Search - Sex Pistols - Never Mind the Bollocks on DVD

God save the Sex Pistols!

Lao Che | Central New York | 10/20/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is a fantastic DVD for any longtime fan of the SEX PISTOLS, anyone curious about the beginnings of English "punk" or anyone just passionate about rock music. We are treated to candid and relaxed interviews with the important characters involved in bringing this great album to life. I think this makes a great companion documentary to THE FILTH AND THE FURY; a fine documentary, kind of using the anti-gloss, cut-up approach for highlighting the influences, the rise, the fall and impact of the SEX PISTOLS. For me, NEVER MIND THE BOLLOCKS has never grown old, the music brilliantly simple. In addition, knowing the history of the band, it makes the music that much richer. On this documentary - John Lydon speaks fondly to the comic, almost camp feel at the heart of this album. Steve Jones laments that if they hadn't kicked Glen out, if they didn't do the Bill Grundy show - there may have been more albums from the SEX PISTOLS. The bonus material is simply stuff that was excised from the main event of this DVD, because it strays away from the subject of the album itself. It is possible this was originally aired as a series on television, and they had to trim everything for interest of time? Whatever the case, I wish they just presented it as a whole - all included. The bonus material can only be viewed section by section, and that can get tiring after a while. Not a major complaint, really. I'm glad I bought this DVD; it provides a fresh view to a notoriously underrated band. I recommend it highly."

From Out Of Nowhere Comes This Little Gem...

Clark Paull | Murder City | 02/11/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"As other reviewers have mentioned, this nifty little documentary will take you by surprise and throw you for a loop. Upon initial examination of the case, I was half expecting a cheesy VH-1 or MTV-style piece, poorly researched and rehashing facts and half-truths that us Sex Pistols fans have heard told over and over again. The cliche about not judging a book, er, DVD, by its cover is especially apropos here since the producers have really done their homework and managed to gather revelatory interview footage from all of the culprits involved in the making of the band's "only" (God, does that term rankle me - doesn't "The Great Rock & Roll Swindle" count?) album, including the band (minus Sid of course), Malcolm McLaren, producer Chris Thomas, engineer Bill Price, and record company man Nick Mobbs. Interspersed with the interviews are clips of the band playing live in clubs and on TV and generally wreaking havoc in and around London ("The Bill Grundy Show" anyone?), most of which are familiar to fans of the band, but which never seem to get old. Of particular interest is learning that John Lydon can actually let his guard down and smile (and should do so more often - it suits him), Steve Jones demonstrating just how he gets that guitar sound by effortlessly casting off patented wall-of-noise riffs from his white Les Paul, and Price showing how he combined guitar, bass, drum and vocal tracks in the studio to create a big, beautiful din that a thousand Nirvanas couldn't come close to duplicating if their lives depended on it. Loaded with extras, including an additional segment of Jones basically showing off on guitar (I know I'm dwelling on Jones, but I'm fascinated by the technology of guitars and amps and he's so amiable you just want to buy him a pint) and crystal clear live footage shot in Stockholm, this wonderful disc demands a look. Highly recommended!"

Better Than "The Filth and The Fury"

Andrew J. Patrick | Great Mills, MD United States | 03/16/2006

(4 out of 5 stars)

"For several reasons:

1) It's shorter, appropriate to a career as short as the Pistols was.

2) It's less pretentious.

3) It's less burdened by the need to undo "The Great Rock n'Roll Swindle", which was more or less "Fury's" entire purpose. In this we actually get to hear McClaren bubble harmlessly about how he was a "mis-manager" from the beginning.

4) It drives home the point that John Lydon is completely full of offal, and himself. Case in point: in his autobio, Lydon claims that Glenn Matlock directly said to him that he wanted the band to be like the Bay City Rollers: "That's a direct quote from him to me." In this DVD, he says "Turns out, years later, the Bay City Rollers was NOT what Glenn had in mind. That's unfortunate. In a way, I suppose we were both duped." So the "direct quote" appears not to have been instead a complete untruth, yet somehow Johnny's still the victim. When is this fool going to outgrow his adolescence?

5) It nicely affirms my suspicions that the only Pistol you'd ever want to have a beer with is Steve Jones. I suspect that's why he's a DJ on Indie 103 today, and Lydon is...on Judge Judy?

6) It's actually about the MUSIC of the Sex Pistols, as opposed to their place in the sociopoliticoculturoeconomic history of Britain.

7) Very Little Sid. Which is good, because honestly, who cares?"

Great Companion Piece To The Filth And The Fury

J. Hines | Memphis, TN USA | 12/30/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I was a bit hesitant about this one, as I had read absolutely nothing about this DVD prior to its release. Man, what a pleasant surprise! There's tons of interview footage with the band and Malcolm McLaren, and it was fun to hear them speak so enthusiastically about the making of the album. Glen Matlock and Steve Jones explain a bit about where riffs for songs came from, and how the songs developed. Also included are interviews with Jamie Reid (cover art designer), Chris Spedding (producer), and Bill Pryce (engineer). One of the highlights for me was listening to Pryce explain how they got the Pistols sound in the studio - he pulls out the original recordings and isolates tracks to aid his explanation! They even found and interviewed the guys from A&M and EMI who were responsible for signing the Pistols. This DVD is invaluable to Sex Pistols fans. You won't be disappointed, I promise."