SEX PISTOLS Announce Re-Release Of Era-Defining Single 'God Save The Queen'

When the SEX PISTOLS made their definitive statement during the Queen's Silver Jubilee celebrations in 1977 with the incendiary single "God Save The Queen", they produced a manifesto that threatened and delighted in equal measure. Now, as the nation prepares for another Jubilee, the single is back.

It had been a struggle. Dropped by their record label A&M in the midst of controversy after just six days, the label destroyed 25,000 copies of the record, making the handful of copies remaining, ultra-rare collectibles. In honor of this, just 1,977 copies of the re-released A&M version will be available on May 27 via UMC.

The band then signed to Virgin and officially released the single, which was banned by the BBC and reached No. 1 on the U.K.'s NME chart, but appeared at No. 2 on the official U.K. Singles chart, leading to accusations that the song was purposely kept off the top spot. For the only time in chart history, the track was listed as a blank, to avoid offense to the establishment.

4,000 copies of the Virgin re-release will be on sale to fans.

Both versions recreate original artwork, with the A&M edition featuring its generic company sleeve and pressed on silver/platinum vinyl. The Virgin single has the absolutely iconic SEX PISTOLS artwork designed by Jamie Reid (© Sex Pistols Residuals).

The B sides also reflect the original releases with "No Feeling" for A&M, and "Did You No Wrong" for Virgin.

Formats:

7" 1 - Virgin Version (4,000 copies)

A/ God Save The Queen

B/ Did You No Wrong

7" 2 - A&M Version - (1977 copies)

A/ God Save The Queen

B/ No Feeling

SEX PISTOLS left the British establishment shaking when they exploded onto the music scene, kickstarting what later became known as punk — a term the band was never comfortable with. Young people ripped up not just their musical forebears but their social ones too and SEX PISTOLS were the snarling, ferocious figurehead of the revolution.

They made one perfect, 40-minute album for the ages in 1977's "Never Mind The Bollocks" and from its artwork to the individual players, the attitude and music — every bit of it influenced the world we live in today.

The record is frequently listed as one of the most influential albums of all time with musicians from JOY DIVISION and NEW ORDER to Kurt Cobain, Noel Gallagher, GREEN DAY to Yungblud all citing them as key inspiration. And this was not just musically — punk showed that anyone could create and many took the hint across fashion, art and design and more.

Photo credit: Barry Plummer