The Sex Pistols are set to reissue the infamous track God Save The Queen on May 27, followed by Queen II slated for release in June. The song remains one of the most talked about anti hymn in punk history, conceived to mark the 70th anniversary of Elizabeth II’s accession to the throne.
The anti-system anthem, originally vetoed by the BBC at the height of its controversy, first saw the light of day in May 1977 and has since evolved into a cult staple. Fans can expect a renewed surge of attention as the release window opens from June 2 to June 5, a period framed by Britain’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations. The moment captures a historical moment of national reflection that continues to resonate with listeners who remember the riotous energy of the era.
Provocative and anarchic, the lyrics challenged establishment norms and even drew direct comparisons between Elizabeth’s reign and fascist regimes. It climbed to number two on the UK album charts, underscoring how a bold artistic statement can shake up the mainstream and leave a lasting imprint on a cultural conversation [citation: music history archives].
God Save The Queen also made history as a single that faced the peculiar challenge of charting under an empty title in order to avoid legal trouble during a highly charged political moment.
The price of courage in those days was steep. More than four decades ago, members of the band faced legal and social scrutiny while performing independently on a boat along the River Thames, an act that sparked intense media attention and public debate [citation: contemporary reports].
Associated with the controversy, the original label A&M later decided to part ways with the group, who subsequently released the track through Virgin after signing a new contract. On this commemorative release, Virgin plans to press 4,000 copies of the song and 1,977 copies of the original A&M edition for fans and collectors alike.
Historical notes also reveal that at the height of the initial release, tens of thousands of unissued copies of God Save The Queen were destroyed. While a small number of the original A&M-edited versions were preserved, the broader archival footprint remains a topic of interest for collectors and music historians [citation: archival records].
As part of this renewed presentation, the reissue will feature a B-side from the original edition, No Feelings, while the Virgin-branded version is expected to include Did You Do It Wrong? as an additional track, offering fans a deeper glimpse into the era and the band’s creative output during that period [citation: discography notes].