Wally Nightingale
Encyclopedia
Wally Nightingale, born Warwick Alan Nightingale in West Kensington, was an English
musician. He was best known as the guitarist and founder of the band that eventually became the Sex Pistols
. According to guitarist Steve Jones
, Nightingale left the band in 1975 after Malcolm McLaren
agreed to manage the band, but "... only if we got rid of Wally".
Nightingale died in May 1996 from complications of substance abuse
.
, drummer Paul Cook
said "I think it was Wally, the famous Wally Nightingale, who had said 'Well, let's start a band' ," accompanied by pictures showing the early band, which consisted of Nightingale on guitar, Steve Jones
on vocals, and Cook on drums. No name for the band is given in the film, but Gerald Kean says that it was called "The Strand", after Do the Strand
by Roxy Music
.
The band was formed in 1972. They rehearsed quite a lot, mostly upstairs at Nightingale's house on Hemlock Road in East Acton
during the day when his parents were working, and may have played a few gigs in the area although no verifiable reports exist. The band had a very fluid line-up; at some point Paul Cook's uncle handled the bass guitar duties., at some point Steve Hayes played bass guitar with the outfit. Jimmy Mackin played organ with the band from 1974 to early 1975, and the band also had a conga
player, Cecil.
By 1975 the band was rehearsing at Crunchy Frog, a studio near the London Docklands. They were at the time managed by Bernie Rhodes
, who tried to set up gigs for the band. The only reported gig during the entire existence of the band was in early 1975 at a birthday party for one of Cook's friends above Tom Salter’s Café on Kings Road
in Chelsea, London. At the short, three-song gig, The Strand consisted of Steve Jones on vocals, Wally Nightingale on guitar, Del Noones on bass and Paul Cook on drums. The band had changed their name to The Swankers prior to the gig. Nightingale recorded the performance on a cassette tape, but accidentally erased the tape two years later. Noones, despite being married to Cook's sister and thus being Cook's brother-in-law, was ejected from the band shortly afterwards, due to his unreliability and unwillingness to rehearse. In the early summer of 1975, Glen Matlock
stepped in as a permanent bass player at the suggestion of McLaren.
After persistent requests by Jones, McLaren agreed to become manager of The Strand. However, McLaren thought Nightingale was "too nice", and by early 1975 Nightingale and Jones were in disagreement over the direction the band should take. Having been after McLaren to manage them for some time because of his previous connections in the music business (primarily as a very brief manager for The New York Dolls
), Cook and Jones eventually decided to take McLaren's advice. Jones switched to guitar and the band continued on as The Swankers, without founder Nightingale. Nightingale was informed of the decision upon his arrival to a rehearsal. In interviews he has stated he "was so gutted that I didn't say anything. I even went for a drink with them that evening.".
With the personnel changes, the band initially changed their name to "QT Jones & his Sex Pistols" at McLaren's suggestion, but the name was later shortened to Sex Pistols. McLaren considered Jones's singing unsuitable and John Lydon
was recruited in August. Sex Pistols played their first gig on 6 November the same year, a little over six months after Nightingale had left. When Nightingale saw them at the 100 Club, "they wouldn't even talk to me. In hindsight I suppose I'm proud to have been involved in the punk scene though I don't go around telling everyone. After I left, Steve and the others slagged me off in the music press really badly. I never really knew why; I never did them any harm." About the person who got him fired, he simply stated "McLaren was devious but clever. He'd see things which other people didn't see and I suppose that's what gave him his edge. Malcolm made the Sex Pistols."
, died in 1981. He was subsequently jailed in the early 1980s after receiving a 6-month sentence for undisclosed "drug-related offences".
The only known gig Nightingale performed after being fired from the Swankers was as a one-off guest guitarist with Brentwood punk rockers Beat of the Beast in 1989.
Nightingale died in May 1996 from drug related complications.
. It was later included on the compilation album Flogging a Dead Horse
and has regularly been played live by the Sex Pistols during their reunion shows in the 90's and 00's. The Warner Chappell Music database recognizes Nightingale as co-author, however the band itself refuses to and Nightingale never received any songwriting royalties.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
musician. He was best known as the guitarist and founder of the band that eventually became the Sex Pistols
Sex Pistols
The Sex Pistols were an English punk rock band that formed in London in 1975. They were responsible for initiating the punk movement in the United Kingdom and inspiring many later punk and alternative rock musicians...
