Ex Pistols
Encyclopedia
The Ex Pistols were a scam act introduced in 1979 by one-time Sex Pistols
producer Dave Goodman
after his services were substituted for those of professional producers. The Ex Pistols existed as a sound-alike band meant to mislead fans due to the similar music, name, and artwork, that led people to believe their songs were actually new or lost Sex Pistols recordings.
The Sex Pistols successfully sued and Dave Goodman was no longer allowed to use the name.
was a punk rock
version of the old English classic, Land of Hope and Glory
by Edward Elgar
. Not only did it confuse fans but it also caused legal trouble between Goodman
and the publisher of the original piece, Boosey & Hawkes
.
The next recordings would appear on numerous Sex Pistols compilation albums including the songs "Schools Are Prisons" and "Revolution in the Classroom
".
The "band" re-appeared in 1988 with an album released in Japan, The Swindle Continues
. The album was made up of the band performing Ex and Sex Pistols tracks. It came in the form of a double picture disc collectable LP, and was also released in plain vinyl form (and later, CD).
In 1992 their tracks surfaced again on a limited promo album, Deny
. The album consisted entirely of original Ex Pistols tracks, and was never merchandised but instead given to fans of the Sex Pistols or left in Virgin stores with a "Free" sticker.
A short while before he died, Dave Goodman released an album, "Denial of a Good Man" via his website, featuring remixed versions of some songs from the Deny
LP, a video to the song "Don't Fear", and a version of "Anarchy in the UK" by the Sex Pistols
with rewritten lyrics, named "Wedding Day".
played on two songs from the Deny LP and co-wrote Happy Families, John Lydon
was not so forthcoming. After winning the rights to the Sex Pistols music and documentation from Malcolm McLaren
and Glitterbest, he was outraged by Dave Goodman using the band's name and image to promote "inferior recordings" to cash in on their name and tarnish the Sex Pistols' reputation, and for using their photographs and likenesses on the Ex Pistols' records without permission. This includes the Land Of Hope And Glory 7" single (which has the Sex Pistols' figures on the disk, albeit with their faces crossed out), the Revolution In The Classroom single and The Swindle Continues
. The image on the sleeve of the Deny LP is not actually Johnny, rather Ex Pistols associate Tony Barber
(of the Buzzcocks
), who uncannily resembles John Lydon.
After a lawsuit ensued, Dave Goodman was banned from producing any more records made to look or sound like Sex Pistols recordings. The Ex Pistols next album, Denial Of A Good Man, was put on indefinite hold and the band changed their name to Dave Goodman & Friends. After that they re-released one more single entitled Justifiable Homicide (originally released in August 1978 and made commercially available and available for download on Dave Goodman's website) and recorded and released a music video for Don't Fear, segments of which were featured on the Chaos! The Ex Pistols' Secret History DVD. All the manufactured Denial Of A Good Man CDs were sold through Dave's website. The "band" has since delved to complete and utter obscurity but rumours abound of the existence of other sound alike and unreleased tracks such as "Fascist Regime" which would have no commercial value.
Dave Goodman and Kim Thraves owned a rehearsal studio with 4-track recording facilities where the Sex Pistols recorded some early demos. Goodman owned a PA system and became the Sex Pistols regular live sound engineer until 1977. Goodman produced the recordings that formed the "Spunk" album. Goodman's collection of very poor live sound recordings of the Sex Pistols have been released as "Live Worldwide" (Konexion Records, Belgium) and other titles. Some of these titles contain live Sex Pistols recordings interspersed with recordings of the EX PISTOLS making it appear that these tracks were performed by the SEX PISTOLS. Goodman's connection to the Sex Pistols ended in 1977 and his efforts to cash in on that one-time connection as a producer/engineer is unprecedented.
s used on the releases were
Actual musicians were
Sex Pistols
The Sex Pistols were an English punk rock band that formed in London in 1975. They were responsible for initiating the punk movement in the United Kingdom and inspiring many later punk and alternative rock musicians...
producer Dave Goodman
Dave Goodman
Dave Goodman was a record producer and musician, perhaps best known as the live sound engineer for Sex Pistols, and the producer of three of their studio demo sessions.-Sex Pistols:...
after his services were substituted for those of professional producers. The Ex Pistols existed as a sound-alike band meant to mislead fans due to the similar music, name, and artwork, that led people to believe their songs were actually new or lost Sex Pistols recordings.
The Sex Pistols successfully sued and Dave Goodman was no longer allowed to use the name.
Music
The first Ex Pistols release Land of Hope and GloryLand of Hope and Glory (Ex Pistols)
"Land of Hope and Glory" is the first single released by sound-a-like band Ex Pistols in 1984. The single is a punk rock alternative to Edward Elgar's classic, Pomp and Circumstance using various instruments and synth orchestra .The song confused many due to it sounding very much like a Sex Pistols...
was a punk rock
Punk rock
Punk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...
version of the old English classic, Land of Hope and Glory
Land of Hope and Glory
"Land of Hope and Glory" is a British patriotic song, with music by Edward Elgar and lyrics by A. C. Benson, written in 1902.- Composition :...
by Edward Elgar
Edward Elgar
Sir Edward William Elgar, 1st Baronet OM, GCVO was an English composer, many of whose works have entered the British and international classical concert repertoire. Among his best-known compositions are orchestral works including the Enigma Variations, the Pomp and Circumstance Marches, concertos...
