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The Sex Pistols\u2019 anti-establishment single \u2018God Save The Queen\u2019 was banned by the BBC when it was re-released on 27th May, 1977 by Virgin Records - mischievously, to tie-in with the Silver Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II.\nTo rub salt in the wound, the band\u2019s \u2018art-school punk\u2019 manager, Malcolm McLaren, arranged a boat procession outside the Houses of Parliament so the group could perform the song outside the heart of British government itself. They were then arrested.\nIn this episode, Arion, Rebecca and Olly explain how Johnny Rotten and co were just as commercially savvy as they were sincerely punk activists; consider whether there are parts of the controversial lyrics which which conservative royalists might actually agree; and investigate whether the single (and not Rod Stewart\u2019s \u2018I Don\u2019t Want To Talk About It\u2019) *actually* got to Number 1 in the charts\u2026\nFurther Reading:\n\u2022 \u2018The Story Behind The Song: 'God Save The Queen'\u2019 (Far Out Magazine, 2020): https://faroutmagazine.co.uk/sex-pistols-god-save-the-queen-story-behind-the-song/\n\u2022 \u2018Still a fascist regime? Sex Pistols\u2019 God Save the Queen reissued to mark platinum jubilee\u2019 (The Guardian, 2022): https://www.theguardian.com/music/2022/may/03/still-a-fascist-regime-sex-pistols-god-save-the-queen-reissued-to-mark-platinum-jubilee\n\u2022 \u2018The Sex Pistols - God Save The Queen - on the river Thames\u2019 (Virgin Records, 1977): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tHrUleT8HTs\nEnjoy this episode? There\u2019s FOUR MINUTES MORE of Sex Pistols chat over on our supporters\u2019 ad-free podcast feed. To get it - and a bonus bit like it every single week, just sign up to support the show via Apple Subscriptions or our top two tiers at https://patreon.com/Retrospectors.\nWe'll be back on Monday! Follow us wherever you get your podcasts:\xa0podfollow.com/Retrospectors\nThe Retrospectors are Olly Mann, Rebecca Messina & Arion McNicoll, with Matt Hill.\nTheme Music: Pass The Peas. Announcer: Bob Ravelli. Graphic Design: Terry Saunders. Edit Producer: Alexa Weissman\nCopyright: Rethink Audio / Olly Mann 2022.\xa0\n Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.\nLearn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices