Barely a ripple compared to the Pistols in straight laced 70s Britain - Mary Whitehouse was apoplectic! The 1977 classic was initially titled God Save Sex Pistols and the record cover was designed by Jamie Reid, who decided to go against the grain with his artistic direction. Instead, it was bright pink and yellow with cutout lettering which immediately caught the eye and is unforgettable. The album’s title then changed in mid-1977 from God Save Sex Pistols after Jones came across the phrase, ‘never mind the bollocks’. He heard this from two fans who would always say it to one another, and there was something in the simple beauty of it that perfectly encapsulated the music of the Sex Pistols. The use of the phrase ‘bollocks’, in the eyes of the establishment at least, was controversial and obscene and could have hampered the band. But in reality, it did the opposite and made the Sex Pistols become the face of the anti-establishment movement if they weren’t leading the charge already. The band wasn’t conforming to society’s norms and expectations; this album represented everything that the group stood for, and the fury that came their way in response was monumental. Remarkably, London police visited every single Virgin record store branch in the capital and told them that if they didn’t remove the album cover posters in their windows, they would prosecute them under the 1899 Indecent Advertisements Act. Then on 9th November in 1977, shortly after the release, the London Evening Standard announced the arrest of a Virgin Records shop manager in Nottingham for displaying the record after being warned to cover up the word ‘bollocks’. After the arrest, Virgin Records boss Richard Branson said that he would cover the manager’s legal costs and hired Queen’s Counsel John Mortimer to defend the employee. The label capitalised on the unavoidable talk around the album and published imaginative adverts for Never Mind the Bollocks appearing in music papers which showed these newspaper headlines about Sex Pistols controversies accompanied with the message, ‘THE ALBUM WILL LAST. THE SLEEVE MAY NOT.’ The Virgin Records worker was found not guilty in a court of the four charges. With the judge stating, “Much as my colleagues and I wholeheartedly deplore the vulgar exploitation of the worst instincts of human nature for the purchase of commercial profits by both you and your company, we must reluctantly find you not guilty.” https://faroutmagazine.co.uk/sex-pistols-nevermind-the-bollocks-album-cover/
50 years ago, on 6th April 1974, a supergroup was born that went on to have 10 no.1 albums, 20 top 10 singles and 9 no.1 singles, selling 150 million records worldwide and producing a Greatest Hits album (Gold) that is the 2nd highest selling album of all time (in the UK).
30 years & 1 day ago another troubled soul joined the 27 club when Kurt Cobain took his own life , doesn't seem like 30 years , jeez time flies .
1976 - Keith Relf 33 year-old Keith Relf, former lead singer for The Yardbirds, was electrocuted while tuning a guitar which was not properly earthed. The accident happened in his West London home where he was found by his eight year old son, still holding the plugged-in electric guitar. The Yardbirds had the hits 'For Your Love', 'Heart Full of Soul', and 'Shapes of Things'. A riff too far?
I'll never forget hearing that for the first time. So different, so fresh. Seeing it live from an admittedly older reformed Roses was easily one of the highlights of all the bands I have seen
Some fascinating and unique items for sale by Danny Baker on 4/5 of June in an auction of his extensive record and memorabilia collection: The Danny Baker Collection - Two Day Sale
