People remember Sid Vicious and Johnny Rotten, but Steve Jones was clearly the Pistol with musical talent. Never Mind the Bollocks has some great guitar riffs
+MADFERIT MAN indeed you did, but I've seen SP vids where there are 2 guitarists and 1 bass player. At least that's how they looked to me, and I wonder if there was a time before Matlock left when he played with the rest of them or am I imagining it all?
***** Yes, on reflection (and viewing a few Pistols vids) I believe you are correct, I wonder how they sounded live, cos on the record (Pretty Vacant)) it has at least 2 guitar tracks in the mix, Steve Jones, play's the rhythm and lead guitar most notably at the intro, where you can hear the riff over the first A chord and later when he play's the solo's, so much for keeping it simple, too many words, what can I say? Enuff!
@@LeahDyson-kq4bdactually that’s Waldo from the heartbreakers who played on that. He was definitely a better guitar player than both, but he didn’t have that aura like those two had.
Thread Bear He loves to jam with anyone practically. Check out his radio show KLOS 😁. He jams with many of the guests 😁. Doesn't have to be only punk musicians. He jams with many different types of musicians 😁. The videos for his radio show are here on UA-cam on the KLOS UA-cam page 😁. Check it out! 😁.
Jeff Baker Steve Jones is a big Faces fan and also Roxy Music and Ziggy Stardust 😁. He talks about it on his radio show very often 😁. KLOS 😁. Check out the KLOS UA-cam page 😁.
He's always come across as down to earth with no airs or graces. Although not a virtuoso I think he's a better musician than many people realise, even including himself. Anyone aspiring to play in a band could learn a lot just by listening to him.
He makes a Fender scream with my old band in 1983 ! Ok he kicked the overdrive pedal and it was feedback ! But check it out anyway ! Type in "The Nothings & Steve Jones" it even has famous groupie Pamela Des Barres dancing in Black leather & Silly thing ! Cheers !
YOU understood nothing ! I said "why he couldn't play" because I don't understand WHY this girl told so on her comment ! she said he couldn't play ! what's the meaning ??? he played with the sex pistols ,no ? he made concerts with them ,no ? I don't understand why this girl said "he couldn't play "
Unassuming and honest about his guitar skills but Steve you are up there with the best, it's all about ideas and originality and consider you were so young back in 76/77 when you came up with these riffs and solos but they still sound so GOOD today. That's always the acid test!.
Remember he then went on and played in other bands after the Pistols. More hands-on time, equals more experience and more heart - thus improved playing :)
Because how he is playing them songs NOW isnt the same way he played on the Bollocks Album... am I in a time flux? Relax your brain - its just UA-cam....
+Max Heinrich Gutzmann Liebow holy fuck are you an idiot... I as talking about the album, and you should have deduced that by the fact that I used teh word "album" in my comment. Thank God this is just UA-cam, if this was driving you would've hit a tree.
Sorry Im not able to keep up with this "discussion". I work, have a family .etc and dont find much time or thrill on "You-Tube debates" - Ill leave you to it. Enjoy yourself. Besides dont take it too hard, its just my opinion, not a penis....
Much of their music was actually quite jolly and in a major key. The juxtaposition of the guitar parts and Lydon's sneering vocals is what made them so unique.
@@detroitfunk313 So, throw the 3rds out, basically, so it's not so "nice" and friendly. Although, I do hear a bit of genuine full major chording in Steve's stuff for the big sound but it's not that emphasized. He keeps it tight and tough sounding, yet full.
Taking the best bits of Eddie Cochran, Johnny Thunders, Ronnie Wood and Mick Ronson - and moulding it into something entirely his own. Jonesy is one of the greats. Don’t let anyone tell you any differently.
I totally agree with those 4 sources of Steve's playing. As a deep fan of Steve's playing, here are few more that I think had a strong influence on Steve that might not be as obvious. Jimi Hendrix. That's right! Steve was flipped out by Purple Haze when it first came out and bugged his neighbor to keep playing the single over and over. I think this had deep effect on his musical development and life path. I can hear a strong Hendrix influence in Steve particularly on the controlled noise atmospherics he likes to make live and on stuff like Anarchy with the feedback swells. James WillIamson. Steve played along with Raw Power to learn guitar and I can hear a strong influence there with the tight, precise chord changes, big full sound, and rhythmic aggression. Steve's chord choices on EMI with I-IV pattern on the chorus sound very Williamson-like and I'm sure that's where he got it. Pete Townshend. Steve's mentioned Pete as an influence but said it wasn't one of his biggest. But I think Steve picked up some cues from Pete from the way Pete showed that you can fill up the space in a single guitar band with a big, full crunch and tight, precise rhythmic playing that sounds massive. Plus, Pete showed that you can do interesting tasty fills and things that hold attention without being a super lead virtuoso. You can hear some Who in the Pistols, too. Brian May. Steve was a fan of early Queen and that treble-boosted/AC30, midrangy rhythm sound of May definitely sounds like an influence to me. Chuck Berry. Steve saw Chuck live when he was young and the influence is obvious. Maybe even more than Keith Richards, Steve was able to tap into what was exciting about Chuck's lead sound and apply it to some very modern, futuristic rock 'n' roll that still sounds fresh. Berry's rhythm and lead playing are both big influences on Steve. Tom Scholz. Steve was a big Boston fan though wouldn't admit it until years later. Like Scholz, Steve created a massive wall of sound that had a quintessential 70's midrange bite, but kind of futuristic sounding. But still totally classic rock 'n' roll. Steve had already developed his own core sound by the time he heard Scholz. But I believe Scholz and Boston's first album were an influence on Steve totally getting into guitar overdubs with Chris Thomas on Never Mind The Bollocks. Also, somewhat of an influence on Steve's playing and developing a similar massive wall of sound and close midrangey rhythm tone. And finally, Phil Spector. Not a guitar player but Steve's said that he literally wanted to develop a guitar wall of sound like Phil Spector's wall of sound and that Spector was a big influence on his. Another reason for Steve getting heavily into overdubbing and studio time.
