1 research outputs found
A great friggin' swindle? Sex Pistols, school kids and 1979
This article examines the popularity of the Sex Pistolsâ song âFrigginâ in the Rigginââ and its parent album The Great Rock ânâ Roll Swindle. It argues that in 1979 the Sex Pistols attracted a new and younger audience, one that has been neglected in previous studies of the band, which tend instead to focus on the years 1976 and 1977 and the bandâs original coterie of followers. This article locates the teenage appeal of âFrigginâ in the Rigginââ in its themes of swearing, sex and piracy. It also explores the media infrastructure that enabled young adolescents to access this music. Following on from this, the article charts the triumph of Johnny Rottenâs Sex Pistolsâ narrative over that of Malcolm McLaren. The Great Rock ânâ Roll Swindle fell prey to notions of authenticity, coherence and the canonical tastes of young adults