In modern history, no music has ever been rejected(or accepted) by so many people as punk music. While the exact timeline of when punk music began, or who was the first punk band, with many saying New York Dolls, MC5 or The Stooges, many agree that the Punk Movement began in 1975, with the Ramones being the first "true'' punk band. However, as the years went on, Punk travelled the world, reviving and burning itself out many times over, giving birth to such greats as Blondie, Nirvana, and Green Day, to name but a few. But if you ask people who the greatest punk band is, you'd be hard pressed to get only one answer. However(I've already killed this word, I'll have to think of another in a few minutes), the top results are usually either the Sex Pistols of The Clash. So today, I'm going to go through each of these bands, finding their strenghts and weaknesses, and crown one band, the "Kings of Punk". (If any of you are offended by my exclusion of the Ramones, I'm working on a special tribute to the band that will be up shortly to satisfy you. Rest assured the Ramones will not be forgotten). So let's begin this under covering of English punk.
1. Attitude
This one seems like a breeze. Most people remember that the Sex Pistols were vulgar, rude and raunchy, doing it everywhere from TV to in concert. They never let their guard down, and always lived up to their reputation. However, lets not forget that The Clash had the "prestige" of being the first group labeled in British papers as "giving the Sex Pistols a scare". But as far as actually doing anything truly revolutionary, whatever they may have done, the Sex Pistols did it first. It's like being scared in a movie, you rarely get scared at the same part twice, and in this instance it proves true.
Winner: Sex Pistols
2. Public Image
Now both bands are strictly punk bands, both with lyrics meant to hurt, and an image to live up to. But when does the point come where you become more well known for your image then for your actual music. In the case of the Sex Pistols this proves to be true. They is only really one studio album(Never Mind The Bollocks) and only lasted 26 months. The first members weren't even the trademark members of Johnny Rotten or Sid Vicious(it was Paul Cook and Steve Jones), who didn't even join until the peak of the Sex Pistols fame. Now The Clash had the same group for most of their career, up till the last album(which many say isn't even a Clash album) and they worked together making tight albums and touring constantly. Both bands made movies which have strong cult followings, and both have managers that are as famous as the bands themselves with Malcolm McClaren and Bernie Rhodes respectively. To top all this off, both Johnny Rotten and Kevin Levine(early guitar player for The Clash) later formed a group called Public Image Ltd. or PIL, with a song called (guess what) "Public Image". But the real reason that the Sex Pistols win is the fact that they live up to the rock and roll standard of burning out before fading away, living fast and dying young(well, Sid Vicious did anyway, most of the original members are still alive). But in spite of this, the Sex Pistols did re-unite, though strictly for the money, proving that some bands will never stay dead. To this day, while the Sex Pistols have continued to do reunion concerts, since the breakup and death of Joe Stummer in 1984 and 2002 respectively, there has never been a Clash reunion, something that has stood for over 25 years, even though they had a career of over 7 years. This category is too close to call, and I'm not willing to side with either, for the other has good evidence as well, so I call a draw on this due to both bands showing some standards of punk ethos.
Winner: Draw
3. Music/Lyrics
Both bands wrote some of the greatest songs of all time: "God Save The Queen", "London Calling", "Should I Stay Or Should I Go?", "Anarchy in the U.K." are all among the greatest songs of all time, and punk anthems for many and far between. Now it's sort of unfair to compare this, because of The Sex Pistols brief career, and the long(not to mention HUGE!) albums of the Clash. The Sex Pistols had 1 real album, and a number of random compilation albums, while The Clash have 3(or 4) albums, 1 double album, and a rarity in the music industry, 1 triple album. So you see that there is far more material to look off. But while the writing of both bands started off as bands who were angry individuals at the established order, The Clash were the band who were responsible for challenging the order at every chance they got, be it the angry confrontational, or quiet pot shots. Many people got more informed about world affairs by listening to The Clash, whereas the Sex Pistols were more of a in-the-moment sorta thing. The Clash were genuine in their writing, and not doing it just to get a giggle, or a scare out of it.
Winner: The Clash
4. The Band
Musically, members have to get along with each other, be able to play off each other, and work together both in and out of the studio. That's how a band work, otherwise, it's not a true band. In this department, the choice is quite clear. Joe Stummer and Mick Jones of The Clash/Johnny Rotten and Glen Matlock were the groups songwriters. All were somewhat skilled musically(I leave it up for debate whether Johnny Rotten could sing). But once Matlock was booted, and replaced with a boy who couldn't play to save his life, the group ceased to function or write. To contrast, Stummer and Jones were skilled writers, being able to write more then 100 songs, with help from bass player Paul Simonon and drummer Topper Headon. The Clash practiced frequently, putting their all into the band, and once Topper was booted in 1984 along with Mick Jones, the band was finished. The Clash put more effort into their music then the Sex Pistols, and were a little bit better, in my opinion. The Sex Pistols could barely function with Sid Vicious, and this caused Johnny Rotten to leave and form his own group, and stop being friends with all the members of the Sex Pistols. Bottom line, the Sex Pistols were a group, but The Clash were a band.
Winner: The Clash
5. Endurance
Obviously both bands have had an impact on popular culture, and many people will continue to debate on which was better(online, no doubt). Both bands went on many tours, released many singles, and never really made much money out of it all. Both were inducted into the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame, and there were rumors that The Clash would reunite at the Hall of Fame in 2002, but Joe Stummers death put an end to those rumors. The Sex Pistols refused to attend their ceremony, but have re-united for many concerts starting in 1996 and continue to do so to this day. But if you are to ask people which was better, there is really only one answer. The band that commented on every major political event, toured constantly, wrote some of the best songs ever, gaining the respect of most people on both sides of the Atlantic, living, breathing the punk ethos, a band that may take a while to accept, to grow on you, and eventually win your mind and heart, let it be known that the greatest punk band, the true successor of the Ramones and a worthy counterpart to them, "The Only Band That Really Matters", The Clash.
Winner: The Clash
Match: The Clash
And so ends my review on the Sex Pistols and The Clash, I hope you enjoyed it, and please don't spam me with anti-Clash mail, because I love both these bands, I just found The Clash to be better, that's all. My Ramones tribute should appear sometime in the near future, but until then, thanks for reading, have a good day, hope you get what makes you happy.
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