He's being disingenous. There's no way someone who couldn't play was pulling all those little pentatonic licks out of nowhere. I think he spent a long time learning blues rock riffs and licks.
Steve Jones did the guitar and bass parts on Bollocks except Glen did bass on Pretty Vacant, Sid was sick in hospital and did nothing, Johnny did most of the lyrics but him and Glen both wrote submission, as far as I've heard, anyway who cares, the stars aligned and the Pistols came and kicked the music industries ass
Actually Sid PLAYED on Bodies, Submission, Belsen Was a Gas and Holidays in The Sun, the latter 2 having been written and ALL the 4 recorded after Glen Matlock had already left the band in several sessions at Wessex Studios in '77: then Steve Jones re-recorded almost ALL the bass lines over both Glen's and Sid's leaving just a couple of the original chords played by each one of them in a few songs of NMTB including Bodies!
Steve told me Glen played on "Anarchy" & Sid is on punch ins on "Bodies" and maybe "GSTQ" type in "The Nothings & Steve Jones" to see a gig we did with him in 1983 ! Cheers !
Stephen .Wells Chris Thomas who produced the album said that Jonesy was one of the tightest players he’d ever recorded and he’s recorded all the big names. Jonesy could do countless overdubs in very little time as whilst he’s not a guitar virtuoso he’s got rock-solid timekeeping skills
If you bought a guitar and followed a few pistols guitar lessons on here I am confident in saying you'd be able to play a few of these within a yr, regular practice,I play intermediate level & these are on basic level, that ain't negative,some of the best songs contain basic or few chord's, great hobby 👍
jesus what a wholesome humble dude, so many of rock legends you see spit out some crazy licks and act like it's whatever, but even after all that time Steve Jones is still just stoked that he figured it out
Even more amazing when you think of all the classics he DIDN'T show….Satellite, Holidays in the Sun, Pretty Vacant etc, etc, etc……inspired me to play guitar in 1977, absolute legend.
' I really didn't know how to play!". LoL says the guy who wrote and played guitar and bass on one of the most influential albums ever written ...I bought nmtb when I was 12.. I'm 55 now..I still feel the same way as when I first opened the album and put in on my turntable......llol😂 cheers from Vancouver BC Canada 👍
a legend!! for those who haven't already, watch the classic albums dvd, dispels the myth the pistols couldn't play. never mind the bollocks is one of the greatest debut albums by any band ever! if not simply one of the greatest albums ever!!
Interviewer was asking about other topic, found him in a good mood and be broke down NMTB guitar parts. Priceless. Bands in the future will watch this to cover the tunes. Well done, interviewer. Well done
I love how genuinely proud he is of his guitar licks. AND HE SHOULD BE! They are among the most recognizable and influential guitar licks of all time. How many musicians heard those songs and took up guitar because of him. And he is humble and flattered that he is thought of in such high regard. That's how he comes across to me in this interview.
I riffed like that at 17 years old in my bedroom in 1976 and was just amazed to find a band that played music like this for a living in 1977. The Sex Pistols and the Ramones were my heroes.
I love his rhythmic playing, it's very fun to play along to tunes like Anarchy, you can tell future guitarists were immensely inspired by him like Kurt Cobain, also a lot of this sounds very much influenced by Ron Asheton of the Stooges!
Ron Asheton in my opinion was the original punk rock guitarist, laid the groundwork for what was to come. The word gets thrown around a lot these days but he truly is underrated
It’s almost made to think how good they were. Jones was one of Britain’s finest guitarists, and rotten is easily the best front man ever to be associated with punk
His tone sounds awesome. I can totally relate to him when it comes to not knowing how to read music and teaching yourself how to play guitar... making the most out of simple powercord progressions. I think Les Paul's naturally brings the best out of the person who's playing it. Dude is a legend in my book.
The solos in anarchy are genius!! I loved them in 1978 when i had no idea how to play guitar and i love them even more in 2020 after having played guitar for 30 plus years. Jonesy is a great writer and player, just great feel and ear for the hook.
To your point... check out some of the UA-cam reaction videos of Anarchy. Whenever it gets to one of the two solo breaks in that song, the reactor almost invariably has a reaction like "oh!". An unconscious visceral reaction. Powerful stuff. Jonesy came up with some brilliant stuff that genuinely moved people and still does.
It’s the timing of the notes, mutes, pick attack, etc. Accuracy of the right hand. Very, very micro-type stuff. No one else could make it sound like this. But as you see here, it’s instantly the record. Note also that all this kind of thing goes away when you snap the guitars to a grid in the studio. This is the true magic of a human guitar player. Just like Elmore James.
