Bill Grundy Meets Sex Pistols

On this date in 1976, those who had not yet heard of The Sex Pistols got a crash course. Britain's Today show, hosted by Bill Grundy, was scheduled to interview the band Queen but they had to cancel at the last moment. EMI sent Sex Pistols instead. It got them lots of exposure since the BBC only had two channels at the time and it was on during daytime hours. And...it was live and unedited. All four Sex Pistols (Johnny Rotten, Glen Matlock, Steve Jones and Paul Cook) were there as well as Siouxsie Sioux and Steve Severin of Siouxsie and The Banshees. Bill Grundy tried to provoke them as best as he could...and he succeeded. The transcript can be viewed here:

Bill Grundy Meets The Sex Pistols...courtesy of www.televisionpersonalities.co.uk



Video: Bill Grundy Meets Sex Pistols - the broadcast - youtube

The incident was reported on the front page of every U.K. paper, the most famous caption being titled "The Filth And The Fury".


Steve Jones holding up a copy of Sex Pistols' "free press".

Bill Grundy was suspended two weeks for his part in the interview and his show was cancelled two months later. Sex Pistols were now a household name. Television Personalities even released a song in 1978 called "Where's Bill Grundy Now?" in memory of the incident.

Blogload: Television Personalities - Part Time Punks - The Very Best Of - includes Where's Bill Grundy Now? - commercialzone.blogspot.com

The Nerves EP

On this date in 1976, The Nerves released their self-titled debut EP. It contained "Hanging On The Telephone", "When You Find Out", "Give Me Some Time" and "Working Too Hard". This was the Los Angeles power pop band's only release while they were together (there were releases of older material distributed afterwards). "Hanging On The Telephone" would be a #5 U.K. hit for Blondie when they re-recorded it. The band included Peter Case, later of The Plimsouls, and Paul Collins, later of The Beat (The Paul Collins Beat).



Wikipedia: The Nerves

Blogload: The Nerves - debut EP - sonsofthedolls.blogspot.com

The Vibrators - We Vibrate and Pogo Dancing

On this date in 1976, The Vibrators released their debut single, "We Vibrate". It was backed by "Whips And Furs". The B side appeared on their debut album, Pure Mania. The A side was a non-LP track. The London punk band has gone through numerous lineup changes but is still active. Lead singer, Knox, and drummer, Eddie, are still there from the original band.



Wikipedia: The Vibrators

Official Website: thevibrators.com

Blogload: The Vibrators - We Vibrate - 7 inch (both sides) - shortsharpkickintheteeth.blogspot.com


On this date, they also released a second single, credited to Chris Spedding & The Vibrators. The A side was "Pogo Dancing". The B side was "Pose". Neither track appeared on an LP. Chris Spedding was a Derbyshire, England rock guitarist and session musician.



Wikipedia: Chris Spedding

Official Website: chrisspedding.com

Video: Chris Spedding and The Vibrators - Pogo Dancing - on Supersonic - 1977 - youtube

Blogload: Chris Spedding and The Vibrators - "Pogo Dancing" - theholdingtank.blogspot.com

The Runaways - Cherry Bomb

On this date in 1976, The Runaways released their debut single, "Cherry Bomb". It was backed by "Blackmail". Both tracks appeared on their self-titled debut album. The band featured the teenage Joan Jett, Jackie Fox, Lita Ford, Cherie Currie and Sandy West when the album was released. Micki Steele, later of The Bangles was a founding member, but left before recording their debut album. The Los Angeles based all girls proto punk band released five albums before disbanding in 1979.



Wikipedia: The Runaways

Video: The Runaways - Cherry Bomb - live - 1977 - youtube

Blogload: The Runaways - debut album - yesterdayliveson.blogspot.com

The Saints - (I'm) Stranded

On this date in 1976, The Saints re-released their debut single, "(I'm) Stranded". It was backed by "No Time". Both tracks appeared on their debut album, (I'm) Stranded. The single had been released in very limited quantities in August, 1976. The Brisbane, Australia punk/post punk band has continued on despite the fact that Chris Bailey is the only original member left and has been since 1979. Founder Ed Kuepper, who left to form Laughing Clowns in 1979, has done shows with The Saints in the last few years.



Wikipedia: The Saints

Myspace: myspace.com/saintsmusic

Video: The Saints - (I'm) Stranded - youtube

Blogload: The Saints - (I'm) Stranded - the-roadhouse-viander.blogspot.com