This Week’s Picks - 09.11.25

The Rise and Fall of Sex Pistols 

Few stories in pop music are as volatile or as mythologised as that of the Sex Pistols. Led by 6 Music stalwart Steve Lamacq, it’s an inspired choice to have Gina Birch alongside him as co-host. Her firsthand testimony demystifies the Pistols’ early days, reframing them as an exciting, meaningful band for a tiny subculture. They would, of course, go on to become one of the most dangerous and influential bands ever, but it was only after, half by accident and half by design, they managed to piss off the establishment and the press that the freefall began. 

Through exceptionally used archive, the Pistols’ best tunes, and a few fresh interviews, the series is at its best when it gives context to the world the band collided with. The country was falling apart: economic scarcity, social division, political disillusionment. Punk was an abrasive art movement for an aggressive time. Sid and Nancy’s story is told with empathy and nuance, but without pulling any punches - informed by a modern understanding of mental health and addiction. The frustration within the band at becoming both a product and a symbol of punk’s commercialisation feels grimly familiar.

The parallels to today don’t need spelling out, and the nationwide witch hunt of the band and their fans throws a sharp light on the modern idea of “cancel culture.” Lydon’s sign off from their final gig with Sid rings more true than ever: “Ever get the feeling you’ve been cheated?”

A BBC Audio Production for BBC Sounds