Sex Pistols Limited Series Helmed By Danny Boyle Headed to FX

Author Erica Banas // Rock Music Reporter

January 11th, 2021 5:21 PM

Sex Pistols will be the subject of an upcoming limited series at FX directed and executive produced by Academy Award-winner Danny Boyle, who’s best known for directing 2008’s Slumdog Millionaire, 2010’s 127 Hours and 2019’s Beatles-inspired film Yesterday.

Per Variety, the limited series will be titled Pistol and consist of six episodes based on guitarist Steve Jones’ 2018 memoir Loney Boy: Tales from a Sex Pistol.

In a statement on the series, Boyle said, “Imagine breaking into the world of ‘The Crown’ and ‘Downton Abbey’ with your mates and screaming your songs and your fury at all they represent. This is the moment that British society and culture changed forever. It is the detonation point for British street culture…where ordinary young people had the stage and vented their fury and their fashion…and everyone had to watch & listen…and everyone feared them or followed them. The Sex Pistols. At its center was a young charming illiterate kleptomaniac – a hero for the times – Steve Jones, who became in his own words, the 94th greatest guitarist of all time. This is how he got there.”

Variety notes that the cast is as follows: “Toby Wallace as Steve Jones, Anson Boon as John “Johnny Rotten” Lydon, Louis Partridge as Sid Vicious, Jacob Slater as Paul Cook, Fabien Frankel as Glen Matlock, Dylan Llewellyn as Wally Nightingale, Sydney Chandler as Chrissie Hynde, Emma Appleton as Nancy Spungen, and Maisie Williams as punk icon Jordan.”

Pistol is the latest limited series from FX about iconic British bands. In December, it was announced a two-season limited series about The Rolling Stones would be heading to the cable network. Written by High Fidelity author Nick Hornby, the series will focus on the band’s earlier years from their initial formation up to 1972 chronicling their impressive album release run that included Beggars Banquet, Let It Bleed, Sticky Fingers and Exile on Main Street.

GALLERY: Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction No-Shows

• Sex Pistols

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  The punk icons refused to attend their induction in 2006 in protest of the exorbitant cost for acts to attend, which can be upwards of tens of thousands of dollars per table.  They did, however, send a note, which contained the intro, "Next to the Sex Pistols, rock and roll and that Hall of Fame is a piss stain." It was read out loud by 'Rolling Stone' founder/Rock Hall Board Member Jann Wenner to the delight of the crowd in attendance.

• Jerry Garcia

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  When the Grateful Dead was inducted in 1994, Garcia apparently wasn’t too fond of the entire concept of the Hall of Fame, which is why he sat out the induction ceremony.  The rest of the band attended. Why is this notorious? The band brought a cardboard cut-out of Garcia to stand in his place. Hilarious!

• Ike & Tina Turner

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  Tina Turner sat out the 1991 induction ceremony because she no longer wanted to be associated with abusive ex-husband, Ike Turner.  This is completely understandable and one of many reasons Tina should be inducted as a solo artist, but that’s another rant for another day.  Ike’s reason for not attending? He was in jail serving a four-year sentence for cocaine possession, which admittedly is a great excuse for not showing up somewhere.
• Grace Slick

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  So, what was Slick’s reason for skipping out on Jefferson Airplane’s induction in 1996?  She said, “All rock and rollers over age 50 look stupid and should retire.”  Whether you agree with her or not, you have to give the woman props for sticking to her words, because Slick has maintained a very low profile for many years now.

• Paul McCartney

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  When The Beatles were inducted into the Rock Hall in 1988, McCartney sat out the induction due some then-ongoing issues around songwriting royalties. In a statement, Macca said, "After 20 years, the Beatles still have some business differences, which I had hoped would have been settled by now. Unfortunately, they haven’t been, so I would feel like a complete hypocrite waving and smiling with them at a fake reunion." Of course, he would go on to attend his own solo induction in 1999 and induct John Lennon in 1994 and Ringo Starr in 2015 for their solo work.

• Three out of Five Members of Van Halen

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  This one was just a hot mess! Van Halen was part of the Rock Hall’s 2007 class, and around that time there was a whole slew of drama going on in the band. (Surprise!) For starters, David Lee Roth was back in, but Michael Anthony was kicked out and replaced with Eddie Van Halen’s then 15-year-old son, Wolfgang. Oh, and Eddie needed to go to rehab. Once the dust settled, all who showed up to the ceremony were Anthony and Sammy Hagar.
• Roger Waters

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  Pink Floyd were part of the 1996 induction class, but there were still major tensions in the band due to a 1986 lawsuit in which Waters lost against David Gilmour and Nick Mason over the use of their band name. The band would eventually reunite in 2005 for the Live 8 benefit concert.

• Rod Stewart

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  Rod Stewart is a two-time Rock Hall inductee, but he's missed both of his inductions. When he was inducted for his solo work in 1994, he opted to stay home with his children due to a major earthquake that hit Los Angles where they lived. When he was inducted as part of the Faces in 2012, he was planning on attending and performing with the band but the contracted strep-throat and couldn't speak. Apparently, some guys don't have all the luck.

• Axl Rose

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  Guns N' Roses were part of the 2012 induction class, but Axl wanted no part. In a statement shortly before the ceremony, Rose said, "I strongly request that I not be inducted in absentia and please know that no one is authorized nor my anyone be permitted to accept any induction for me or speak on my behalf. Neither former members, label representatives nor the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame should imply whether directly, indirectly or by omission that I am included in any purported induction of 'Guns N' Roses.'" Considering the crazy success of the GN'R's "Not In This Lifetime" reunion tour, this statement has aged awkwardly.
• David Bowie

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  Leave it to David Bowie give the Rock Hall the coldest of shoulders and perhaps lay the groundwork for ghosting. Bowie was announced as part of the 1996 induction class, however, he was touring in Europe during the time of the ceremony. The strangest thing though was that he never released a statement about the induction or even acknowledged its existence. Cold blooded or badass? You decide!

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Author Erica Banas // Rock Music Reporter

Category:

• Music
• Rat Rock News

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Sex Pistols