Sex Pistols concert

The Sex Pistols’ Johnny Rotten (a.k.a. John Lydon) leads the revival at the Roxy. The band, which also includes guitarist Steve Jones, drummer Paul Cook and bassist Glen Matlock, played a private club show for fans Thursday. It was the group’s first appearance at the club and their first club show in Los Angeles. (Hal Wells / Los Angeles Times)

Sept. 16, 2014 6:21 AM PT

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Johnny Rotten at the Roxy on Thursday, the Sex Pistols’ first club show in L.A. (Hal Wells / Los Angeles Times)

Johnny Rotten leads the Sex Pistols through a resurrection at the Roxy in L.A. in a concert reviewer Greg Burk describes as “an overall sympohony of goofery.” The concert included Indie 103.1 DJ Steve Jones, the Pistols’ guitarist. The FM station gave out free tickets for the Thursday show. (Hal Wells / Los Angeles Times)

It’s the safety-pinned shirt and polyester vest look for Johnny Rotten as he and the Sex Pistols play a show at the Roxy that marks the initial digital release of their 1977 landmark album, “Never Mind the Bollocks ... Here’s the Sex Pistols.” (Hal Wells / Los Angeles Times)

The Sex Pistols started their Roxy show Thursday with a preview of disco, then Johnny Rotten and the band lit into the sound that supposedly put a stake in that genre’s heart. (Hal Wells / Los Angeles Times)

Glen Matlock, the original bassist for the Sex Pistols before he was replaced by Sid Vicious (who died of an overdose in 1979), plays with the band again at the private club show at the Roxy on Thursday. (Hal Wells / Los Angeles Times)

The Sex Pistols played an hourlong show at the Roxy on Thursday, their first at that venue and the first club show in L.A. The concert marked the release of a digital download offering of their 1977 album, “Never Mind the Bollocks ... Here’s the Sex Pistols.” (Hal Wells / Los Angeles Times)

The fans at the Roxy show Thursday were into the Sex Pistols, but no one got really 1970s on them and spit on Johnny Rotten, a tradition Rotten didn’t appear to miss. (Hal Wells / Los Angeles Times)