THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

92-Sex Pistols-Anarchy in the UK.

1976-Number 36 single.

Best Bit-At 2.00. I can recall doing a teenagers disco in a village hall shortly after this song first came out. From out of nowhere the local village policeman, a middle aged man from what I remember came up to me and politely but firmly asked me not to play this song as it was according to him offensive and not the sort of thing young people should be listening to. When I think of some of the songs I play today, I realise how times and attitudes have changed.

The Sex Pistols (see also best songs 576 and 27) were formed in London, England, in 1975 by the vocalist John Lydon, (Johnny Rotten) (see also best songs 967 and 323) Steve Jones, (guitar) Paul Cook, (bass) and Glen Matlock, (guitar) under the management of Malcolm McLaren (1946-2010) (see also best songs 751) Matlock left the group in 1977, before the release of the bands only studio Album ‘Never Mind the Bollocks, Here’s the Sex Pistols,’ and was replaced by Simon John Ritchie (Sid Vicious) (1957-1979.)

‘Anarchy in the UK’ was the debut single by the Sex Pistols, and was released by ‘EMI’ records on November 26th, 1976, with all four band members at that time receiving the song writing credits, although it has always been a bone of contention, particularly between Jones and Matlock as to whom had the most input in the actual writing of the music. Matlock states that although he was not a member of the Sex Pistols at the time of the Album’s release that he had a significant hand in 10 of the 12 tracks, for which he is credited on the Album. ‘Anarchy in the UK’ is also credited with three producers, Chris Thomas, (see also best songs 576-316-285 and 27) Bill Price, (1944-2016) and Dave Goodman (1951-2005.)

Anarchy is society without government or law, but the songs lyrics writer John Lydon (Johnny Rotten) isn’t actually advocating anarchy, he has said,’I have always thought that anarchy is mind games for the middle class, it’s a luxury. It can only be afforded in a democratic society, therefore kind of slightly f–king redundant. It also offers no answers and I hope in my songwriting I’m offering some kind of answer to a thing, rather than spitefully wanting to wreck everything for no reason at all, other than it doesn’t suit you.’

The songs lyrics mention the ‘MPLA,’ which are a political party that took control of Angola, formerly one of Portugal’s African colonies, in a 1975–76 civil war, and still run the country today. Also mentioned are the the ‘IRA,’ and the ‘UDA’ who were the largest paramilitary armies in the conflict in Northern Ireland. The heavily armed IRA (Irish Republican Army) were on the Republican (anti-British, pro-unification) side, while the thousands-strong ‘UDA’ (Ulster Defence Association) were on the Loyalist (pro-British, anti-unification) side. Lydon also sings ‘I use the enemy,’ which is a play on words, he actually means the ‘NME,’ which is a British magazine called the ‘New Musical Express.’ The Sex Pistols definitely used them for lots of publicity.

‘How many ways to get what you want, I use the best, I use the rest, I use the enemy, I use anarchy. ‘Cause I want to be anarchy, its the only way to be.’