He used a MXR Phase 90 in the days with Glen. He didn't use any other pedals in the 70's. He turned them all the way up, just like Johnny Thunders. Today Steve uses a Danelectro Daddy'o Distortion pedal, that has alot todo with his tone today. I have written alot about his gear, alot of the info out there has come from me. I asked Steve alot of questions before, and also studied all his gear ect. He used Musicman Amps as well in the 70's during the Scandanavian tour
Steve Jones is perfect. His riffs are perfect. The Pistols were perfect. The tunes, sound like a kid that grew up hearing rock n roll, and is discovering how, and doing it right
One 33 minute album and the man is still relevant, hes not jimi Hendrix, but hes got his own unique sound. One of the most influential guitarists ever !!!!!
I was 21 and living for a year in Chicago when this album came out. They played the Sex Pistols at La Mere Vipere - anyone remember?? True punk club. I like to turn it up at 65 years old. I give you a Testimonial !!
This comes from the dvd "Classic albums - Never mind the bollocks". It's one of the bonus parts from this dvd. Don't know of there is more of this, but it's all i got.
Total No-Nonsence guitarist that defined Punk Rock. I learnt guitar from listening to the Sex Pistols, Steve is a Guitar Legend that defined the Sex Pistols, and also made the White Gibson Les Paul an Icon of Punk Rock~~~Respect!
every 2-3 years I end up back to this video, it keeps me grounded and reminds me you don't have to overcomplicate your songs, the guitar part has to serve the song, thank you Steve, btw first time noticing thats a burny not a gibson
Indeed. It seems to be a Burny RLC-55. I bet he also has one of the "Inspired By..." replicas of the original that Gibson made in early 2000s. But it's the amp too... Great sound!
wow he's fucking great, actually he's a real genius... with simple chords he could sound great and play brilliant riffs. in this video he looks a bit sad, dont know... it seems that he feels disappointed of himself cause he thinks he can't play, and cause there have been many "great" guitarists after him, like those who play metal... just my impression. we love ya Steve!
+Luudh uruk He's from England. It is what we do best - feeling disappointed with ourselves.. and then turning that into something good, or bad, depending on the "judge". I guess the whole world is like that really.. Okay.. I will go now. I love his radio show. I just found it - 'Jonesy's Jukebox'
+Luudh uruk its much better for someone who has limited musical skills producing something so brilliant that changed music forever than some virtuoso steve vai boring shit, thats why hes a guitar hero.
I've been listening to this album for nearly 40 years now and it continues to blow my mind. As much as I love Anarchy and GSTQ,I replay Problems more than any other song lately. Steve chanels the blues and Chuck Berry in that song.Lydon's lyrics are the definition of confrontational, tight rhythm section, etc... Yeah,nobody is going to confuse Steve for Robert Fripp or Jimi,nor does Steve pretend to be a virtuoso. But he is in my book.And he seems like a really cool dude.He was the first celebrity I ever took seriously when it came to sobriety too.Decades before I got clean,I remember his PSA about drugs killing his friend, and nearly killing him. Years later and drugs killed many of my friends and nearly killed me. I hope I become a cool old fart like Steve one day.
Steve Jones is one of my all-time favorite guitarists. Much like Johnny Ramone and David Gilmour, Steve had a style that nobody could copy. Steve was a true innovator on the guitar, and his riffs wound up reinventing rock music.
@@hermanmunster9472 I remember being a leather jacketed kid back in the day, and spending some time up in Brisbane in the summertime. I couldn't quite bring myself to wear shorts, but I did ditch the jacket as the temperature climbed. Some dumb punks sweated thru it all.
@@johnnyoranges Hi John! All I wanted to say is, that in those leather-jacket-times I alway preferred The Saints to The Ramones. Music skills are not a matter of clothes. Ed Kuepper is the most underestimated man in Rock'n'Roll history. I bought "I'm Stranded" in late 77 and never owned any Ramones record...and I know how it is hitchhiking through spain with a leather jacket :).
@@hermanmunster9472 How are you ? Yes, the Saints were a great band, and those first three albums (esp. the first) were excellent. I do think Chris was overly dismissive when he said the Ramones sounded like the Archies tho. Their first album (Ramones, not Archies) was brilliant in it's freshness and immediacy, and let's face it, their sound (and look) was very much imitated. So their influence (and longevity) shouldn't be underestimated. I agree re. Kuepper's sound. 'Nights in Venice', 'No Time', 'Story of Love' and so on. I love it, and yes, Johnny Ramone is weak in comparison.
Amazing how he reveals his playing...and what a powerhouse he is in Pistols concerts. Just a wall Of guitar sound. What a great band. Will always Admire the Sex Pistols for being who they are.
Fascinating to see those great riffs being played in isolation and to hear how they came about - great point he makes about how close his sound is to Ted Nugent & Deep Purple
I recall this period vividly in that I had an impossible time trying to assimilate any opportunity to work this way...even at 16 I was an accomplished guitarist but could in no way wrap my head around this. Looking at it years later, there is a brilliance that emerges from the honesty of it all. You simply had to live it and I was alas a middle class kid. I consider the Sex Pistols to be a seminal moment unrivaled by anything. Only a select few actually saw them in the day, but many of those were compelled to launch their own efforts much of which can found in a large body of work in years to come. Its beyond amazing.
What makes this album so great is that its simple. Fun riffs that carry the vocals. Packs more of a punch. People tend to want to attack guys like Jones because they are not these intricate guitar geniuses like guys like Fripp. Steve gave himself a crash course teaching himself. He is more focused on the sound, then the technical shit. Anthems usually come from those kind of guys. Love Jones guitar work and that Pistols sound
He's one of my best mates. By the way, he's a great lad, so humble and really quite ordinary for somebody who can play the guitar like he does. I talk to him every week and I love it. He's as funny as f@ck and a blast to just yap about anything to.
