While mostly accurate,
dismissing Never Mind the
Bollocks as merely a series of
loud, ragged mid-tempo rockers
with a harsh, grating vocalist
and not much melody would be a
terrible error. Already
anthemic songs are rendered
positively transcendent by
Johnny Rotten's rabid, foaming
delivery. His bitterly
sarcastic attacks on
pretentious affectation and the
very foundations of British
society were all carried out in
the most confrontational,
impolite manner possible. Most
imitators of the Pistols'
angry nihilism missed the
point: Underneath the shock
tactics and theatrical
negativity were social
critiques carefully designed
for maximum impact. Never Mind
the Bollocks perfectly
articulated the frustration,
rage, and dissatisfaction of
the British working class with
the establishment, a spirit
quick to translate itself to
strictly rock & roll terms. The
Pistols paved the way for
countless other bands to make
similarly rebellious
statements, but arguably none
were as daring or effective.
It's easy to see how the
band's roaring energy,
overwhelmingly snotty attitude,
and Rotten's furious ranting
sparked a musical revolution,
and those qualities haven't
diminished one bit over time.
Never Mind the Bollocks is
simply one of the greatest,
most inspiring rock records of
all time.
dismissing Never Mind the
Bollocks as merely a series of
loud, ragged mid-tempo rockers
with a harsh, grating vocalist
and not much melody would be a
terrible error. Already
anthemic songs are rendered
positively transcendent by
Johnny Rotten's rabid, foaming
delivery. His bitterly
sarcastic attacks on
pretentious affectation and the
very foundations of British
society were all carried out in
the most confrontational,
impolite manner possible. Most
imitators of the Pistols'
angry nihilism missed the
point: Underneath the shock
tactics and theatrical
negativity were social
critiques carefully designed
for maximum impact. Never Mind
the Bollocks perfectly
articulated the frustration,
rage, and dissatisfaction of
the British working class with
the establishment, a spirit
quick to translate itself to
strictly rock & roll terms. The
Pistols paved the way for
countless other bands to make
similarly rebellious
statements, but arguably none
were as daring or effective.
It's easy to see how the
band's roaring energy,
overwhelmingly snotty attitude,
and Rotten's furious ranting
sparked a musical revolution,
and those qualities haven't
diminished one bit over time.
Never Mind the Bollocks is
simply one of the greatest,
most inspiring rock records of
all time.
