Daniel Radcliffe Ranks Sex Pistols Alongside The Beatles in Music History
Daniel Radcliffe stirred debate by claiming the Sex Pistols are as influential as The Beatles in British music, sharing his top tracks and the artists who shaped his musical taste.
For many, the holiday season means revisiting the entire Harry Potter film series, watching Daniel Radcliffe grow from a child actor into the face of a generation. His transformation from the awkward beginnings of the first movie to the confident lead by the final installment is nothing short of remarkable. Radcliffe’s portrayal of the iconic wizard has become so definitive that it ’s hard to picture anyone else in the role, making the upcoming HBO adaptation a tough act to follow. Since leaving Hogwarts behind, Radcliffe has built a diverse career, taking on daring roles in both theater and film, and his offbeat choices extend to his musical preferences as well.
Radcliffe’s Surprising Musical Icons
During a conversation with KCRW, Radcliffe opened up about the songs and artists that have left a mark on him. He singled out the Sex Pistols, boldly stating,
“In my opinion, and I can and will get flak for this I’m sure, but in my opinion they are as important as The Beatles in terms of what they did for British music.”
He went on to say,
“I feel like the Sex Pistols are often seen as more important for what they stood for and what they brought on than for the actual music, but the actual music is really, really good too.”
While some may argue that the Sex Pistols didn’t quite reach the same level of influence as The Beatles, their cultural impact and the wave of music they inspired are undeniable.
Personal Favorites and Musical Influences
Radcliffe’s playlist doesn’t stop at punk. He also highlighted Lou Reed’s classic, ‘Walk on the Wild Side,’ sharing,
“I’ve rediscovered it lately and it’s just an amazing song. It’s definitely one, if I could only listen to five songs the rest of my life, it would definitely be one of them.”
He drew a parallel between The Libertines and the Sex Pistols, describing The Libertines as,
“the Sex Pistols of my generation, I think in some ways. They are a much more lyrical band, they’re a much more romantic band than the Sex Pistols, but they do have the same kind of chaotic, anarchic energy.”
Radcliffe’s admiration for alternative rock also shines through with his pick of The Pixies’ ‘Broken Face.’ He admitted,
“What’s great about doing it (looking up meaning of Pixies lyrics) is you look it up and you’re like ‘I still don’t really know what’s going on, but I don’t mind.’”
Rounding out his list is Perfume Genius’s ‘Hood,’ which he praised for its emotional depth, saying,
“Always very beautiful… a lot of his songs deal with longing – I think or maybe not, I’m probably putting words into his mouth – it’s a very hard thing to sing about without it sounding whiny.”
Radcliffe’s Top Five Tracks
Here are the five songs that Radcliffe counts among his all-time favorites: Lou Reed’s ‘Walk On the Wild Side,’ Sex Pistols’ ‘EMI,’ The Libertines’ ‘Time For Heroes,’ Pixies’ ‘Broken Face,’ and Perfume Genius’s ‘Hood.’ Each track reflects a different facet of his musical journey, from punk rebellion to poetic indie rock and heartfelt ballads.