The story goes something like this -- in the wake of
the Sex Pistols' split, pals
Steve Jones (guitar) and
Paul Cook (drums) looked to form a new band capable of creating as much racket as their previous outfit. Who better to fill the spots vacated by
Johnny Rotten and
Sid Vicious than a pair of
Sham 69ers --
Jimmy Pursey (vocals) and
Dave Tregunna (bass)? For a brief period during 1979, it looked like the world may have the first punk "supergroup" on its hands, but apart from some big plans and a single show in Glasgow, this promising union failed to pan out. Luckily, some smart bloke had the wherewithal to record their lone show -- issued in 2001 as
Sham Pistols Gig. Now before ya get all exciting thinking that the set list consisted of unheard collaborations between both factions, sorry to burst your bubble -- the majority of the set is comprised of
Sham 69 tunes, with the odd
Sex Pistols song and cover tune thrown in from time to time. But with the top-notch performance and audio (which appears to be a surprisingly clear soundboard recording), this is a worthwhile listen for fans of either band. Highlights include spirited romps through such
Sham classics as "Borstal Breakout" and "Hersham Boys," as well as
the Pistols' "Pretty Vacant" and "No One Is Innocent," and covers of
the Clash's "White Riot" and
the Beatles' "Day Tripper."
–
Greg Prato, Rovi