Sex Pistols - Majestic Studio Demos

The first Pistols demos recorded by Chris Spedding at Majestic Studios in London on 15th May 1976.

[@hammerhead222]

Glen really knew his way around a bass. Those lines are great for such a young player.

[@likkidixx]

As a hobby-bassplayer, I'm amazed of the lines he wrote. They fit the song perfectly.

[@ChrisReilly-d7r]

Proper Bassist Glen Matlock

[@ΓιάννηςΠαπαθανασίου-μ1β]

Glen's bass is excellent!

[@theox8276]

this is a hell of a demo. Glen & Paul were a tight and creative rhythmic base

[@robertdokic1751]

Love this band still give me goosebumps I'm 61 now best punk band ever

[@vontwinks_too6274]

LUV the early rotten singing which leaves a lot more space around the edges! great post, ViVA SPEDDING !!!

[@LordStompyHarpLoonyTunes]

@Malte Laurids Brigge The whole band went from shit fumblers to fecking brilliant in about 2 years

[@ntr7030]

Great description. Listening to the vocals I couldn’t decide what’s the most distinctive difference between these recordings and those on the album. You nailed it. I prefer the vocals here in many ways, but I do miss the snarl he put on the later stuff. More growl than snarl here. The musicianship of the band is stellar.

[@neilrushworth5958]

Completely agree 👍

[@LuisRomero-uq1zw]

Great Uploading.Lydon voices talen band of punkRockersid Great playing guitar 🎸 forever

[@srenkaarepetersen9034]

Best vocal style from Lydon

[@P_owie]

So raw and stripped back. 10/10 Steve Jones's guitar wow!

[@ntr7030]

I think Billy Zoom must have been a fan!

[@AvoidingHumanSociety]

That’s not Jones on guitar, it’s Spedding

[@xdef1ne]

@@AvoidingHumanSocietyit’s jones.

[@fantomaeronautics1148]

Tut tut tut. It is JONES on guitar, and if you dont recognise the strum and the strokes, your ears aint working. Even Spedding said so. @@AvoidingHumanSociety

[@tonystevenson26]

That solo in Problems is exceptional and i wish it was on NMTB

[@AngelusArchive]

Problems 0:00 Pretty Vacant 3:57 No Feeling 6:41

[@markymarco2570]

00:00 is not working

[@earld158]

these could be released as the album they sound great

[@greatestytcommentator]

Pretty sure these are the same tapes aren't they? They just remastered it ... badly after they got punted from EMi

[@tonystevenson26]

​@@greatestytcommentatorI here alot of differences

[@turntablesrockmyworld9315]

Naw, this, if released would have gone nowhere. The Thompson production made the actual album what it was.

[@theox8276]

Great!! just 2 weeks after the Ramones released its debut album. They played in the UK for the first time on july 4th, 1976.

[@MichaelCasanovaMusic]

What a difference it makes having an actual bassist instead of a cartoon character

[@usefulvidiots7869]

No shit. Amazing how so many get caught up in the look of something (which is pretty horrid in itself with Simon) when he knew shit about bass, couldn't play it, and pretty much destroyed the group, thanks to Mr. Lydon bringing him in. he junkie had zero to do with the songs. I'm happy Brixton exists.

[@xanakinskywoker1817]

Useful Vidiots you probably wouldn’t even know who they are if it wasn’t for Sid

[@jamesmurphy5585]

Yes, Sid was hired because he had the look . Couldn't play tho

[@Stigmatix666]

@@filipematias5127 Yes. And "Belsen Was A Gas" was even Sid's own contribution to the band..

[@l.salisbury1253]

"Vicious! You hit me with a flower! You do it every hour! Oh, baby, you're Sid Vicious!" -Lou Reed

[@treblebass6721]

Steve Jones definitely playing through an HH amp rather the Fender Twin Reverb he used live and on later recordings. The HH amps have a distinctive sound! I still have my IC100S and VS Musician.

[@mikaelsjoberg1894]

Many great recordings from those amps...The Skids , DR Feelgood , Sweet , T Rex..

