The band is comprised of vocalist Johnny Rotten, guitarist Steve Jones, drummer Paul Cook, and bassist Glen Matlock. Matlock left the band in 1977 and was replaced by Sid Vicious, who remained until the band's initial 1978 breakup. Matlock rejoined the band for their 1996 reunion and has remained with them throughout most subsequent reunions, including the most recent, in 2008.
Sex Pistols were managed by the infamous Malcolm McLaren, after he saw Johnny Rotten sporting a Pink Floyd shirt with "I hate" scribbled on. Impressed by Johnny Rotten's attitude, McLaren brought Rotten to audition for frontman of The Strand, the band that would later become the Sex Pistols. The Sex Pistols have been described by the BBC as "the definitive English punk rock band" and are widely credited with initiating the punk movement in the United Kingdom and creating the first generation gap within rock and roll.
Sex Pistols emerged as a response to what was perceived to be the increasingly safe and bloated progressive rock and manufactured pop music of the mid-1970s. The band created various controversies during their brief career, which captivated England but often eclipsed their music. Their shows and tours repeatedly faced difficulties from authorities, and public appearances often ended in disaster and riot. Their 1977 single, God Save the Queen, released during the build up to the Queen’s Silver Jubilee, was widely regarded as an attack on the British monarchy and British Nationalism.
The group broke up in 1978 amid a turbulent tour of the United States, but reunited in 1996 for the "Filthy Lucre" tour, and have staged subsequent reunion tours in 2002 and 2003. On 24 February 2006, The Sex Pistols were officially inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame but refused to attend the induction, calling the museum a "piss stain".
To celebrate the 30th anniversary of their debut album, The Sex Pistols reunited for 7 live shows. They played 5 nights at the Brixton Academy in London between 8 November and 14 November, 1 night at the MEN Arena in Manchester, and 1 night at the SECC in Glasgow. The band last performed live in 2008 are are currently on hiatus as John Lydon tours with Public Image Ltd., which reunited in 2009.
EMI
Sex Pistols Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And there is no reason why
I tell you it was all a frame
They only did it 'cause of fame, who?
E.M.I., E.M.I., E.M.I.
Too many people had the sus
An unlimited amount
Too many outlets in and out, who?
E.M.I., E.M.I., E.M.I.
And sir and friends are crucified
A day they wished that we had died
We are an addition
We are ruled by none
Never ever never
And you thought that we were faking
That we were all just money making
You do not believe we're for real
Or you would lose your cheap appeal?
Don't judge a book just by the cover
Unless you cover just another
And blind acceptance is a sign
A stupid fools who stand in line
Like
E.M.I. E.M.I. E.M.I.
Unlimited edition
With an unlimited supply
That was the only reason
We all had to say goodbye
Unlimited supply E.M.I
There is no reason why E.M.I.
I tell you it was all a frame E.M.I.
They only did it 'cause of fame E.M.I.
I do not need the pressure E.M.I.
I can't stand the useless fools E.M.I.
Unlimited supply E.M.I.
Hallo E.M.I., goodbye A & M
The Sex Pistols' song EMI is a criticism of the record company they were signed to at the time, EMI. The song explains that the record company has an unlimited supply of power and control over the music industry with no real reason why. The lyrics "Too many people had the sus, too many people support us" suggests that the record company was fearful of the band's popularity and success. The song hints that EMI only signed the band for the sake of making money, not because of the band's talent or music. The line "We are ruled by none" expresses the band's rebellion against the conventions of the music industry and implies that they do not want to be controlled by any record company or corporation.
The chorus, repeating "EMI" three times, demonstrates the band's distaste for the record label that signed them. The line "And sir and friends are crucified, a day they wished that we had died" suggests that the band has become a threat to those in power, likely referring to record executives or other groups seeking to control the music industry.
Line by Line Meaning
There's unlimited supply
There are so many copies of our music circulating around that one could never hope to count them all.
And there is no reason why
Despite this overwhelming number of copies, it is unclear why anyone would even want to listen to our music.
I tell you it was all a frame
The distribution of our music is not the result of genuine consumer demand, but rather a carefully orchestrated marketing campaign by the record label.
They only did it 'cause of fame, who?
EMI only released our music to capitalize on the growing punk rock trend and generate buzz, without any consideration for artistic integrity or our own intentions.
E.M.I., E.M.I., E.M.I.
The repetition of this acronym signifies the unrelenting presence and influence of the record label over our music and image.
Too many people had the sus
There were too many people suspicious of our authenticity and motives.
Too many people support us
Despite this skepticism, there were still a significant number of fans who passionately believed in our message and music.
An unlimited amount
The number of both supporters and doubters seemed to be endlessly growing and evolving.
Too many outlets in and out, who?
The abundance of media channels and platforms made it difficult to control and monitor our public persona, leading to confusion and misrepresentation.
And sir and friends are crucified
Our rebellious and confrontational attitude towards mainstream society and authority figures resulted in harsh criticism and condemnation from those in power.
A day they wished that we had died
These powerful figures and critics desired our downfall and demise, hoping that our message would be silenced and forgotten.
We are an addition
We are not conforming to established societal norms and expectations, but rather introducing a countercultural perspective.
We are ruled by none
We do not follow the conventions of the industry, nor submit to the authority of the record label.
Never ever never
We will never compromise or sacrifice our artistic vision for the sake of commercial success or industry pressure.
And you thought that we were faking
Many people believed that our anti-establishment message and punk aesthetic were merely a facade, a marketing gimmick created by EMI.
That we were all just money making
Skeptics accused us of selling out and buying into the commercialization of punk rock, despite our protestations to the contrary.
You do not believe we're for real
Our fans and critics alike doubted the authenticity and legitimacy of our punk rock message.
Or you would lose your cheap appeal?
It was in the best interest of our fans and critics to continue to doubt and question us, as this skepticism was what gave our music and message its edge and appeal.
Don't judge a book just by the cover
People should not make snap judgments about others based on their appearance or public image, as this is often a facade for deeper substance.
Unless you cover just another
Unless you are just another product of the industry, conforming to societal expectations and devoid of any unique perspective or artistic merit.
And blind acceptance is a sign
Those who blindly conform to societal norms and expectations are exhibiting a lack of critical thinking and independence of thought.
A stupid fools who stand in line
These individuals are foolish and gullible, wasting their time and money on shallow and meaningless products.
Like
Similar to these blind followers are the masses of people buying into the EMI marketing machine, without any real appreciation or understanding of our music's message.
Unlimited edition
There are so many copies of our music being produced that it has become basically worthless and devoid of any real artistic value.
With an unlimited supply
This excess of copies is being produced for no clear reason, without any regard for consumer demand or respect for our artistry.
That was the only reason
This overproduction of our music, along with the manipulative tactics of EMI, was the primary reason for our decision to part ways with the label.
We all had to say goodbye
We could no longer reconcile our artistic ambition and integrity with the demands and influences of EMI, so we were forced to sever ties and move on in pursuit of our own vision.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Glen Matlock, John Lydon, Paul Thomas Cook, Stephen Philip Jones
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind