Sex Pistols ridiculed Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as furious letter said organisation was not ‘paying attention’

A furious letter written by the Sex Pistols to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame accused the organisation of not “paying attention.”

The Johnny Rotten-fronted group were livid when they found themselves nominated for a spot in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. So angry, in fact, they sent a letter denouncing the very suggestion of being included in the organisation. The band were notorious for their counter-culture stance and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame was no exception, with the Sex Pistols calling the organisation a “piss stain”. Their furious letter would also note they were “not coming” to the awards ceremony, though the preceding paragraphs from the punk band made it clear they were hardly going to pop in to see their name etched into the history books. The band’s star power would burn bright and fast, with the group around initially from 1975 to 1978.

Reformations have taken place over the decades since the initial break-up, most recently with Frank Carter filling in on lead vocals. John Lydon remains active with his post-Sex Pistols band, PiL, which are still on tour also. But during his time as the frontman for one of Britain’s most recognisable punk outfits, Lydon rallied against the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

He and the band signed off on a letter to the organisation which made it clear how they feel about the induction. While the group would congratulate those who had voted for the band, they did hope those who had “noted your reasons” for trying to get the group behind Pretty Vacant and Anarchy in the UK into the group. Their letter can be found, in full and unedited, below.

“Next to the SEX-PISTOLS rock and roll and that hall of fame is a piss stain. Your museum. Urine in wine. Were not coming.

“Were not your monkey and so what? Fame at $25,000 if we paid for a table, or $15000 to squeak up in the gallery, goes to a non-profit organisation selling us a load of old famous. Congradulations. If you voted for us, hope you noted your reasons.

“Your anonymous as judges, but your still music industry people. Were not coming. Your not paying attention. Outside the shit-stem is a real SEX PISTOL”

The band has even managed to keep their own work out of the history books by never getting around to recording what Lydon says is one of his best-ever songs. Lydon confirmed the missing song in an interview with Daniel Rachel, author of The Art of Noise. Speaking of the song, Lydon says it was “not about murder” but featured a blood-covered house which originated from the songwriter being “sick on the punch” provided.

Lydon shared: “Yes, I do. It was a song called Mandy. It was about a girl I knew. It was
really silly. There was blood on the carpet, blood on the stairs. Mandy, I did it for you. It’s not about murder at all. We had a party round her house.

“Sid (Vicious) invited me. I got so sick on the punch; it was a mixture of Martini, Cinzano Bianco and red wine. I vomited everywhere, particularly the stairs, and bingo! I’ve lost the original song. We never even rehearsed it. The Pistols died of laughter.”