[@Mr.Steve-O]

Thanks for clarifying that, does not sound like a Fender Twin to me either. Daniel Ash used the HH amps as well in the early Bauhaus days as did Bolan and others you mentioned

[@johnhareiel5118]

What's a HH amp?

[@treblebass6721]

@@johnhareiel5118 Hi, HH amps were a UK amplifier manufacturer ( HH Electronics of Cambridge). Popular in the 1970's and early 1980's. They were transistor amps with Tube emulation. Many punk bands (Skids, X -Ray Spex etc) used them, also early Pink Floyd (for keyboards, I think) amongst many. So they were common in the UK. You can still buy them second hand. Cool feature was the dial settings on the front would light up in a nice green glow. Check out the HH VS Musician amp!

[@johnhareiel5118]

@@treblebass6721 o.k. I'll have to look some up. I do know lots of info about The Sex Pistols....but this is the first new info I found on them in years. I thought it was Fender Twin all the way for Steve Jones till he switched to Marshall stacks. Any other info you may know that I don't is appreciated

[@S.Staes1]

Nothings like good old fashion Sex Pistols 🍺🍺🍺🍺🍺🍺

[@eoinmurphyeoinmurphy669]

Steve Jones I love you.

[@somoslasfieras]

I love Steve too,but i dont think he plays here,or in the album...

[@mjh5437]

Steve`s facial expression in this photograph is the visual representation of ths sound....Best ever.

[@drstevie]

Beautiful.

[@draxlerchronicles5851]

God, if only Glen had been there when they recorded Bollocks. A real fucking talent!

[@saraivatoledo1842]

Actually I can´t imagine Nevermind teh bollocks with this type of bass proficiency . The versions on " Nevermind the bollocks " turned out much more aggressive and raw than these demos ... the bass reflects why Lydon was so disgusted at Glen ... he was just too sophisticated a musician for what´s going on in this .

[@Lord_Hillcrest]

@@saraivatoledo1842 What an uninformed comment . Glens bass had nothing to do with what lydon thought of him . It was MM that destroyed their relationship .

[@saraivatoledo1842]

@@Lord_Hillcrest You may be right , I wasn´t there . - But , the bass lines I hear in these demos come from some kid who might as well had tried an audition for King Crimson - a lingering thought which in turn would had made Lydon a very angry boy 😂 ( even though I´m pretty certain Lydon enjoyed King Crimson in secrecy , of course ... he surely did Van der Graaf Generator and a few less pompous and cute prog rock things )

[@devilsforkdigital1490]

@@saraivatoledo1842 Yep, would have changed the album completely. You can barely really hear the bass on NMTB -- it's all about Steve's multitracked blunderbuss guitar sound.

[@simonbarrett6059]

@@devilsforkdigital1490 true, the 'bass' is just Steve Jones guitar played an octave lower.

[@dynjarren7523]

This is great! Early R&B versions of Pistols songs!

[@spino.urchin]

When you listen to the solo of No Feelings you can hear a strong New York Dolls influence. The Licks sound like Johnny Thunders. Steve Jones definitely listened to a lot of the Dolls stuff.

[@Vichedges]

If you know anything about Jones he says he literally learned how to play guitar by playing along with Dolls and Stooges records.

[@turntablesrockmyworld9315]

Yeah, Steve's limited style is basically Johnny Thunders mixed with Chuck Berry riffs.He also stole guitar riffs from The Jam. Holidays in the Sun opening guitar is nicked from Paul Weller.

[@tomasvanecek8626]

@@turntablesrockmyworld9315 Lol, poor soul... it was Beatles who stole Berrys riffs.. and Thunders was a junkie wreck who could play no guitar. The Jam and Weller are at best a honorable mention in history books, no one cared for that pitty shlt ever... gotta love the haters like you, keep it coming 😅

[@krisscanlon4051]

Definitely Thunders moves and licks

[@somoslasfieras]

Im pretty sure the guy who plays guitar in the album has to be Thunders,or Speeding trying to imitate Thunders.

