Ex Pistols
Ex Pistols |
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The Ex Pistols were a punk rock band formed in 1979 by Sex Pistols producer Dave Goodman. Formed after the Sex Pistols had split, the EX Pistols existed as a sound-alike band meant to mislead fans due to the similar music, name, and artwork, that led people to believe their songs were actually new or lost Sex Pistols recordings.
The band was eventually successfully sued by the Sex Pistols, and Dave Goodman was no longer allowed to use the name.
Music
The first Ex Pistols release Land of Hope and Glory was a punk rock version of the old English classic, Land of Hope and Glory by Edward Elgar. Not only did it confuse fans but it also caused legal trouble between Goodman and the publisher of the original piece, Boosey & Hawkes.
Their next recordings would appear on numerous Sex Pistols compilation albums including the songs "Schools Are Prisons" and "Revolution in the Classroom".
The band re-appeared in 1988 with an album released in Japan titled, The Swindle Continues'. The album was made up of the band performing Ex' and Sex Pistols tracks. It came in the form of a double picture disc collectable LP, and was also released in plain vinyl form (and later, CD).
In 1992 there tracks would surface again on a limited promo album, Deny LP. The album consisted entirely of original Ex Pistols tracks, and was never merchandised but instead, given to fans of the Sex Pistols or left in Virgin stores with a "Free" sticker.
A short while before he died, Dave Goodman had released a new album, "Denial of a Good Man" via his website, featuring remixed versions of some songs from the Deny LP, a video to the song "Don't Fear", and a version of Anarchy in the UK by the Sex Pistols with rewritten lyrics, named "Wedding Day".
Sex Pistols lawsuit
While Glen Matlock played on two songs from the Deny LP and co-wrote Happy Families, John Lydon was not so forthcoming. After winning the rights to the Sex Pistols music and documentation from Malcolm McLaren and Glitterbest, he was outraged by Dave Goodman using the band's name and image to promote "inferior recordings" to cash in on their name and tarnish the Sex Pistols' reputation, and for using their photographs and likenesses on the Ex Pistols' records without permission. This includes the Land Of Hope And Glory 7" single (which has the Sex Pistols' figures on the disk, albeit with their faces crossed out), the Revolution In The Classroom single and The Swindle Continues. The image on the sleeve of the Deny LP is not actually Johnny, rather Ex Pistols associate Tony Barber (of the Buzzcocks), who uncannily resembles John Lydon.
After a lawsuit ensued, Dave Goodman was banned from producing anymore records made to look or sound like Sex Pistols recordings. The Ex Pistols next album, Denial Of A Good Man, was put on indefinite hold and the band changed their name to Dave Goodman & Friends. After that they re-released one more single entitled Justifiable Homicide (originally released in August 1978 and made commercially available and available for download on Dave Goodman's website) and recorded and released a music video for Don't Fear, segments of which were featured on the Chaos! The Ex Pistols' Secret History DVD. All the manufactured Denial Of A Good Man CDs were sold through Dave's website. The band has since delved to complete and utter obscurity but rumors abound of the existence of unreleased tracks such as "Fascist Regime". Dave Goodman's estate are unable to release further Ex Pistols material, but no other band members face this restriction, leaving open the possibility of future releases.
Band members
- Dave Slave - vocals
- Alan Lee - guitar, vocals
- Dave Goodman - bass guitar, vocals
- Bryson Graham - drums
- Del Bartle - guitar
- Andy Boreman - drums
- Dave MaCintosh - drums
- Kevin Murphy - drums
- Dave Rose - keyboards
Discography
| Release Type | Year Released | Title | Label | Country of Release |
| 12" Single | 1984 | Land of Hope and Glory | Virgin Records | France |
| 7" Single | 1984 | Land of Hope and Glory | Virgin Records | UK |
| 12" Double LP | 1988 | The Swindle Continues | VAP | Japan |
| 12" Promo LP | 1992 | Deny LP | Mandala Records | UK |
| Promo CD | 2000 | Denial of a Good Man | Vagina | UK |
Links and further information
- "Not the Sex Pistols" - a site documenting Ex Pistols and Dave Goodman activity
- Dave Goodman's page on the Ex Pistols
- An authorized MySpace profile
- An unofficial MySpace profile