July 18, 2022 by A.S. Van Dorston

Belated review of the TV mini-series Pistol, and reaction to a rant that misses the mark

Even before Pistol was unleased into the streaming ether, there was backlash. Just the idea of a biographical drama of The Sex Pistols apparently puts people into fits. I can sort of understand why, in that the band’s legend has morphed into so many meanings for different people over the decades, and there’s no pleasing anyone. But as far as I could tell, the criticisms are stupid.

Based on Steve Jones’ autobiography (with the heavy lifting written by Ben Thompson, Lonely Boy: Tales from a Sex Pistol (2017), the script was written by Craig Pearce, who’s written the screenplays for many Baz Luhrmann movies. Danny Boyle, as the director is legit. I was excited for this, and was not disappointed.

I thoroughly enjoyed the mini-series, told mostly from Jones’ point of view. I’ve read just about all there is to read about the Sex Pistols, and there were no glaring inaccuracies that jumped out. Was his relationship with Chrissie Hynde (later of the Pretenders) given more significance than it really had? Possibly, but who cares? It served as a great emotional center for the series. One criticism was that the long-suffering Hynde and Vivienne Westwood were pushed to the side as mother figures. Well yeah, that is what happened as they dealt with the misogyny still rampant ’70s Britain, until, of course, they beat their way to the top later on in their respective careers.

Of course there was the predictable whining from John Lydon about it being a Disney version of the Sex Pistols. Perhaps he didn’t like how Anson Boon look like a meth addict, and even uglier than real life Rotten in that era. Not a typical Disney move. All the dark background of the sexual abuse Steve Jones suffered from his stepfather didn’t seem too Disneyfied to me either. At the time of the interviews, it was clear that Lydon did not watch it. The details of his life looked quite accurate, though they spent more effort than they needed in kissing his ass, various characters calling him a genius. A clever lyricist and good fit for the band? Yes. Genius? Highly debatable, especially in hindsight, looking at what he’s become.

I respect Lydon’s lyrical contributions to the best Sex Pistols’ songs and probably even more so, what he accomplished with Public Image Ltd. I have mixed feelings about the Sex Pistols for sure. I recognize the extent of their massive influence by simply being one of the first punk bands gigging in 1975, arguably inspiring others to form bands in a way that the Beatles did 14 years previously. To me, that part of their legacy was far more compelling than the soul-crushingly depressing story of Sid and Nancy. I think the series did a good job of not over-romanticizing that part, just showing how sad and pathetic Sid’s drug-addled spiral and toxic relationship ended in tragedy, but only as a one part of the Pistols’ story.

By the time they released their sole album, Never Mind the Bollocks on October 28, 1977, several other bands had already released punk or punk adjacent albums. In fact, The Stranglers had already released two, Ramones’ third album Rocket to Russia would come out the next week, and The Damned’s second was due soon after on November 18. Bollocks was a very good album, but even so, it was only, in my opinion, the tenth best punk album released that year alone. They inspired older artists to up their creative game and younger kids to take the plunge when they might otherwise not have. That was what made the Sex Pistols important in my eyes, and why their story continues to be one worth telling.

Currently watching

Loot (Apple TV+)
Maya Rudolph! I think it might be loosely inspired by the story of MacKenzie Scott, ex-wife of Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos, even if there’s no similarities in the actual character.
The Bear (Hulu)
This gritty dramedy had me thinking in the first few minutes that it was set in 1970s Chicago, until a cellphone popped up. The heartwarming character arcs are very slow going, don’t expect a Schitt’s Creek, but it still sucked me in.
Stranger Things (Netflix)
I finished this, and wrote about it previously. The complaints that it jumped the shark in S03 do not apply to S04!
Hacks (HBO Max)
This ended in June, but had to mention it. Hope another season will come next year!
What We Do in the Shadows (Hulu)
I actually totally missed S03, which came out September, so catching up on that first! Love it, and Taiki Waititi’s cameo.
Our Flag Means Death (HBO Max)
Taika Waititi co-stars as Blackbeard with Rhys Darby’s Captain Steve Bonnett, gentleman pirate. I put off starting this, as I was skeptical they could pull off the balance of violence and comedy, but they sure did!
Grantchester (PBS Masterpiece)
Been jonesing for more Masterpiece, so it’s about dang time!
Hidden (Acorn)
Series 3 of this bilingual Welsh thriller that fit’s alongside Nordic Noir series.
God’s Favorite Idiot (Netflix)
Married team Melissa McCarthy and Ben Falcone had some dud movies together, and this is nearly as dumb, but they pull it off as it’s just funny and charming enough, thanks to McCarthy’s charisma.
London Kills (Acorn)
British police prodedural/thriller, series 3.
Thorne (Acorn)
Gritty British crime drama, includes Sandra Oh.
Harry Wild (Acorn)
Jane Seymour stars as a retired literature professor who stumbles onto amateur sleuthing in this cozy mystery.
The Chelsea Detective (Acorn)
London crime drama.

Haven’t watched yet: Only Murders in the Building (Hulu), The Boys (Prime), The Umbrella Academy (Netflix), Ms. Marvel (Disney+), Obi-Wan Kenobi (Disney+), Moon Knight (Disney+), Kung Fu Panda: The Dragon Knight (Netflix), Star Trek: Strange New Worlds (Paramount+), Irma Vep (HBO).

Rick Beato: Was Music Really Better Back In The Day? (Old School Rant!)

I can only take so much of Rick Beato. Once every few months, I catch a video on his YouTube channel that offers solid musical analysis and critiques of both new chart hits and classic rock. But then I have to stay away for weeks or months at a time, because he drives me nuts spending more time hawking his products every 3 minutes than truly exploring what’s out there. Because if you only pay attention to the canon and current songs at the very top of the various streaming/sales charts, you’re only scratching the surface. I’ve commented now and then, suggesting he do deep dives in less mainstream genres. Music doesn’t have to be blockbuster sellers and in your face in the mainstream media to be significant. But Beato isn’t the kind of YouTuber who really listens to constructive criticism.

It also irks me when 20-somethings call Gen X people “boomers.” But in Beato’s case, he’s asking for it, because he does have his head up his ass in terms of being ignorant of any new music beyond chart stuff. Case in point, I’ve never seen him even acknowledge the existence of all kinds of variations of heavy music — psych/stoner/doom/prog — that are doing a great job of balancing old influences and recording techniques with new innovations. And they have significant audiences, especially in Europe. While there’s only a few small ones in the U.S., plus Psycho Las Vegas, the best snapshot currently is probably Roadburn in Tilburg, Netherlands, though there’s dozens of other festivals like Desertfest, Duna Jam, etc. Check out the lineup from the April 2022 edition of Roadburn. There’s find tons of innovation and variety. Unfortunately us Yanks in North America don’t make it easy for many of these bands to visit, so Norway’s Motorpsycho, Germany’s Colour Haze, rarely make it over here, for example. Ufomammut from Italy has done a couple tours with support from their American label Neurot. Not that we don’t have our own talent in the U.S., from Mastodon, Baroness and Elder to Khemmis, Spirit Adrift, Magic Circle, Wo Fat and many others.

Beato needs to get out of his comfort zone and prevent his own creative rut. If he does that, I’ll gladly keep watching.

Posted in: Rants, Reviews, TV, Videos/Singles