Song of the Day 5/31: Sex Pistols, “God Save the Queen”

With England set to celebrate Queen Elizabeth’s Platinum Jubilee, marking her 70 years on the throne, it seemed like the perfect time to release a TV series about the Sex Pistols’ constantly controversial 2½-year existence, and the tumultuous times the band both caused and reflected — particularly because reactionary governments and social movements again seem to be tearing the social fabric. The six-part series, “Pistol,” directed by Danny Boyle, debuts today.

What seemed like a good idea to founding members, especially guitarist Steve Jones, on whose memoir the series is based, didn’t set well with John Lydon, known back in the day as Johnny Rotten. The series was still in production when he called it “the most disrespectful shit I’ve ever had to endure.”

The show nevertheless goes on, with the official Sex Pistols site releasing this video to commemorate the anniversary of not just the monarch but also the band’s raucous June 1977 boat party on the Thames that ended with arrests of everyone involved. Other footage is from a May 1977 concert, with cameo shots of many of the personalities who would determine fashion on Philly’s South Street for decades to come.

Though still cantankerous, Lydon has mellowed a bit over the years. He told Piers Morgan that he doesn’t hate the queen, just the monarchy. “I’m actually really, really proud of the Queen for surviving and doing so well,” he said. “I applaud her for that and that’s a fantastic achievement. I’m not a curmudgeon about that.”

But once she’s gone, that’s it for the institution, Lydon prophesied. “I think it’s possibly the end of the monarchy because Prince Charles is not going to be able to handle it,” he said. “This is the man who plays Pink Floyd to his cabbages.”