The SEX Pistols were an English punk rock band that formed in London in 1975. They were one of the most influential acts in the history of punk music and are often credited with initiating the punk movement in the United Kingdom. The band was composed of vocalist Johnny Rotten, guitarist Steve Jones, drummer Paul Cook, and bassist Glen Matlock. The SEX Pistols released their debut single, 'Anarchy in the U.K.', in November 1976, which quickly became a top-ten hit in the UK. The band's notoriety and controversial lyrics made them a target of censorship and moral outrage, leading to their eventual breakup in 1978.