[@markgreet3543]

Im a huge fan and collector 259 items met glen and John and bought Steve's book which is signed these demos are amazing first heard on the bootleg pirates of destiny amazing seen them live 6 times on reunion tours people who say they are crap are cloth ears cretins who won't even listen to them but listen to the hype about them.bollocks to them never mind the bollocks were the dogs bollocks they did more 26 months than most bands do in a life time I like many genres of music but the pistols were unique.new box set 1976 1977 is amazing 8 previously unreleased tracks some idiots just don't know how good the were saying sadly there's so much hype about them one prat said they only had one song once another div said 15 members in the band oh dear

[@Jah_Rastafari_ORIG]

2 words: Punk Chewation.

[@markgreet3543]

@@Jah_Rastafari_ORIG well done now its time for lights out.

[@Jah_Rastafari_ORIG]

@@markgreet3543 Not taking your meaning; please rephrase...

[@markgreet3543]

@@Jah_Rastafari_ORIG are you trying be obnoxious im takeing the piss lights out go to bed its late sarky comment. Thats what i mean. Goodbye 👌

[@markgreet3543]

1976 1977 box set is a gem

[@marcosalejo1859]

They recorded more takes from that songs in that session.

[@thenorthrocksmusic]

Stripped back is king

[@vladimirk3102]

Problems...Problems...I like this version of "Problems".

[@edsans6832]

the best version

[@larrydepretis2281]

Glen is a great bass player! Sid bless Him its known he was Johnny's best Friend.

[@larrydepretis2281]

Frikken Perfect

[@greatestytcommentator]

Great version of Pretty Vacant..

[@swiftcee266]

*Thanks for sharing!!!! Much love* And lol.....

[@pontypoolcleaning8730]

100 times better than lp version ang guitaring is more raw 💯💯🥁🥁🎸🎸🎸

[@seanregan4063]

I’d still say the guitar breaks are Spedding, reminds me of his style with the Vibrators

[@leahflower9924]

oh he was in the vibrators? i love that band lol

[@Mr.Steve-O]

@@leahflower9924 Yes he was

[@leahflower9924]

@@Mr.Steve-O and I'm going Baby baby baby lol

[@Mr.Steve-O]

@@leahflower9924 ha ha

[@leahflower9924]

@@krisscanlon4051 cool!

[@horacechit5042]

Love it, thanks for posting; But a sincere question: Is "demos" really the right description? These seem like early recordings, but very much a finished product; Arrangement worked out, and mixed, with no more work needed. But who cares what I think, I'll just listen again.

[@SexPistolsArchives]

I totally get your point. They are demos in the real sense of where the word demo comes form (i.e. demonstration) as opposed to rough version or remix. They were used to approach a few record labels with once it had been realised that the Pistols had started attracting audiences in London and a few up in the North. So to answer your question...yes they are demos....but they are final versions. (although they do play slightly at the wrong speed and are not directly sourced from the original master tape, but I won't get in to all that...as you say who cares...they sound good just listen to them and enjoy ;) )

[@Stigmatix666]

Well, they're not the same versions as on the album. Doesn't that make them demos by default?

[@prpwnage9296]

@@Stigmatix666 no

[@Stigmatix666]

@@prpwnage9296 Yes

[@prpwnage9296]

@@Stigmatix666 no it doesn't moron

[@David-xf7ff]

Nvm Nevermind the Bollocks, here's the REAL Sex Pistols! It's nice to have an actual bass player contributing. Kind of answers the question what Metallica's And Justice For All would've sounded like had Cliff Burton lived.

[@DominicVega95]

That fucking bass tho

[@mikaelsjoberg1894]

This is really good in its own right. But it shows very much what Chris Thomas and Bill Price did for the Pistols. Its worth at least a queens silver jubilee medal each... if not more....;)

[@mondozilla69]

Bollocks is so over-produced. Listen to Damned Damned Damned for a comparison. Captures the band perfectly.

[@mikaelsjoberg1894]

@@mondozilla69 I see what you mean - but Damned was probably a better band in a way - musically. That aside Bollocks is well produced - not overproduced - in my opinion.They had really catchy songs - and Price & Thomas aimed for the right spot.

[@Mr.Steve-O]

@@mikaelsjoberg1894 the damned were next level and still are today! Can't wait to see them again reunited with Rat and Brian.

