SEX PISTOLS. BtVS Intertext/Allusion.

The Sex Pistols were the British band of the mid-70s that defined Punk. In “Lovers Walk," Spike sings along to lead singer Sid Vicious’ version of “My Way” as he leaves Sunnydale in his DeSoto to win back Drusilla. (In fact, it is Gary Oldman from the soundtrack of the film Sid and Nancy heard on the car radio.)

Spike’s preference for Punk is further revealed in “The Initiative,” when Xander stumbles across Harmony pouring gasoline on a pile of Spike’s belongings.

Xander: . . . Really. I’m just gonna pick up the tattered shreds of my dignity and go home . . . leaving you with your fire.

Harmony: My fire? Yeah, right. Like I listen to the Sex Pistols. Ewww. This crap belongs to Spike.

 

In “The Dark Age” we see a photo of Giles (Ripper) playing bass in a band. In an interview with the BBC's children’s programme Fully Booked, Anthony Stewart Head confirmed that it was his head composited onto the body of legendary Sex Pistols bad boy Sid Vicious (qtd in Topping, 99). Giles and Spike are thus unexpectedly linked together.

Keith Topping, 1999. Slayer: The Totally Cool Unofficial Guide to Buffy, London: Virgin

 - Janice Chan