LETTER:Inspiration for the Sex Pistols

From Mr Eric Longley

Sir: Dr I. Sandler, professor of Art History at the State University of New York, asks whether the Sex Pistols are our (English) authentic national culture (Letters, 26 August). Hopefully the professor is better at art history than he is music history.

The culture that spawned the Sex Pistols was American not English. The Sex Pistols and the manager, Malcolm McClaren were inspired by and arguably copied an American group "The New York Dolls". The UK punk movement can trace its origins and inspiration back to the "Dolls".

Yours faithfully,

Eric Longley

London, N22