. According to guitarist Steve Jones
Steve Jones (musician)
Stephen Philip "Steve" Jones is an English rock guitarist, singer and actor, best known as guitarist and founding member of the punk rock band the Sex Pistols.-Childhood:...
, Nightingale left the band in 1975 after Malcolm McLaren
Malcolm McLaren
Malcolm Robert Andrew McLaren was an English performer, impresario, self-publicist and manager of the Sex Pistols and the New York Dolls...
agreed to manage the band, but "... only if we got rid of Wally".
Nightingale died in May 1996 from complications of substance abuse
Substance abuse
A substance-related disorder is an umbrella term used to describe several different conditions associated with several different substances .A substance related disorder is a condition in which an individual uses or abuses a...
.
Nightingale and the Sex Pistols
There are few known details of Nightingale's life. In the documentary The Filth and The FuryThe Filth and the Fury
The Filth and the Fury is a 2000 rockumentary film about the Sex Pistols directed by Julien Temple.-About the film:The Filth and the Fury is the second movie Julien Temple made about The Sex Pistols. His first effort was The Great Rock and Roll Swindle, which was released in British cinemas on 15...
, drummer Paul Cook
Paul Cook
Paul Thomas Cook is an English drummer and member of the punk rock band Sex Pistols.-Early life and career:...
said "I think it was Wally, the famous Wally Nightingale, who had said 'Well, let's start a band' ," accompanied by pictures showing the early band, which consisted of Nightingale on guitar, Steve Jones
Steve Jones (musician)
Stephen Philip "Steve" Jones is an English rock guitarist, singer and actor, best known as guitarist and founding member of the punk rock band the Sex Pistols.-Childhood:...
on vocals, and Cook on drums. No name for the band is given in the film, but Gerald Kean says that it was called "The Strand", after Do the Strand
Do The Strand
"Do the Strand" is the first song from Roxy Music's second album, For Your Pleasure. In contrast to the songs from Roxy Music's eponymous debut album, this song starts suddenly without any instrumental fanfare.-Lyrics:...
by Roxy Music
Roxy Music
Roxy Music was a British art rock band formed in 1971 by Bryan Ferry, who became the group's lead vocalist and chief songwriter, and bassist Graham Simpson. The other members are Phil Manzanera , Andy Mackay and Paul Thompson . Former members include Brian Eno , and Eddie Jobson...
.
The band was formed in 1972. They rehearsed quite a lot, mostly upstairs at Nightingale's house on Hemlock Road in East Acton
East Acton
East Acton is a place in west London, England. It is partly in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham and partly in the London Borough of Ealing...
during the day when his parents were working, and may have played a few gigs in the area although no verifiable reports exist. The band had a very fluid line-up; at some point Paul Cook's uncle handled the bass guitar duties., at some point Steve Hayes played bass guitar with the outfit. Jimmy Mackin played organ with the band from 1974 to early 1975, and the band also had a conga
Conga
The conga, or more properly the tumbadora, is a tall, narrow, single-headed Cuban drum with African antecedents. It is thought to be derived from the Makuta drums or similar drums associated with Afro-Cubans of Central African descent. A person who plays conga is called a conguero...
player, Cecil.
By 1975 the band was rehearsing at Crunchy Frog, a studio near the London Docklands. They were at the time managed by Bernie Rhodes
Bernie Rhodes
Bernard Rhodes is the former manager of English punk rock band The Clash. He previously worked with Sex Pistols manager Malcolm McLaren and once claimed to have "invented punk".-Management:...
, who tried to set up gigs for the band. The only reported gig during the entire existence of the band was in early 1975 at a birthday party for one of Cook's friends above Tom Salter’s Café on Kings Road
Kings Road
King's Road or Kings Road, known popularly as The King's Road or The KR, is a major, well-known street stretching through Chelsea and Fulham, both in west London, England...
in Chelsea, London. At the short, three-song gig, The Strand consisted of Steve Jones on vocals, Wally Nightingale on guitar, Del Noones on bass and Paul Cook on drums. The band had changed their name to The Swankers prior to the gig. Nightingale recorded the performance on a cassette tape, but accidentally erased the tape two years later. Noones, despite being married to Cook's sister and thus being Cook's brother-in-law, was ejected from the band shortly afterwards, due to his unreliability and unwillingness to rehearse. In the early summer of 1975, Glen Matlock
Glen Matlock
Glen Matlock is an English bass guitarist most famous for being in the original line-up of the punk rock band the Sex Pistols. Drummer Paul Cook has said that Matlock came up with much of the music for the band's songs and most of the lyrics, while lead singer Johnny Rotten made some adjustments...
stepped in as a permanent bass player at the suggestion of McLaren.
