The Sex Pistols|

Anarchy in the UK 7″

TYPE: Singles

LABEL: EMI

RELEASE DATE: 26th November 1976

Anarchy in the UK

Cook/Jones/Matlock/Rotten

Produced by Chris Thomas

Engineered by Bill Price

Recorded at Wessex Studios, London,

October 1976

Vocals: John Rotten  | Guitar: Steve Jones | Bass: Glen Matlock | Drums: Paul Cook                                          

                                                   

   Anarchy is society without government or law. This is a good example of The Sex Pistols' anti-establishment attitude. The Punk scene was picking up, and a lot of young people were fed up with the British Royalty that ran the country.

  This was the Sex Pistols' first single, and it caused quite a stir in England with its lyrics advocating violence against the government. Never Mind The Bollocks, Here's The Sex Pistols was not released until a year later, partly because of distribution concerns: after hearing "Anarchy In The UK," some organizations refused to ship the album.

John Lydon told Mojo magazine July 2008 about writing this song: "It flowed quite naturally to me. These are just long, long-term motivations that are there and you can't, can't, can't ever underestimate the sheer driving energy poverty will bring you. Being denied everything and access to everything. Government, schools, the lot, tell you that you don't count. You are scum. Go with flow or else. That's an incredible driving energy, to be better than their estimation of you."

Rotten, J., Cook, P., Jones, S. and Vicious, S (1996) Never Mind The Bollocks. United States: Hal Leonard Publishing Corporation.