THE SEX PISTOLS

THE STORY BEHIND THE INFAMOUS BILL GRUNDY INTERVIEW

1.12.1976.

At the 11th hour, Queen pulled out of their appearance on the Today Show. Desperate for a last-minute replacement, TV producers drafted in an up-and-coming British band. Unaware of the carnage that was about to descend, presenter Bill Grundy went live with the Sex Pistols at 6pm. Primetime.

With one-word answers and sarcastic digs, the Pistols’ approach to the interview was like nothing the UK had seen before. And Grundy wasn’t impressed. As the interview heated up, the TV host began to berate the band. Bad idea. The Pistols gave back tenfold - with Steve Jones' final foul-mouthed tirade sending the UK spiralling into outrage.

“THE AIR TURNED BLUE”

The band plus entourage were hurried into the studio’s Green Room while producers began damage control. Thames Television’s phone lines were jammed for hours with complaints.

Due to a fault in the system, unanswered calls were diverted to another part of the studio. The Green Room. People were ringing up to complain about the Sex Pistols, and the Sex Pistols were answering the phone and winding them up.

“ONE MAN WAS SO ANGRY, HE KICKED HIS NEW TV IN”

British broadcasting was changed forever. And if anyone didn’t know about the Sex Pistols — they did now. Grundy lost his job, the Today Show was cancelled and the Pistols were launched into a stratosphere of infamy. Chaos.