Johnny Rotten joins the Sex Pistols
1975
Accounts differ as to how he got there, but in the summer of 1975 John Lydon (soon to be rechristened 'Rotten') found himself auditioning for the job of The Pistols lead singer at Malcom McLaren and Vivienne Westwood's 'Sex' shop on London's Kings Road. Rotten maintains that he was discovered by McLaren's associate Bernie Rhodes who was impressed by Rotten's T-shirt (a Pink Floyd shirt with the words 'I Hate' scrawled on it). For his audition, he sang along with an Alice Cooper record playing on the shop's Jukebox. Guitarist Steve Jones; "Rotten looked the part with his green hair, but he couldn't sing. Then again, we couldn't play, so it was okay". Three months later, the band played their fist gig.
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Blank Generation - Punk 1973-1980
A tale of two cities, London and New York and the birth of punk.
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jack - sheffield
i am a singer in a punk band and i look up to this guy he rocksMel,Magna Carta School
Johnny Rotten is my hero!David Burton, Cheshire
Its lucky that they picked Johnny instead of Sid! They originally wanted the other John (John Simon Ritchie, Sid's real name) as the lead singer. I really look up to Johhny Rotten. He's a really smart guy.peter rothwell leigh
brilliant bring back the old grey whistle test,so it goes and whats on please.i love what you are doing please please keep it coming thankyou.becca
great idea peterDex, Cumbernauld
Will this be repeated, coz I'm going to see the only ones tonight!peter rothwell leigh
please could the bbc air the full series of so it goes and shows like that that that show punk rock groups to celebrate the anniversary of punk thank you
Steve Jones
Guitarist
The Sex Pistol's guitarist
Vivienne Westwood
Fashion designer
Owner of the shop where the audition took place.