. Not only did it confuse fans but it also caused legal trouble between Goodman
Dave Goodman
Dave Goodman was a record producer and musician, perhaps best known as the live sound engineer for Sex Pistols, and the producer of three of their studio demo sessions.-Sex Pistols:...
and the publisher of the original piece, Boosey & Hawkes
Boosey & Hawkes
Boosey & Hawkes is a British music publisher purported to be the largest specialist classical music publisher in the world. Until 2003, it was also a major manufacturer of brass, string and wind musical instruments....
.
The next recordings would appear on numerous Sex Pistols compilation albums including the songs "Schools Are Prisons" and "Revolution in the Classroom
Revolution in the Classroom
"Revolution in the Classroom" was a single released by the Ex Pistols; despite its packaging, the record has nothing to do with the Sex Pistols. The single was released in 1989 on the STP Records label, pressed on various colours of vinyl. The song, along with its B-Side Schools Are Prisons, were...
".
The "band" re-appeared in 1988 with an album released in Japan, The Swindle Continues
The Swindle Continues
The Swindle Continues is the first album released by the Ex Pistols in 1988. It consists of half Sex Pistols and half Ex Pistols material, and is the only Ex Pistols release that doesn't disguise itself as material completely by the Sex Pistols....
. The album was made up of the band performing Ex and Sex Pistols tracks. It came in the form of a double picture disc collectable LP, and was also released in plain vinyl form (and later, CD).
In 1992 their tracks surfaced again on a limited promo album, Deny
Deny LP
Deny is the second album released by the Ex Pistols in 1992. Due to the cover art, the band is often mis-credited as the "Sexless Pistols" in writing .The album itself isn't an...
. The album consisted entirely of original Ex Pistols tracks, and was never merchandised but instead given to fans of the Sex Pistols or left in Virgin stores with a "Free" sticker.
A short while before he died, Dave Goodman released an album, "Denial of a Good Man" via his website, featuring remixed versions of some songs from the Deny
Deny LP
Deny is the second album released by the Ex Pistols in 1992. Due to the cover art, the band is often mis-credited as the "Sexless Pistols" in writing .The album itself isn't an...
LP, a video to the song "Don't Fear", and a version of "Anarchy in the UK" by the Sex Pistols
Sex Pistols
The Sex Pistols were an English punk rock band that formed in London in 1975. They were responsible for initiating the punk movement in the United Kingdom and inspiring many later punk and alternative rock musicians...
with rewritten lyrics, named "Wedding Day".
Sex Pistols lawsuit
While Glen MatlockGlen Matlock
Glen Matlock is an English bass guitarist most famous for being in the original line-up of the punk rock band the Sex Pistols. Drummer Paul Cook has said that Matlock came up with much of the music for the band's songs and most of the lyrics, while lead singer Johnny Rotten made some adjustments...
played on two songs from the Deny LP and co-wrote Happy Families, John Lydon
John Lydon
John Joseph Lydon , also known by the former stage name Johnny Rotten, is a singer-songwriter and television presenter, best known as the lead singer of punk rock band the Sex Pistols from 1975 until 1978, and again for various revivals during the 1990s and 2000s...
was not so forthcoming. After winning the rights to the Sex Pistols music and documentation from Malcolm McLaren
Malcolm McLaren
Malcolm Robert Andrew McLaren was an English performer, impresario, self-publicist and manager of the Sex Pistols and the New York Dolls...
and Glitterbest, he was outraged by Dave Goodman using the band's name and image to promote "inferior recordings" to cash in on their name and tarnish the Sex Pistols' reputation, and for using their photographs and likenesses on the Ex Pistols' records without permission. This includes the Land Of Hope And Glory 7" single (which has the Sex Pistols' figures on the disk, albeit with their faces crossed out), the Revolution In The Classroom single and The Swindle Continues
The Swindle Continues
The Swindle Continues is the first album released by the Ex Pistols in 1988. It consists of half Sex Pistols and half Ex Pistols material, and is the only Ex Pistols release that doesn't disguise itself as material completely by the Sex Pistols....
. The image on the sleeve of the Deny LP is not actually Johnny, rather Ex Pistols associate Tony Barber
Tony Barber (bassist)
Anthony 'Tony' Barber is a former bassist of the British pop-punk band Buzzcocks. He joined the band in 1992....
(of the Buzzcocks
Buzzcocks
Buzzcocks are an English punk rock band formed in Bolton in 1976, led by singer–songwriter–guitarist Pete Shelley.They are regarded as an important influence on the Manchester music scene, the independent record label movement, punk rock, power pop, pop punk and indie rock. They achieved commercial...
), who uncannily resembles John Lydon.