[@dynjarren7523]

Glen Matlock wrote all the songs! He was such a Pistol! Sid Vicious just had the best image!

[@awotnot]

no he didnt you tit

[@jamesmurphy5585]

Yeah couldn't play a note or sing

[@realsinisterminister]

@@jamesmurphy5585 can you ya twat?

[@matthewjdouglas6471]

​@jamesmurphy5585 sid vicious could sing, you know nothing. Listen to sid covers of something else c'mon everybody by Eddie cochran and my way sinatra. He most definitely could sing.

[@matthewjdouglas6471]

​@jamesmurphy5585 three people don't know Jack shit about punk, you'd know sid can actually sing very well. Epic fail guys, epic fucking fail

[@matiasortiz3457]

Reliquia!!!

[@diegocristalboylovemarinmo8575]

Demos 1976

[@pauljakubiak9495]

Pertty vacant sounds completely different!

[@colargolfriend]

as very often, much better than final album version. but who really plays the guitar solo ?

[@SexPistolsArchives]

Sreve. The old myth about Spedding playing is simply that. I don't know where it ever started but it seems to constantly be mentioned. Spedding himself has said it simply isn't true and if you consider how good Steve's playing is at some of the '76 September shows only four months later it's clear he was an excellent guitarist (even if he couldn't play a Beatles chord) :)

[@robinnikolaisen9596]

That’s Speddings guitar rig. It’s his Les Paul jr. straight into his Fender Deluxe amp. So it’s the Spedding sound. But they say that Steve actually plays.

[@Vichedges]

This is OK but nowhere near as good as the album. The guitar tone here sucks compared to the album. The Spunk versions are much better than this.

[@vandelbasil5898]

It's Johnny Thunder' s style. Steve was a big fan of him, so he played the guitar in the same way. That proves Steve is the one who played on the demos.

[@markgreet3543]

Bought god save the queen blue vinyl it's a nice item I'm going to buy new album as I really do respect the band and its colour vinyl with sleeve note and a few pictures.ive got mixed feelings about pistol on disney but I may watch it

[@simonbarrett6059]

Paul Cook, tight as...

[@jagerking7020]

Wow that bass on Pretty vacant is tasty as fuck. Sounds like a Rickenbacker 4001.

[@jedgould5531]

This is produced as well or better than any punk rock recording I’ve ever heard. Hurt By Love by Chris Spedding is a superior rock song and should have been on this tape. History would have been different.

[@Vichedges]

Why would a Chris Spedding song be on a Sex Pistols demo lol? And how would it have changed history?

[@ethanblackhurst8593]

@@Vichedges He's probably going to claim Spedding played all the guitars.

[@tatethompson1234]

Steve used a Telecaster on the demos

[@charliecroker7005]

What's the consensus on the veracity of the myth that Chris played the guitar parts? Those flourishes on No Feelings don't sound like Jonesy. Edit- just spotted some earlier discussion of this subject, so apols for any repetition. I still suspect that Chris did those flourishes. Someone ask him if he didLOL.

[@theox8276]

You can hear clearly Matlock & Cook. Jonesy was stll developing his style...kinda New York Dolls feel. Maybe Spedding only played the solos.

[@charliecroker7005]

@Thejimbobs I reckon they could have survived on NMTB, with its multiple guitar tracks, muffled in the mix. It doesn't matter- we have different recordings of the songs to enjoy, on different days. Yer right about McLaren. He might have been a bit of a shit, but he was a genius too, in his own way.

[@charliecroker7005]

@Thejimbobs I must read that. I'd always regarded him, primarily, as a professional troublemaker, who bullied Glen out of the band. Glen was my "favourite"Pistol- he wrote most of the music, and called that Mancunian hanger-on a c**t. That's a knighthood, if I'm doling them out!

[@charliecroker7005]

@Thejimbobs PS Ta for reminding me about this. I've just enjoyed a good blast on it. Teach the neighbours to say I only get out of bed in the afternoon LOL.

[@daviddavis3155]

Innit from the Spunk bootleg, they call em rough mixes, across the street

[@divergencefilms]

These sound different to the 'Spunk' demos. Where has this been hiding?

