"Pretty Vacant" was the third single released by the punk rock band Sex Pistols. This ode to apathy was released on 1 July 1977. The song marked the band's only appearance on the British music show Top of the Pops. The song is infamous for vocalist John Lydon's phrasing of the word "vacant", emphasizing the last syllable making it sound like the swear word "cunt". According to Glen Matlock the riff was inspired by "S.O.S." by ABBA after hearing i...
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"Pretty Vacant" was the third single released by the punk rock band Sex Pistols. This ode to apathy was released on 1 July 1977. The song marked the band's only appearance on the British music show Top of the Pops. The song is infamous for vocalist John Lydon's phrasing of the word "vacant", emphasizing the last syllable making it sound like the swear word "cunt". According to Glen Matlock the riff was inspired by "S.O.S." by ABBA after hearing it on the radio.
The song was featured in the 1981 Ralph Bakshi movie American Pop.
The B-side is a cover of The Stooges' "No Fun" which they played on the spot without a proper rehearsal.
"Pretty Vacant" was used as the theme song to a short-lived 1994 television sketch comedy show called The Vacant Lot.
The New Musical Express magazine made it their Single of the Year in 1977. In March 2005, Q magazine placed the song at number 26 in its list of the 100 Greatest Guitar Tracks.
Joey Ramone used the lead riff in his cover of "What a Wonderful...
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