Rock 'n' Roll Rabbit Hole

’God Save the Queen’: Were Johnny Rotten and the Sex Pistols Just Joking Around?

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Season 2 of Rock 'n' Roll Rabbit Hole marches on with a dive into "God Save the Queen," the seminal punk rock classic by the Sex Pistols that whipped much of jolly old England into a frenzy in 1977. Butch and Kevin talk about a lot of different perspectives on the song and how it was received, in both positive ways and negative. A few show points:

  • Our Beer of the Week is Carlsberg, probably the best beer in the world. Probably.
  • Yes, this episode is in observance to the passing of Queen Elizabeth II in September.
  • Was this song kept out of the No. 1 spot on the charts (in favor or Rod Stewart, to make matters worse) through conspiracy as part of a backlash?
  • The band insisted it wasn't a direct attack on the queen but rather a tribute to the working class.
  • 1983 SCTV satirical take on the song by the fictional band the Queenhaters is gold. It featured Martin Short (lead vocals), Eugene Levy (lead guitar), and John Candy (drums), among others, performing a song titled "I Hate the Bloody Queen." Here's the video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DJU5x67Sz1o
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    Rock 'n' Roll Rabbit HoleBy Kevin Gibson/Butch Bays