Virgin founder Richard Branson has been looking back on the Sex Pistols‘ classic single ‘God Save The Queen‘, which features on the band’s landmark debut album ‘Never Mind The Bollocks…Here’s The Sex Pistols‘, as the Queen celebrates her Diamond Jubilee this month.
In a video interview which can be viewed below, Branson discusses the impact of the Sex Pistols’ single on the country at the time of the Silver Jubilee in 1977, after the legendary British band had signed to Virgin Records having been previously dropped by A&M and EMI – giving ‘Never Mind The Bollocks…’ a stable base to find its way into the homes of the disaffected youth of the era.
The 35th anniversary of the seminal punk album is being marked with the re-release of an expanded, special edition on Universal after the Sex Pistols signed a new deal with the label. “Music can be great, when done by the great,” frontman John Lydon said when announcing the group’s move to Universal.
“The Sex Pistols are the greatest. Universal now has a trophy room, music is the imitation of nature, the Sex Pistols are nature, so please give generously. Thank you.”
“To be given the opportunity to re-evaluate the Sex Pistols catalogue is every music lover’s dream,” Karen Simmonds of Universal added. “We’re looking forward to working with the band and celebrating their impact on worldwide culture.”