[@leewest3739]

No Feelings is a great track could have been a single in its own right

[@dynjarren8355]

This sounds great! Spedding on guitar 🎸 I think and it’s great Rock n Roll! And great drumming by Paul Cook! These are great early versions!

[@mikaelsjoberg1894]

Jones denies that. He used Speddings fender amp though...

[@dynjarren8355]

@@mikaelsjoberg1894 Are you saying Jones says it’s him? Interesting. I heard Spedding was the one who played on their demos early. Now I have to Google this. Or Wikipedia. I have to find out for sure.

[@andrewmitchell269]

@@dynjarren8355 hahaha!!! "I'll have to look it up, have to know for sure..."🤣🤣

[@Lord_Hillcrest]

@@dynjarren8355 You are wrong , Jonsey is on guitar .

[@vagabondvibes2578]

Steve Jones is playing guitar.

[@7777srd]

Pointless, but you have to wonder what this band may have done had they not fired Matlock.

[@rebluecrow]

Great document. They sounded totally different than The Ramones, much closer to New York Dolls. The guitar sound is a crap compared to the awesome trademark motor like of NMTB.

[@turntablesrockmyworld9315]

Yeah i always say the production made the album what it is. Much of the guitar was highlighted. For example, God Save the Queen has at least 3 layers of guitar.

[@patrickalloyssius9138]

How did it go from this to nmtb ???

[@lazlokovacs2263]

I don't know for sure, but this solo style is more similar to Speeding's than Jones'.

[@joseaquino8773]

Very straightforward and simple, but good for a new band. The album sounds a little too overproduced, even when it's awesome

[@SexPistolsArchives]

Yeah even though NMTB is pretty stunning there's a lot of Pistols stuff out there that's actually better. Some of the mixes that were rejected are actually better than the final versions. Just an opinion of course. I haven't actually listened to NMTB all the way through for about two years!

[@tomasvanecek8626]

The album is just RIGHT

[@DaisyPumpkin23]

Thank you SO much for uploading this. I have heard these Spedding demos before, but this version is so much cleaner & sharper sounding than all other versions I've heard. Is this sourced from a C.D, and if so what is the C.D ? Also, do you know if these are the actual final mixes made by Spedding ? According to an interview I read, Spedding says that his original mixes are hard to get hold of, and that the versions on the market now are usually remixes made by that swindler Dave Goodman.

[@SexPistolsArchives]

Hi, these are from the 2002 Virgin CD boxset SEXBOX 1. They're the final Spedding mixes but are not sourced directly from the master tape itself and apparently play slightly faster than the master (though I'd suggest not noticeably so). The only official release to date which used the master tape directly was back in 1997/98 when each track appeared across three split 7" vinyl singles with some obscure Canadian punk bands comprising the flipside of each. I've never actually heard the versions from the vinyl singles but they'll be extremely close to the SEXBOX1 versions which are sourced from them I believe. As you mentioned they've popped up across a number of releases like 'Pirates of Destiny' (tampered with by Goodman), 'Savage Young Pistols' (too fast, again altered by Goodman) and on the 'Spunk' CD on a 'Never Mind The Bollocks' anniversary double CD reissue (mono versions). The vinyl singles are available on Ebay if you wanted to check them out (if you search on 'Sex Pistols Mans Ruin' and 'Sex Pistols No Feelings' you'll find all three with sleeves by Kozik). I might pick them up one day, but as mentioned I don't think there'll be any real noticeable difference between them and the SEXBOX1 versions.

[@philjames6206]

Somewhere I have a single of these cuts. It sounds like it was taken off a 10th generation cassette after sitting in a puddle. This sounds excellent.

[@Mrpublicimagelimited]

Dave Goodman.... the very mention of that arsehole's name annoys me.

[@charliecroker7005]

@@Mrpublicimagelimited Why is he an arsehole? He produced the next significant Pistols studio session, before Chris Thomas took over for the album recordings. Surely he deserves some merit for his role in that?

[@fantomaeronautics1148]

Dave Goodman is a hero and he deserves more credit for his role in the story of the pistols.

