TheTigerQuoll]

The great rock n roll swindle alright.

[@RichRobinson]

Wicked video mate. Always been a HUGE fan of NMTB. Food for thought, for sure. Liked & subscribed.

[@MP-ve4cj]

Steve Jones played all the guitar parts AND the bass on NMTB, because Sid couldn't play and was in hospital with jaundice for a chunk of the recording time. Both the Producer and the Engineer on the sessions confirm this as fact.

[@CIRCLEOFTONE]

You didn't watch my video but that's fineeeee

[@RevStickleback]

It's rare here, but Americans seem to fully buy into the whole 'boy band' myth around the Sex Pistols, they they were a record industry creation to cash in on the punk boom. Three of them were already the band before asking McLaren to manage them, and Lydon was invited to audition after several others turned the job down. And none of the people involved had any connection to the corporate world of music, and obviously, until The Sex Pistols came along, there was no punk 'boom'. But, the myth persists, possible because American punks are a little jealous that British punk was actually successful, and put punk on the map.

[@LeahDyson-kq4bd]

It's actually true they were a manufactured vision of Malcolm that doesn't mean they didn't have good songs

[@RevStickleback]

@@LeahDyson-kq4bd it's not true at all. Anyone spending a basic five minutes into the history of the band would realise it's nonsense.

[@CIRCLEOFTONE]

Yet every single thing Jones released after NMTB was a massive flop.

[@BrianMarcus-nz7cs]

​@@CIRCLEOFTONESo ,and , you sound wanker, jealous 🤺🐎

[@SNUBCULCHA]

Fascinating presentation mate. I’m 53 so like you kinda missed the punk thing and been playing catch-up ever since. Also loved the Wombles😂 Didnt Steve Jones play guitar on repo man for iggy pop? He seems to have got the hang of it by then! Cheers. I’ve subbed :)

[@nicholaspetergagg7769]

I think Steve played guitar on NMTB because he did a song on Siouxsie and the Banshees album kaleidoscope in 1980 and it's really good

[@CIRCLEOFTONE]

Yep he def was on there in some shape or form.

[@shckltnebay]

WTF?

[@TP42411]

Yes he did! Kaleidoscope is also a great album. Perhaps not as good as the scream ,Join Hands and Juju, but still i like it. I am a fan of Siouxsie and the banshees, and the Pistols.

[@electricleg207]

He played in the Gen X album Kiss Me Deadly as well.

[@jakeforder9435]

Spedding helped to produce the 'Spunk' demo sessions in 1976. I can't find any evidence that he plays on the album

[@pigknickers2975]

Somewhere I have the Goodman book. It's a good read but obvs he builds up the Spunk recordings a lot - and no, they weren't that good compared to NMTB which was almost perfection. Can't recall Spedding playing. It was the layering that Jones did, and his mate Cookie delivering the goods too. I am a professional engineer and producer and have a link into some of these names.

[@CIRCLEOFTONE]

It's night and day. You can't progress that much. Don't you think it is a bit of a coincidence that a month before Spedding met the Pistols his guitar rig was Les Paul, Fender Twin, MXR phaser. EXACTLY what ended up on the album. Spedding is famous for releasing a single where he mimics the greatest guitarists of all time. As a producer you MUST have had beginner guitarists doing sessions to know NMTB was world class. And he played the BASS that good too? Not buying it. If that was the case why did everything after NMTB that Jones recorded flopped? Sounded like a Gorilla playing it?

[@raymondmassey6884]

OK - curiosity has me wondering - where are you from originally? I'll guess at Pontypool? (Or maybe the next valley?) Newbridge? Blackwood? Has my accent analysis let me down? Love your stuff BTW.

[@CIRCLEOFTONE]

Swansea boyo

[@raymondmassey6884]

@@CIRCLEOFTONE Well - that surprises me. Not normally that far out! 😜

[@gogs2222]

Lydon would take great pleasure in revealing Jones never played on Bollocks or that he is a very limited guitarist. The opposite is true though. He has always been very complimentary of his playing.

[@CIRCLEOFTONE]

The last to know are the musicians. Even The Beatles didn't know some were replaced

[@centralparkjoe1290]

Just found your awesome channel! Love Badfinger! We all thought it was the Beatles reunited 🤙

[@xplanet2112]

Your videos are becoming so interesting man, fast becoming a great KZbinr now.

[@gilwood7530]

Just a bit older here ...57 I was into all the raw stuff early ...when I was real young I started as a huge ZAPPA fan at 9 yrs old so everything after that was kinda playful ...Really love BOLLOCKS ...still do , Gotta say I think John is the only one that couldn't be replaced , but liked them all as a unit . For simple stuff the Buzzcocks really took it to another level ...Also a huge FALL fan ...goes back to loving VU ...Oh yeah , I'm a yank , so we had to search for imports back in the day...AATA were amazing...that insane drumming ...in the States it was Jocks that hated punks until KMart started selling studded belts ...jocks turn new wave over night...skinny ties and yellow shirts Great video

[@CIRCLEOFTONE]

It was a hell of a time to be your age at that point re music. You can't beat finding a new musical scene as 13-19 year old.

[@TheChadTI]

Bands are an alchemy beyond who actually did what, components of ( for better or worse) a spell. I never bought the story of Jonsey learning guitar over a week long speed binge (it's funny though) but he was a necessary component (for whatever reason, image,?) to create that spell that was The Sex Pistols. A common troupe in the music business 👍

[@michaelmac1798]

Playing live for most bands never sounds as good as the studio recording anyway. That rumour about Spedding goes way back. That wasnt him on the photo you pointed out. I dont believe Jones stole Bowies equipment. But Jones said he used to take Speed and play the guitar that would work in the studio. The bands Slick and Bay City Rollers didn't play on their records, only the singing was them. Also Steve Jones and Paul Cook played with and hung around with Thin Lizzy, if they were that incompetent would Phil Lynott et al have even entertained them!?

[@jacksonfilm]

Entertaining theory. I say he played everything. But clearly under careful producer direction. Jones is clearly pissed on all the big live shows so that's no reflection. The playing at various TV studio performances aren't bad. And I'd point to their cover of No Fun (which I prefer to the original!), which is like a live cut in the studio you can hear how good they were away from the super polished album cuts.

[@CIRCLEOFTONE]

Yep I think he definitely played on the album but some "things" were added.

[@themadmattster9647]

Sex Pistols were very temperamental live. Check out Live at the Longhorn vs their last show. Very tight live at the former show and more like the album and then loose and falling apart at times on latter. Reason I think Jones played all the guitars are because of this variance of the shows and accounts by other musicians influenced by them in many of Jon Savage’s interviews with the original punks. They used Roxy Music’s producer. It’s almost like if Nirvana would have used Bob Rock or something. There were plenty of shenanigans back then, but we know about Kiss’s shenanigans with session players now, I just think someone would’ve come forward by now

[@workwithglenmurray]

Also the instruments were actually in tune as opposed to a lot is the punk stuff coming out at the time slightly out of time or bending of strings