Sex Pistols: Queen Elizabeth's II Jubilee Being Crashed & 'God Save the Queen' Single Release

Sex Pistols Crashing Queen Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee & Releasing 'God Save the Queen' Single Release.

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I cite my sources and they may differ than other people's accounts, so I don't guarantee the actual accuracy of my videos.

With news today that the Queen had passed away I wanted to take a look at the time The Sex Pistols crashed the Queens Silver Jubilee celebration. This story really dates back to the 1800’s when London was struggling to keep up with an exploding population. The infrastructure in the city couldn’t meet the demands of the rising population and unlike today you didn’t have sanitary sewers and wastewater treatment plants to deal with sewage. Instead people’s sewage would run into the river thames. This type of thing still happens in the city where I live it’s called combined sewer overflow, largely because we have a lot of old infrastructure where storm water and sewage is transported in the same pipes. When we get an intense rain event it bypasses the wastewater treatment plant and goes straight to the river. In 1859 the hot weather combined with the waste in the river only exasperated the horrendous stench of from the river that was so bad that the parliament had trouble with their sessions and prince victoria and albert had to cancel their pleasure cruise. Then over a century later the monarchy would be disrupted once again by the River Thames, but not by a stench, but by loud rock music. In 1977 London’s wastewater issues had vastly improved as a lot of developed countries and cities had built proper sanitary sewer and treatment systems. Queen Elizabeth the II would celebrate her silver jubilee - her 25th anniversary of her taking the throne that year. But anytime the monarchy celebrates any anniversary there was always protesters and that year the Sex Pistols protested the occasion. Forming one year prior the Sex Pistols had already developed a notorious reputation having had gigs cancelled, losing several recording contracts and upsetting an entire nation on live television when they appeared on the bill grundy show.

The band perfectly timed the release of their second single ‘God Save The Queen’ to coincide with the silver jubilee. Funny enough it was the band’s second attempt at releasing the single as the first time saw the band’s entourage get involved in a scuffle with a record executive resulting in the band losing one of their recording contracts. Always loving publicity, sex pistols manager malcolm mcclaren and richard branson the head of their label EMI concocted a plan to have the sex pistols rent a boat called the Queen Elizabeth on the river thames, sail by the parliament and perform a live show. The queen was set to have her own royal procession two days later.

The initial part of the boat trip seemed to go fine with the members talking with others and drinking. Joinin them on the boat ride were people from their management, their label, fellow punk rockers, a film crew and journalists. Things would get more tense once the band started ot play their songs with

Allan Jones who was a journalist for Uncut who was on the boat would tell the Guardian looking back hortly before the Pistols played, police boats started circling us as we approached Parliament. I wouldn't have wanted to be anywhere else at that moment. The band started with "Anarchy in the UK", followed by "God Save the Queen", "No Feelings", "Pretty Vacant", and when the power was pulled Rotten was screaming "No Fun".

Once the band’s boat was forced on shore a number of people on the boat were arrested including the band’s manager. While the British media were in awe of the queen’s celebration, they would criticize the band for their stunt, but the whole thing worked out in the sex pistols favour as the single peaked at number 2 on the charts. Jon Savage a journalist on the boat would recall

Imagine being stuck on a boat for three hours with people you don't like, taking speed, the weather is shit and police are surrounding you – it must have been an absolute nightmare. But they gave voice to what a lot of us were feeling – that England was dreaming.

The atmosphere on the boat was paranoid and claustrophobic, but also very exciting. They were by far the best I ever saw them that day. You can't beat the Sex Pistols, jubilee weekend, "Anarchy in the UK," outside Parliament.

[Cola.Cube.]

It's strange to think that some people will line the streets waving union jacks and crying and then return home and wonder how they're gonna pay their bills.

[hectorlagos]

Johnny is actually a very respectful and class individual

[BayouMaccabee]

"This is a man who plays Pink Floyd to his cabbages " 🤣🤣🤣

[ZemarRed]

Don't really care about the queen or any of the royals this way or that...but Rotten's commentary at the end is really well thought out and pretty spot on. Have to agree.

[michaelrochester]

Supposedly God save the Queen went to number one but the British recording industry did not want that song which is blatantly disrespectful to be number one so they conspired to have Rod Stewart song at number one

[davidwartski]

He always has the best lines, like playing Pink Floyd to his cabbages. hahahhah

[scottlibman]

A band that was around for two years being talked about 40 something years later. No they had no impact 😋

[tinamitchell]

No. It got #1 the establishment refused to recognise it.

[jorgeburgos]

Wow that was a quick response to the Queen and some good editing

[irmarocha]

Johnny Rotten and Sid Vicious! 👑👸 They ROCKED the Queens Silver Jubilee! 🤩

[simonkormendy]

John Lydon is actually spot-on with his comment.

[michaelrochester]

This is the quickest content creation from a major event ever. Congratulations

[tinamitchell]

Since when was Richard Branson the head of EMI 🤣🤣🤣

[tinamitchell]

Try Rock n Roll Almost Accurate Stories.

[simonkormendy]

Also remember how badly the Royal family treated Princess Diana, the people's princess.

[Static-ash]

I'm not really a fan of them. I appreciate them, no doubt and respect their deserved, though short-lived, place in music history.
Until today I never saw any footage of Johnny being anything but rebellious for the sake of it. So that last piece of commentary introduced me to one of his personality. Interesting, quite endearing.
Great video, great timing.

[sidvanhound]

It sad when anyone dies but I cared as much about the Queen as she did about me. Nada.
KIng Charles ?? FFS, what a prat. "Tourists are Money" - So true.

[satyadasgumbyji]

A-Chrome don't last forever! Welcome Home, Liz!👹🔥

[stevewilcock]

Johnny knew the secret way back then.
We didn't know-we were teenagers high on punk.
Blessings 🙌.

[detamaxgamer]

What song is playing in the background