The concert and rehearsal scenes were recorded live, without overdubs and the actors portraying the band and Chrissie Hynde sang and played their instruments in almost all their scenes. As none of them actually played their designated instrument they had to learn before production began.
Although ostensibly based on his memoir, Steve Jones has emphasized in interviews that the series is "not a documentary", and that it takes numerous liberties with the historical record in the name of entertainment. In particular, both Jones and Chrissie Hynde have said that the series greatly exaggerates the length and intensity of their romantic relationship. Jones disclaimed foreknowledge of this before viewing the finished show but said that "I do think it's a good story."
In May 2021, lead singer of the Sex Pistols John Lydon, better known by his stage name Johnny Rotten, called the planned series disrespectful and revealed that he did not give his consent for the project, nor was he comfortable with having a random actor play him in the show. Lydon said he would take legal action against Danny Boyle and the people involved with the miniseries.
The series is based on guitarist Steve Jones' memoir "Lonely Boy: Tales from a Sex Pistol." According to director Danny Boyle, "Imagine breaking into the world of "The Crown" and "Downton Abbey" with your mates and screaming your songs and your fury at all they represent," Boyle previously said in a statement. "This is the moment that British society and culture changed forever. It is the detonation point for British street culture ... where ordinary young people had the stage and vented their fury and their fashion ... and everyone had to watch and listen ... and everyone feared them or followed them. The Sex Pistols. At its center was a young charming illiterate kleptomaniac, a hero for the times, Steve Jones, who became in his own words, the 94th greatest guitarist of all time. This is how he got there."