the sex pistols

By far the best punk band to come out of England (or anywhere else for that matter). They were formed by Malcom McLaren in 1975 and included Steve Jones on guitar, Paul Cook the drummer, Glen Matlock on bass, and John Lydon aka Johnny Rotten as lead singer. Later Glen Matlock was replaced with the infamous John Simon Ritchie or Sid Vicious (his stage name, a joke about his mild temperment) who couldn't play for beans but nonetheless became the most notorious of the group. They became the first people to swear on television during an interview with Bill Grundy and were subsequently banned from most clubs. After a disastrous American tour they disbanded after Johnny Rotten left the band on January 14th, 1978. Sid Vicious was suspected for the murder of his girlfriend Nancy Spungeon on October 12th of the same year. He served jail time but the case was never solved. He was found dead on February 1, 1979 after a heroin overdose (the heroin was supplied by his mother after he was released from jail). He was only 21. The remaining Sex Pistols reunited in 1996 and released an album after touring. Glen Matlock returned as bass player.