After persistent requests by Jones, McLaren agreed to become manager of The Strand. However, McLaren thought Nightingale was "too nice", and by early 1975 Nightingale and Jones were in disagreement over the direction the band should take. Having been after McLaren to manage them for some time because of his previous connections in the music business (primarily as a very brief manager for The New York Dolls
New York Dolls
The New York Dolls is an American rock band, formed in New York in 1971. The band's protopunk sound prefigured much of what was to come in the punk rock era; their visual style influenced the look of many new wave and 1980s-era glam metal groups, and they began the local New York scene that later...
), Cook and Jones eventually decided to take McLaren's advice. Jones switched to guitar and the band continued on as The Swankers, without founder Nightingale. Nightingale was informed of the decision upon his arrival to a rehearsal. In interviews he has stated he "was so gutted that I didn't say anything. I even went for a drink with them that evening.".
With the personnel changes, the band initially changed their name to "QT Jones & his Sex Pistols" at McLaren's suggestion, but the name was later shortened to Sex Pistols. McLaren considered Jones's singing unsuitable and John Lydon
John Lydon
John Joseph Lydon , also known by the former stage name Johnny Rotten, is a singer-songwriter and television presenter, best known as the lead singer of punk rock band the Sex Pistols from 1975 until 1978, and again for various revivals during the 1990s and 2000s...
was recruited in August. Sex Pistols played their first gig on 6 November the same year, a little over six months after Nightingale had left. When Nightingale saw them at the 100 Club, "they wouldn't even talk to me. In hindsight I suppose I'm proud to have been involved in the punk scene though I don't go around telling everyone. After I left, Steve and the others slagged me off in the music press really badly. I never really knew why; I never did them any harm." About the person who got him fired, he simply stated "McLaren was devious but clever. He'd see things which other people didn't see and I suppose that's what gave him his edge. Malcolm made the Sex Pistols."
After the Swankers
After Nightingale was ousted from The Swankers he tried to form a new band but without lasting success. He developed an addiction to heroin after his father, an electrician and part-time film technician at Riverside Studios in HammersmithHammersmith
Hammersmith is an urban centre in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham in west London, England, in the United Kingdom, approximately five miles west of Charing Cross on the north bank of the River Thames...
, died in 1981. He was subsequently jailed in the early 1980s after receiving a 6-month sentence for undisclosed "drug-related offences".
The only known gig Nightingale performed after being fired from the Swankers was as a one-off guest guitarist with Brentwood punk rockers Beat of the Beast in 1989.
Nightingale died in May 1996 from drug related complications.
Authorship
The only original songs from the "Nightingale period" band that can be verified are an unreleased track called "Scarface" (with lyrics penned by Nightingale's father, according to Matlock) and the track "Did You No Wrong" (which Nightingale wrote the music for). The lyrics to the latter were subsequently rewritten by Johnny Rotten and in 1977 the song was released as the b-side to the Sex Pistols second single God Save The QueenGod Save the Queen
"God Save the Queen" is an anthem used in a number of Commonwealth realms and British Crown Dependencies. The words of the song, like its title, are adapted to the gender of the current monarch, with "King" replacing "Queen", "he" replacing "she", and so forth, when a king reigns...
. It was later included on the compilation album Flogging a Dead Horse
Flogging a Dead Horse
Flogging a Dead Horse is a compilation album of singles by the Sex Pistols, released after their break-up, and includes the four songs that were issued as singles A-sides from Never Mind the Bollocks, Here's the Sex Pistols with three of their B-sides, as well as the six A-sides that were issued...
and has regularly been played live by the Sex Pistols during their reunion shows in the 90's and 00's. The Warner Chappell Music database recognizes Nightingale as co-author, however the band itself refuses to and Nightingale never received any songwriting royalties.