Just finished watching Pistol and it was brilliant. Captured the spirit of the time in a romantical way, but more importantly showed Steve as the true leader and inspiration of the band.
People remember Sid Vicious and Johnny Rotten, but Steve Jones was clearly the Pistol with musical talent. Never Mind the Bollocks has some great guitar riffs
+Curtis Phillips Matlock had the talent, but was too talented for the music the pistols were aiming to put out, which is why he was replaced by Sid.
+MADFERIT MAN he wasn't replaced with Sid glen Matlock was
Redyoshi64 that's what I said
+MADFERIT MAN indeed you did, but I've seen SP vids where there are 2 guitarists and 1 bass player. At least that's how they looked to me, and I wonder if there was a time before Matlock left when he played with the rest of them or am I imagining it all?
***** Yes, on reflection (and viewing a few Pistols vids) I believe you are correct, I wonder how they sounded live, cos on the record (Pretty Vacant)) it has at least 2 guitar tracks in the mix, Steve Jones, play's the rhythm and lead guitar most notably at the intro, where you can hear the riff over the first A chord and later when he play's the solo's, so much for keeping it simple, too many words, what can I say? Enuff!
Finally a camera operator that understands what guitar players want to see.
Yeah but Steve's a semitone down though
Steve can make a three chord riff amazing. It's in his soul, pure rock n roll.
While others play a thousand notes per second and say nothing
He was influenced by Johnny thunders he played on London boys song and I didn't even realize because it sounded so much how thunders would always play
@@LeahDyson-kq4bdactually that’s Waldo from the heartbreakers who played on that. He was definitely a better guitar player than both, but he didn’t have that aura like those two had.
Steve Jones is a legend
A Heavy Metal guy too haha
Yes
Absolute legend.
Yes Sean ! Check him out with my band in 1983 ! Type in "The Nothings & Steve Jones" ! Cheers !
Perhaps not a "musician's musician", but who gives a damn? He knows how to make that guitar scream and shout. That's what counts.
Thread Bear He loves to jam with anyone practically. Check out his radio show KLOS 😁. He jams with many of the guests 😁. Doesn't have to be only punk musicians. He jams with many different types of musicians 😁. The videos for his radio show are here on UA-cam on the KLOS UA-cam page 😁. Check it out! 😁.
Jeff Baker Steve Jones is a big Faces fan and also Roxy Music and Ziggy Stardust 😁. He talks about it on his radio show very often 😁. KLOS 😁. Check out the KLOS UA-cam page 😁.
He's always come across as down to earth with no airs or graces. Although not a virtuoso I think he's a better musician than many people realise, even including himself. Anyone aspiring to play in a band could learn a lot just by listening to him.
He makes a Fender scream with my old band in 1983 ! Ok he kicked the overdrive pedal and it was feedback ! But check it out anyway ! Type in "The Nothings & Steve Jones" it even has famous groupie Pamela Des Barres dancing in Black leather & Silly thing ! Cheers !
If a person gets a kick from simply strumming an A chord , they are playing music .
The sound of Steve's guitar and Rotten's voice totally complimented each other. The Pistols stood for something that you couldn't ignore in 1977.
John had said that they got lucky that Steve’s tone and his vocals matched so well
Now we have something we can't ignore again and everybody's conforming and complying.
Same for my birthday in 77
1975 and then some
steve jones is the most criminally underrated guitarist in the history of rock and roll
I agree!
Wrong genre
And the Winger dude.
Did most of the bass for never mind the bollocks, brilliant guitarist
@Sir Kyushu Steve's guitar swings like no one else's
“Steve Jones is the tightest rhythm guitar player I have ever heard in my life.” - Bill Price (Engineer, NMTB, London Calling)
- The speed helps to tighten up the things, specially if you are good anyway.
“He can play guitar like ringin’ a bell”.
I actually don’t believe the guy knows how talented he is. What a legend
yeah his parts are really simple but a really tight guitar player i think his talent is in his timing
Jonesy B God
@@emilytvmusic Yep, instantly identifiable touch, I feel like I could pick him out of ten guys playing the exact same thing.
I know everybody gets called a legend these days but Steve Jones is truly deserving of that title. Funny, talented, raw and real. 🎸🎶💥🔥🌠🔊
You are a legend for this comment.
@@ZXSPEX LEGENDARY comment.
@@DiogenesOfCa that is a legendary affirmation. You are a legend.
@@seang3019 and you're a legend for acknowledging the legendariness of his praising for the other guys legendariness
I love Steve's attitude in this video. So down to earth, not taking himself too seriously and yet you can see he's rightfully proud of his work.
"Pretty good for someone who couldn't play, back then." Not bad, at all, I say. I always loved his attitude whilst playing. One of the coolest ;-)
what do you mean by "he couldn't play" ?
Stan Green dude couldn't play when he joined the pistols makes ya think how talented he is
I did not understand : why he couldn't play ?
Stan Green because he didn't learn quick enough. How's that hard to explain?
YOU understood nothing !
I said "why he couldn't play" because I don't understand WHY this girl told so on her comment !
she said he couldn't play ! what's the meaning ???
he played with the sex pistols ,no ? he made concerts with them ,no ?
I don't understand why this girl said "he couldn't play "
Steve Jones can make even one note sound punky. Love it.
