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49 Years Ago, a Groundbreaking Punk Band Signed to Their Third Label in 9 Months, but One Finally Stuck

The Sex Pistols’ controversial image both helped and harmed them as they were attempting to release their debut album.

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In May 1977, the Sex Pistols finally found a record label that would stick with them through their more unsavory antics. The U.K. punks signed with Virgin Records, which quickly released their first and only studio album, Never Mind the Bollocks, Here’s the Sex Pistols.

Before finding their home at Virgin, the Sex Pistols were kicked off two different labels within nine months. In October 1976, they signed a two-year deal with EMI. This produced the single “Anarchy in the U.K.”, which was met with both commercial success and public controversy. They were working on “God Save the Queen” as well, but EMI didn’t take kindly to the offensive image the band was curating.

The label dropped them in January 1977. By March, they finalized a deal with A&M Records that lasted about a week before yet another label dropped them. “God Save the Queen” had already been pressed and awaited distribution. But the terminated contract resulted in their destruction instead.

The........

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