Sex Pistols - God Save The Queen

The Sex Pistols' classic track "God Save the Queen" will be re-released in the U.K. on May 28th in celebration of the song's 35th anniversary. Additionally, there's an organized campaign to push the song to the top of the U.K. charts because the re-release of the song coincides with the Queen's Diamond Jubilee, the international celebration commemorating the 60th anniversary of Queen Elizabeth's accession to the throne. Not surprisingly, John Lydon isn't cool with any of this and earlier today he posted the following statement on his website:

"I would like to very strongly distance myself from the recent stories and campaign to push God Save The Queen for the number 1 spot over the Jubilee weekend. It is certainly not my personal plan or aim.

I am proud of what The Sex Pistols achieved and always will be but this campaign totally undermines what The Sex Pistols stood for. This is not my campaign.

I am pleased that the The Sex Pistols recordings are being put out there for a new generation however I wish for no part in the circus that is being built up around it. I am currently very focused on Public Image Ltd."

Public Image Limited will release the One Drop EP for Record Store Day this weekend and follow that up with the full length album This Is P.I.L. on May 28th. For more info on both of those releases visit the official P.I.L. website.

Meanwhile Sex Pistols fans should delight in a couple of YouTube discoveries: first is an episode of I Swear That I Was There featuring a Sex Pistols' 1976 concert in Manchester. The other great find was rare Sex Pistols' 1978 tour documentary D.O.A - A Rite of Passage. Watch both below.

I Swear That I Was There




D.O.A. - A Rite Of Passage