Unassuming and honest about his guitar skills but Steve you are up there with the best, it's all about ideas and originality and consider you were so young back in 76/77 when you came up with these riffs and solos but they still sound so GOOD today. That's always the acid test!.
yes, the sex pistols will never sound shit!
Seventeen is literally the same chords as blitzkrieg bop
Type in "The Nothings & Steve Jones" a gig from 1983 with my old band ! Cheers !
@@bt3743 the chords may be the sams but the progression, rythm and overall structure are completely different....
@@bt3743 Along with about ten thousand more 😁
I admire steve jones as a musician and I like that he can't read music but made some of the greatest riffs
M8, he couldn't read period until Filthy Lucre.
@@sammencia7945 reading music is pretty useless for the average guitar player to be honest, not much point.
I just love this guy. He could do more with 4 chords than most guys could do with 1000. Also, one of the most refreshingly honest voice s in music.
I don't believe he couldn't play... that album is played masterfully and the guitar sound is amazing.
Remember he then went on and played in other bands after the Pistols. More hands-on time, equals more experience and more heart - thus improved playing :)
Max Heinrich Gutzmann Liebow What? How can later experience affect previous performance... are you in a time flux?
Because how he is playing them songs NOW isnt the same way he played on the Bollocks Album... am I in a time flux? Relax your brain - its just UA-cam....
+Max Heinrich Gutzmann Liebow holy fuck are you an idiot... I as talking about the album, and you should have deduced that by the fact that I used teh word "album" in my comment. Thank God this is just UA-cam, if this was driving you would've hit a tree.
Sorry Im not able to keep up with this "discussion". I work, have a family .etc and dont find much time or thrill on "You-Tube debates" - Ill leave you to it. Enjoy yourself. Besides dont take it too hard, its just my opinion, not a penis....
Much of their music was actually quite jolly and in a major key. The juxtaposition of the guitar parts and Lydon's sneering vocals is what made them so unique.
@@detroitfunk313 So, throw the 3rds out, basically, so it's not so "nice" and friendly. Although, I do hear a bit of genuine full major chording in Steve's stuff for the big sound but it's not that emphasized. He keeps it tight and tough sounding, yet full.
Punk music is often, ironically, in the major key. If you took away the high gain and the angry vocals it would sound like country!
Taking the best bits of Eddie Cochran, Johnny Thunders, Ronnie Wood and Mick Ronson - and moulding it into something entirely his own. Jonesy is one of the greats. Don’t let anyone tell you any differently.
I totally agree with those 4 sources of Steve's playing. As a deep fan of Steve's playing, here are few more that I think had a strong influence on Steve that might not be as obvious.
Jimi Hendrix. That's right! Steve was flipped out by Purple Haze when it first came out and bugged his neighbor to keep playing the single over and over. I think this had deep effect on his musical development and life path. I can hear a strong Hendrix influence in Steve particularly on the controlled noise atmospherics he likes to make live and on stuff like Anarchy with the feedback swells.
James WillIamson. Steve played along with Raw Power to learn guitar and I can hear a strong influence there with the tight, precise chord changes, big full sound, and rhythmic aggression. Steve's chord choices on EMI with I-IV pattern on the chorus sound very Williamson-like and I'm sure that's where he got it.
Pete Townshend. Steve's mentioned Pete as an influence but said it wasn't one of his biggest. But I think Steve picked up some cues from Pete from the way Pete showed that you can fill up the space in a single guitar band with a big, full crunch and tight, precise rhythmic playing that sounds massive. Plus, Pete showed that you can do interesting tasty fills and things that hold attention without being a super lead virtuoso. You can hear some Who in the Pistols, too.
Brian May. Steve was a fan of early Queen and that treble-boosted/AC30, midrangy rhythm sound of May definitely sounds like an influence to me.
Chuck Berry. Steve saw Chuck live when he was young and the influence is obvious. Maybe even more than Keith Richards, Steve was able to tap into what was exciting about Chuck's lead sound and apply it to some very modern, futuristic rock 'n' roll that still sounds fresh. Berry's rhythm and lead playing are both big influences on Steve.
Tom Scholz. Steve was a big Boston fan though wouldn't admit it until years later. Like Scholz, Steve created a massive wall of sound that had a quintessential 70's midrange bite, but kind of futuristic sounding. But still totally classic rock 'n' roll. Steve had already developed his own core sound by the time he heard Scholz. But I believe Scholz and Boston's first album were an influence on Steve totally getting into guitar overdubs with Chris Thomas on Never Mind The Bollocks. Also, somewhat of an influence on Steve's playing and developing a similar massive wall of sound and close midrangey rhythm tone.
And finally, Phil Spector. Not a guitar player but Steve's said that he literally wanted to develop a guitar wall of sound like Phil Spector's wall of sound and that Spector was a big influence on his. Another reason for Steve getting heavily into overdubbing and studio time.
Very well stated!
2:46 "the intro goes like this" BAM!! Instant Anarchy in the UK. Jonesy weaponised the simplest chords. Such an incredible sound.
This man is so humble.
What he created has inspired and influenced generations of creative people!
True legend! 🙌🏾
No it hasn't
@@rcweekends9370 Yes it has lmao, Nevermind The Bollocks is one of the most influential albums ever
@@guiltyhxc lmao, sure.
@@rcweekends9370 yes it has🖕🏻
He's being disingenous. There's no way someone who couldn't play was pulling all those little pentatonic licks out of nowhere. I think he spent a long time learning blues rock riffs and licks.