[@gasutrias9961]

😍

[@mickeyjupp1]

Thats Chris Spedding on the right next to MacLaren I think

[@mjh5437]

No,its one of their roadies.

[@brianmansfield666]

I think its Nils Stephenson

[@luciferdzhugashvili]

Glen wrote great songs and Chris Spedding played them wonderfully on the album. As well as the lead work on this.

[@iansutherlandcraig]

Idiotic statement.

[@tomasvanecek8626]

Sure he did, honey 🤣 .. any more old wife´s tales to share ? Christ...

[@whytegroovin]

classy from the beginning , despite the most common opinion only johnny rotten was a beginner , matlock , cook , jones knew how to play !!!

[@theox8276]

QUIZ cause i dont know. Spedding or Steve played the solos?

[@duane8829]

Doesn’t sound like Jonesy but spedding insists he never played a note. My feeling is that he may have shown Jones a few licks.

[@theox8276]

@@duane8829 The final notes on Problems sounds like Jonesy.

[@jamesmurphy5585]

Chris was supportive of the SP He also payed on a lot of their stuff, I read somewhere he actually played behind a curtain when they played live. It was on that show classic albums

[@rudikeegan]

utter bullshit

[@draxlerchronicles5851]

Fuckin hell 😣

[@jamesmurphy5585]

@@draxlerchronicles5851 has this shattered your image of the Pistols or something?

[@realsinisterminister]

@@jamesmurphy5585 shattered the image of you having any worthwhile input dickhead!

[@charliecroker7005]

@@realsinisterminister I always thought it was bollocks, but this very recording leads me to doubt myself. If you watch most live video of The Pistols, it's pretty clear that Steve Jones is playing the guitar, regardless of what is going on behind any curtain. It's not music that would require the talents of a virtuoso player, after all. NMTB is almost certainly multiple dubs of SJ's guitar. The guitar parts on the Goodman recordings are also quite straightforward, so I'm happy to attribute them to SJ. However: No feelings, on this earlier recording, has some extra guitar overdubs. Chris Spedding mentions them in this interview: routepublishing.wordpress.com/2019/05/15/sex-pistols-first-recording-session/ Now listen to CS' playing on this: kzbin.info/www/bejne/fprceKVsmdeBitU If I had to make a guess, I would say that the overdubbed flourishes on this version of No Feelings are Chris Spedding. I have asked the poster of this video for his opinions.

[@antstead2329]

Malcolm's publicity shenanigan's and John's ego put the rot into this band.

[@christopherarien3376]

Ever get the feeling most people don't get it.?? John lydon got it..

[@markgreet3543]

Beg no answer no reason why saves all friction and that's just fine

[@klausrain111]

John sounds great, but sorry, the guitar sound is lame on this version. Odd that, because Steve's a great guitar player. This is just a weird take.

[@НиколайГуляев-ц5ц]

So sad, but i think glenn spoils it.

[@markgreet3543]

Rotten early vocals more mellow good but he allway sounded amazing as the band did glen was far better than sid on bass but sid sounds good belsen demo respect

[@youiti2nz]

尾張B

[@youiti2nz]

７７AVで丈夫やで

[@JAROS-bp8jd]

No fun , did you no wrong pure punk , the rest bollocks.

[@lespaul1973bcn]

Pop punk

[@simonbarrett6059]

Chris Spedding, remember you're a womble!

[@jamesandrewtilburg4824]

That’s Spedding 100%....can spot his playing a mile off....

[@ethanblackhurst8593]

you couldn't spot the hole in your arse.

[@doctorskull8197]

Bass playing too busy. IMO. But the guitar sounds great ‼️

[@roterfuchs8201]

A bit busier than Sid

[@krisscanlon4051]

I love it...the antithesis of Sids sorta bass playing

[@angelicskin7756]

Pop pistols , ha ha ha ha ever get the feeling you've been cheated.chaos,anarchy,disorder but play like the small faces.

[@davidanchovies3340]

Not a problem with me. Its rock and roll.

[@JimmyFranceable]

Poor man’s Heartbreakers, but pretty good.

[@Pilchalar]

Buen día En qué vinilo se pueden encontrar estos demos?