After a lawsuit ensued, Dave Goodman was banned from producing any more records made to look or sound like Sex Pistols recordings. The Ex Pistols next album, Denial Of A Good Man, was put on indefinite hold and the band changed their name to Dave Goodman & Friends. After that they re-released one more single entitled Justifiable Homicide (originally released in August 1978 and made commercially available and available for download on Dave Goodman's website) and recorded and released a music video for Don't Fear, segments of which were featured on the Chaos! The Ex Pistols' Secret History DVD. All the manufactured Denial Of A Good Man CDs were sold through Dave's website. The "band" has since delved to complete and utter obscurity but rumours abound of the existence of other sound alike and unreleased tracks such as "Fascist Regime" which would have no commercial value.
Dave Goodman and Kim Thraves owned a rehearsal studio with 4-track recording facilities where the Sex Pistols recorded some early demos. Goodman owned a PA system and became the Sex Pistols regular live sound engineer until 1977. Goodman produced the recordings that formed the "Spunk" album. Goodman's collection of very poor live sound recordings of the Sex Pistols have been released as "Live Worldwide" (Konexion Records, Belgium) and other titles. Some of these titles contain live Sex Pistols recordings interspersed with recordings of the EX PISTOLS making it appear that these tracks were performed by the SEX PISTOLS. Goodman's connection to the Sex Pistols ended in 1977 and his efforts to cash in on that one-time connection as a producer/engineer is unprecedented.
Personnel on Ex Pistols recordings
PseudonymPseudonym
A pseudonym is a name that a person assumes for a particular purpose and that differs from his or her original orthonym...
s used on the releases were
- Rotten Johnny (for Johnny Rotten)
- Pull Cock (for Paul CookPaul CookPaul Thomas Cook is an English drummer and member of the punk rock band Sex Pistols.-Early life and career:...
) - Steal Jones (for Steve JonesSteve Jones (musician)Stephen Philip "Steve" Jones is an English rock guitarist, singer and actor, best known as guitarist and founding member of the punk rock band the Sex Pistols.-Childhood:...
) - Posh Pen Bollocks (for Glen MatlockGlen MatlockGlen Matlock is an English bass guitarist most famous for being in the original line-up of the punk rock band the Sex Pistols. Drummer Paul Cook has said that Matlock came up with much of the music for the band's songs and most of the lyrics, while lead singer Johnny Rotten made some adjustments...
)
Actual musicians were
- Dave Slave - vocals
- Alan Lee - guitar, vocals
- Dave GoodmanDave GoodmanDave Goodman was a record producer and musician, perhaps best known as the live sound engineer for Sex Pistols, and the producer of three of their studio demo sessions.-Sex Pistols:...
- bass guitar, vocals - Bryson GrahamBryson GrahamBryson Graham was a rock drummer, most notable as a member of Spooky Tooth, Girl and as a session musician.- History :Bryson Graham commenced his professional recording career, at the age of seventeen as a member of Mainhorse Airplane, with David Kubinec . He was later with Mainhorse with...
- drums - Del Bartle - guitar
- Andy Boreman - drums
- Dave MacIntosh - drums
- Kevin Murphy - drums
- Dave Rose - keyboards
Discography
| Release Type | Year Released | Title | Label | Country of Release |
| 12" Single | 1984 | Land of Hope and Glory Land of Hope and Glory (Ex Pistols) "Land of Hope and Glory" is the first single released by sound-a-like band Ex Pistols in 1984. The single is a punk rock alternative to Edward Elgar's classic, Pomp and Circumstance using various instruments and synth orchestra .The song confused many due to it sounding very much like a Sex Pistols... |
Virgin Records | France |
| 7" Single | 1984 | Land of Hope and Glory Land of Hope and Glory (Ex Pistols) "Land of Hope and Glory" is the first single released by sound-a-like band Ex Pistols in 1984. The single is a punk rock alternative to Edward Elgar's classic, Pomp and Circumstance using various instruments and synth orchestra .The song confused many due to it sounding very much like a Sex Pistols... |
Virgin Records | UK |
| 12" Double LP | 1988 | The Swindle Continues The Swindle Continues The Swindle Continues is the first album released by the Ex Pistols in 1988. It consists of half Sex Pistols and half Ex Pistols material, and is the only Ex Pistols release that doesn't disguise itself as material completely by the Sex Pistols.... |
VAP | Japan |
| 7" Single | 1989 | Revolution in the Classroom Revolution in the Classroom "Revolution in the Classroom" was a single released by the Ex Pistols; despite its packaging, the record has nothing to do with the Sex Pistols. The single was released in 1989 on the STP Records label, pressed on various colours of vinyl. The song, along with its B-Side Schools Are Prisons, were... |
S.T.P. Records | UK |
| 12" Promo LP | 1992 | Deny LP Deny LP Deny is the second album released by the Ex Pistols in 1992. Due to the cover art, the band is often mis-credited as the "Sexless Pistols" in writing .The album itself isn't an... |
Mandala Records | UK |
| Promo CD | 2000 | Denial of a Good Man | Vagina | UK |
Links and further information
- "Not the Sex Pistols" - a site documenting Ex Pistols and Dave Goodman activity
- Dave Goodman's page on the Ex Pistols authorized An unofficial MySpace profile