Steve Jones did the guitar and bass parts on Bollocks except Glen did bass on Pretty Vacant, Sid was sick in hospital and did nothing, Johnny did most of the lyrics but him and Glen both wrote submission, as far as I've heard, anyway who cares, the stars aligned and the Pistols came and kicked the music industries ass
Actually Sid PLAYED on Bodies, Submission, Belsen Was a Gas and Holidays in The Sun, the latter 2 having been written and ALL the 4 recorded after Glen Matlock had already left the band in several sessions at Wessex Studios in '77: then Steve Jones re-recorded almost ALL the bass lines over both Glen's and Sid's leaving just a couple of the original chords played by each one of them in a few songs of NMTB including Bodies!
Steve told me Glen played on "Anarchy" & Sid is on punch ins on "Bodies" and maybe "GSTQ" type in "The Nothings & Steve Jones" to see a gig we did with him in 1983 ! Cheers !
Sid played on Bodies and God Save The Queen
Sid has bass low in mix on Bodies and God Save the Queen.
GSTQ may be only Sid. Sounds like it to me.
Glen played on Anarchy.
Everything else is Steve
@@philipholmes5884 PHIL DO YOU MAKE A COMMENT ON ALL STEVE JONES VIDEOS?
As a Pistols fan that was fascinating viewing for me. I'm no musician myself but its clear to see how good Steve Jones really is.
Stephen .Wells Chris Thomas who produced the album said that Jonesy was one of the tightest players he’d ever recorded and he’s recorded all the big names. Jonesy could do countless overdubs in very little time as whilst he’s not a guitar virtuoso he’s got rock-solid timekeeping skills
If you bought a guitar and followed a few pistols guitar lessons on here I am confident in saying you'd be able to play a few of these within a yr, regular practice,I play intermediate level & these are on basic level, that ain't negative,some of the best songs contain basic or few chord's, great hobby 👍
Steve is an even better guitarist now than he was back in the day ironically
If you're interested it comes from the dvd extras of the documentary of NMTB on the classic albums series,
Behold the awesome power of Steve Jones. Steve’s stuff is the roughest, toughest most brutal most iconic punk ever created. I never get tired of it.
This must be the definitive electric guitar tone!!
Seems like a really chill dude. In fact, they all are, even Rotten.
For the moment. Everybody has their chill moments. That doesn't mean they weren't dirty rotters.
Cupper with Jones and Cookie, no worries, the bassist too...John Lydon would be tough.
BayviewFinch i think they would have said fucking rotters lol
“Even Rotten”....haha
@@barrysilcock2010 A thumbs up from Grundy.
jesus what a wholesome humble dude, so many of rock legends you see spit out some crazy licks and act like it's whatever, but even after all that time Steve Jones is still just stoked that he figured it out
Even more amazing when you think of all the classics he DIDN'T show….Satellite, Holidays in the Sun, Pretty Vacant etc, etc, etc……inspired me to play guitar in 1977, absolute legend.
The professionals had alot of bangers too
' I really didn't know how to play!". LoL says the guy who wrote and played guitar and bass on one of the most influential albums ever written ...I bought nmtb when I was 12.. I'm 55 now..I still feel the same way as when I first opened the album and put in on my turntable......llol😂 cheers from Vancouver BC Canada 👍
a legend!! for those who haven't already, watch the classic albums dvd, dispels the myth the pistols couldn't play. never mind the bollocks is one of the greatest debut albums by any band ever! if not simply one of the greatest albums ever!!
Steve Jones, top bloke and a fine guitarist.
The best tune on the LP PROBLEMS,,, my mate absolutely adored it ,,, BLESS HIM ,,, RIP,,, All ways the good die to young ,,,
Interviewer was asking about other topic, found him in a good mood and be broke down NMTB guitar parts.
Priceless.
Bands in the future will watch this to cover the tunes.
Well done, interviewer.
Well done
The last thing Steve said, "I should be getting paid to teach people how to play Never mind the bollocks". I would gladly pay for the vid. ££££
I love how genuinely proud he is of his guitar licks. AND HE SHOULD BE! They are among the most recognizable and influential guitar licks of all time. How many musicians heard those songs and took up guitar because of him. And he is humble and flattered that he is thought of in such high regard. That's how he comes across to me in this interview.
I riffed like that at 17 years old in my bedroom in 1976 and was just amazed to find a band that played music like this for a living in 1977. The Sex Pistols and the Ramones were my heroes.
"Pretty good for someone who couldn't play back then" ;)
I love when really successful musicians say stuff like "I cant really play". Steve is the man!
A very, very underrated guitarist and so influential on those who came after the Sex Pistols.
Incredible guitar songwriting. All the best songs are straight forward.
Give me Steve Jones’ tone, attack and expression over a thousand shredders.
He's probably the most humble and modest legendary punk rocker that has ever walked the Earth.
I love his rhythmic playing, it's very fun to play along to tunes like Anarchy, you can tell future guitarists were immensely inspired by him like Kurt Cobain, also a lot of this sounds very much influenced by Ron Asheton of the Stooges!
Ron Asheton in my opinion was the original punk rock guitarist, laid the groundwork for what was to come. The word gets thrown around a lot these days but he truly is underrated
Very, very effective simplicity. Genius of simplicity, indeed. That really was the sound of the Pistols. Totally unmistakeable. Incredibly catchy.
He is very humble
A incredible guitar player and you can tell he's a good bloke!
Greatest video on youtube ever !!!!! Love Steve Jones guitar style !!!!
It’s almost made to think how good they were. Jones was one of Britain’s finest guitarists, and rotten is easily the best front man ever to be associated with punk
3:23 my favourite solo
He has always had an awesome tone. He has always stood out because you know its him from his tone. Amazing.
Still one of thee most influential guitarists of all time. So humble... yet so amazing.
"Steve Jones is about the tightest rhythm guitarist I have ever heard in my life."
- Bill Price
I met Steve Jones in NYC in the early 80's. Great Guy, great guitarist! Wonderful human being!
How fantastic to hear these riffs stripped back. Steve takes a lot of flak for idiots, saying he can't play but he sure as hell can!
I saw Steve playing in Melbourne Australia, i couldn't stop laughing because he was funny and just having fun on stage, they were brilliant..👍👍🇦🇺
His tone sounds awesome. I can totally relate to him when it comes to not knowing how to read music and teaching yourself how to play guitar... making the most out of simple powercord progressions. I think Les Paul's naturally brings the best out of the person who's playing it. Dude is a legend in my book.
Steve Jones is my spirit animal.
The solos in anarchy are genius!! I loved them in 1978 when i had no idea how to play guitar and i love them even more in 2020 after having played guitar for 30 plus years. Jonesy is a great writer and player, just great feel and ear for the hook.
To your point... check out some of the UA-cam reaction videos of Anarchy. Whenever it gets to one of the two solo breaks in that song, the reactor almost invariably has a reaction like "oh!". An unconscious visceral reaction. Powerful stuff. Jonesy came up with some brilliant stuff that genuinely moved people and still does.
It’s the timing of the notes, mutes, pick attack, etc. Accuracy of the right hand. Very, very micro-type stuff. No one else could make it sound like this. But as you see here, it’s instantly the record. Note also that all this kind of thing goes away when you snap the guitars to a grid in the studio. This is the true magic of a human guitar player. Just like Elmore James.
And the press said he couldn't play. No wonder they hated the idiotic media.
Steve is a master of original riffs.
I love the self unassuming humour. These are timeless classics. Very grounded bloke. Top man.
Jonesy was a natural he just had a gift
Chapter Guide:
No Feelings 0:26
Seventeen 0:53
New York 1:41
-NY Solo 2:11
Anarchy 2:46
-Solo1 3:21
-Solo2 3:48
EMI 4:01
Problems 4:42
Bodies 5:18
What a top bloke and an amazing band in the day, ripped up the rule book and shat all over it...brilliant....Jonesy, your a star.
Jonesys guitar sound is immense 👍 never gets the credit he deserves
He used a MXR Phase 90 in the days with Glen. He didn't use any other pedals in the 70's. He turned them all the way up, just like Johnny Thunders. Today Steve uses a Danelectro Daddy'o Distortion pedal, that has alot todo with his tone today. I have written alot about his gear, alot of the info out there has come from me. I asked Steve alot of questions before, and also studied all his gear ect. He used Musicman Amps as well in the 70's during the Scandanavian tour
i thought he used the phase 45 back then...was the 90 out at that time?
Steve Jones is perfect. His riffs are perfect. The Pistols were perfect. The tunes, sound like a kid that grew up hearing rock n roll, and is discovering how, and doing it right
He's awesome, simple, but killer!
One 33 minute album and the man is still relevant, hes not jimi Hendrix, but hes got his own unique sound. One of the most influential guitarists ever !!!!!
I was 21 and living for a year in Chicago when this album came out. They played the Sex Pistols at La Mere Vipere - anyone remember?? True punk club. I like to turn it up at 65 years old. I give you a Testimonial !!
The best thing about Jonesy's playing is his humility. He doesnt see how good he really is.
Some of the best hooks in rock n roll. Steve is a natural born genius.
I agree, Steve's got an incredible feel and touch and rhythmic sense - difficult to match. A lot of those hooks were written by Glen.
This comes from the dvd "Classic albums - Never mind the bollocks".
It's one of the bonus parts from this dvd.
Don't know of there is more of this, but it's all i got.
humble saying he couldn't play but he's in my top ten guitarists ever. cheers mate
He’s not just being humble he’s mocking the dummies who said the Pistols couldn’t lay.
So underrated and humble, what a nice guy.
Steve Jones is the kind of bloke you meet in the local boozer whos friendly enough but you wouldnt want to fuck with him
+chairmanmeow1973 Yeah he has the menace of Mr Blonde in Reservoir dogs.
Looks a lot like him too
Total No-Nonsence guitarist that defined Punk Rock. I learnt guitar from listening to the Sex Pistols, Steve is a Guitar Legend that defined the Sex Pistols, and also made the White Gibson Les Paul an Icon of Punk Rock~~~Respect!
Steve.. definetly my favourite Pistol of them all... and without his guitars there would'nt be the whole modern rock up to this day.. respect MAN...
Great fun. Steve jones was brilliant.
Great player Mr Jones - Talent!
every 2-3 years I end up back to this video, it keeps me grounded and reminds me you don't have to overcomplicate your songs, the guitar part has to serve the song, thank you Steve, btw first time noticing thats a burny not a gibson
Indeed. It seems to be a Burny RLC-55. I bet he also has one of the "Inspired By..." replicas of the original that Gibson made in early 2000s. But it's the amp too... Great sound!
wow he's fucking great, actually he's a real genius... with simple chords he could sound great and play brilliant riffs.
in this video he looks a bit sad, dont know... it seems that he feels disappointed of himself cause he thinks he can't play, and cause there have been many "great" guitarists after him, like those who play metal... just my impression.
we love ya Steve!
+Luudh uruk He's from England. It is what we do best - feeling disappointed with ourselves.. and then turning that into something good, or bad, depending on the "judge". I guess the whole world is like that really.. Okay.. I will go now.
I love his radio show. I just found it - 'Jonesy's Jukebox'
+Robert Where did you find it, is it online or something else?
It is on a DVD apparently.
+Robert Thanks Robert
+Luudh uruk its much better for someone who has limited musical skills producing something so brilliant that changed music forever than some virtuoso steve vai boring shit, thats why hes a guitar hero.
so glad he played 'bodies'.one of jonesy's personal faves of tunes from bollocks.
This makes me want to buy a guitar. Even thoughi know I'd never play it and it'd just sit in my room taking up space.
My friend taught me the intro to Pretty Vacant and I was hooked. Get a guitar!
They look nice on the wall anyways.
Copacetic buy one goddammit
How come there are two Jam songs at 3: 25 ?
I've been listening to this album for nearly 40 years now and it continues to blow my mind. As much as I love Anarchy and GSTQ,I replay Problems more than any other song lately. Steve chanels the blues and Chuck Berry in that song.Lydon's lyrics are the definition of confrontational, tight rhythm section, etc...
Yeah,nobody is going to confuse Steve for Robert Fripp or Jimi,nor does Steve pretend to be a virtuoso. But he is in my book.And he seems like a really cool dude.He was the first celebrity I ever took seriously when it came to sobriety too.Decades before I got clean,I remember his PSA about drugs killing his friend, and nearly killing him.
Years later and drugs killed many of my friends and nearly killed me.
I hope I become a cool old fart like Steve one day.
Steve Jones is one of my all-time favorite guitarists. Much like Johnny Ramone and David Gilmour, Steve had a style that nobody could copy. Steve was a true innovator on the guitar, and his riffs wound up reinventing rock music.
Johnny ramone, a style unable to copy? 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣😅😅😅😅🤣😅😅😅😅😅😅
@@aninjatuna8576 shouldn't laugh. Anybody can play like Johnny Ramone, but not for a fucking hour at a time.
@@hermanmunster9472 I remember being a leather jacketed kid back in the day, and spending some time up in Brisbane in the summertime. I couldn't quite bring myself to wear shorts, but I did ditch the jacket as the temperature climbed. Some dumb punks sweated thru it all.
@@johnnyoranges Hi John! All I wanted to say is, that in those leather-jacket-times I alway preferred The Saints to The Ramones. Music skills are not a matter of clothes. Ed Kuepper is the most underestimated man in Rock'n'Roll history. I bought "I'm Stranded" in late 77 and never owned any Ramones record...and I know how it is hitchhiking through spain with a leather jacket :).
@@hermanmunster9472 How are you ? Yes, the Saints were a great band, and those first three albums (esp. the first) were excellent. I do think Chris was overly dismissive when he said the Ramones sounded like the Archies tho. Their first album (Ramones, not Archies) was brilliant in it's freshness and immediacy, and let's face it, their sound (and look) was very much imitated. So their influence (and longevity) shouldn't be underestimated. I agree re. Kuepper's sound. 'Nights in Venice', 'No Time', 'Story of Love' and so on. I love it, and yes, Johnny Ramone is weak in comparison.
That tone is just 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
Amazing how he reveals his playing...and what a powerhouse he is in Pistols concerts. Just a wall
Of guitar sound. What a great band. Will always
Admire the Sex Pistols for being who they are.
I love his style of playing. Simple but super tight and effective.
Fascinating to see those great riffs being played in isolation and to hear how they came about - great point he makes about how close his sound is to Ted Nugent & Deep Purple
That was was on the one riff... Bodies I think
Basic maybe but you can’t deny that Steve Jones’ tone…is second to none of his contemporaries. One chord and you know it’s him.
Greatest guitar player ever in my book!
I recall this period vividly in that I had an impossible time trying to assimilate any opportunity to work this way...even at 16 I was an accomplished guitarist but could in no way wrap my head around this. Looking at it years later, there is a brilliance that emerges from the honesty of it all. You simply had to live it and I was alas a middle class kid. I consider the Sex Pistols to be a seminal moment unrivaled by anything. Only a select few actually saw them in the day, but many of those were compelled to launch their own efforts much of which can found in a large body of work in years to come. Its beyond amazing.
This guy is my guitar hero!
What makes this album so great is that its simple. Fun riffs that carry the vocals. Packs more of a punch. People tend to want to attack guys like Jones because they are not these intricate guitar geniuses like guys like Fripp. Steve gave himself a crash course teaching himself. He is more focused on the sound, then the technical shit. Anthems usually come from those kind of guys. Love Jones guitar work and that Pistols sound
ONE of the BEST guitar players in the world!
Watched this Vid so many times. Fantastic riffs. We play some in our band.
He's one of my best mates. By the way, he's a great lad, so humble and really quite ordinary for somebody who can play the guitar like he does. I talk to him every week and I love it. He's as funny as f@ck and a blast to just yap about anything to.
cool story bro
Just finished watching Pistol and it was brilliant. Captured the spirit of the time in a romantical way, but more importantly showed Steve as the true leader and inspiration of the band.
A chilled geezer who vented absolute fury through his guitar
No One Is Innocent is my favourite. He is obviously one of life's natural musicians cos I've been trying decades and still find it difficult.