Sex Pistols: The Grundy Show incident 1/12/1976

[@martinharris5017]

People were more horrified by swearing than by a middle aged interviewer getting lewd with a teenage girl (Siouxsie).

[@shootie2967]

she was 19

[@Jason17300]

S H O O T I E yes, a teenage girl, that’s what he said.

[@justaladTaken]

He was 53. That’s not necessarily ‘Middle Age’. Maybe Late middle age.

[@slothstradamus89]

@@shootie2967 Oh yea...isnt 19 A TEENAGER?! So fuckin what if she was "of age", 19 is still a teen and he was bein a lecherous old fuck.

[@horsenuts1831]

@@justaladTaken Scary isn't it? If he was 53, he would have been born just after the end of the WW1. I feel old.

[@emptee6581]

"Not the nice, clean Rolling Stones" Boy, was he in for a suprise.

[@Manzini79]

he was being sarcastic

[@johnlucas2317]

@@Manzini79 Up to that point, the Stones had been considered as far as rock 'n' roll could slide into the gutter of proper British society.

[@seansands424]

It need,s a few more like these to c**t off and get rid off all the fake c**t,s

[@maxxxmodelz4061]

Yeah, especially considering by this time, Keith Richards was nearing his first blood transfusion he was anything but clean.

[@luvittodeath7031]

Rolling Stones’ song called Star Star is nice and clean

[@julianhermanubis6800]

To Bill Grundy, entering the studio that night, this was a last-minute interview with some punk musicians and followers where he didn't know anything about the music or scene and thought the whole thing was likely a fad that would fade out swiftly. Little did he know that, decades later, this would be the one thing he was remembered for by the world at large. Life is full of ironies like this.

[@madting8082]

Bill had it coming for being a creep to Siouxie. Steve did amazing lmao.

[@TwilightParasites]

Life would be dull if everyone liked the same music played in the same way though. Punk was about doing your own thing and that is what she did in music and everything else. Good for her.

[@agnidas5816]

she started it

[@vincent-qm6ys]

@Obelisk the swastika is ironic and made to provoke. While Bill was a disgusting old man hitting women way to young for him.

[@dextervortexsungte5348]

@@vincent-qm6ys wearing swastika wasn't ironic unless you do evil deeds so like nazis

[@itwontcomeout5678]

@@agnidas5816 No U

[@etanaedelman9011]

Wow, I knew about them swearing on tv, I didn't know that the interviewer hit on Siouxsie Sioux. You can see Siouxsie's face fall a bit after he says "We'll meet afterward". Steve Jones had every right to call him a dirty bastard.

[@supergeeky7529]

he said what we are all thinking!

[@TBOTSS]

@@supergeeky7529 Yeah. I would not mind giving her a good seeing too myself.

[@etanaedelman9011]

@sebastian popek She was like 19.

[@MidnightStorm4990]

@@etanaedelman9011 Lmao that's what I was thinking

[@dess234]

@sebastian popek how, all she said she always wanted to meet him? that’s not flirting

[@Eire_Go_Deo]

“We FACKIN spent it didn’t we?!” That ALWAYS makes me howl with laughter 😂😂😂

[@kevindublin7790]

And the next bit……. “Yea its all goan …. down the boozer”. So so funny.

[@ianbauer4703]

@@kevindublin7790 And then that last bit, "You dirty fuckah!"

[@itwontcomeout5678]

Even more hilarious that nobody fucken even heard or understood it while it was being said 🤣

[@lowercentenary]

Excellent comeback that

[@karoltomis5704]

Leaving nothing to IRS?

[@Stonedead1991]

This has to be the only reason Bill Grundy is remembered

[@simonfarrell2537]

He gets a mention in "no-one is innocent" .. God save William Grundy, from drowning in manure!

[@joeyrb4509]

That tory fool would have know place in peoples minds if it wasn't for this.

[@michaelwsperry]

Then you really have no idea.

[@jankemjunkie6564]

I know who the Sex Pistols are but I’ve never heard of Bill Grundy

[@jesuspobre88]

Not altogether true. His name is also rhyming slang for 'undies'!😆

[@robjones2408]

After that incident, the Pistols were Public Enemy No.1, I had a copy of "Anarchy In The UK", few shops wanted to stock it but I managed to get it before it was withdrawn entirely. I took it to the Xmas college disco and asked the DJ to play it. He played a minute of the single, when it was booed by the crowd. It was immediately replaced by Wild Cherry's "Play That Funky Music White Boy". My friends and I laughed our heads off. For a very short time, the Pistols were the most exciting group in the country. The ironic thing was that many of the people booing, became punks six months later. Those were the days......

[@pra6169]

So the "posers" already existed at that time apparently

[@Bluntz_]

Every fringe group becomes popular at some point. My generation (I'm 27) saw it with emo, which is now having a resurgence along with punk! Strange times.

[@leahflower9924]

honestly I was always more impressed with the way the stooges were and the ramones than the sex pistols

[@markofsaltburn]

Cultivated rebellion, lifestyle anarchism, controlled opposition.

[@markofsaltburn]

@@leahflower9924 The Pistols tried too hard.

[@angelthecholo]

Rotten saying "shit" sounds like a child being forced to apologize 😂

[@le_th_]

He was a child...an adult body, and a developmentally arrested child in his brain.

[@dextervortexsungte5348]

@@le_th_ so do you? Karen

[@le_th_]

@@dextervortexsungte5348 Gosh, that's so original. Did you think of that all on your own? How can I go on after this? /end sarcasm

[@dextervortexsungte5348]

@@le_th_ hmm, yawn ¬¬

[@bradford_shaun_murray]

1:18 whoa! 2:30 wtf whoa!

[@bendizzy1923]

Fun fact- Queen were scheduled to be interviewed, however, Freddie had a toothache, so the Sex Pistols were asked to be interviewed, and they agreed.

[@rabfallon4507]

a fact that the whole world knows

[@weeoth8380]

such an improvent of history

[@punkisinthedetails1470]

yeah a toothache called the sex Pistols.

[@jessica_jam4386]

@Marathon Rubicon I like queen, though they’re not my favorite band and I’d rather listen to the Sex Pistols, but you calling them pseudo opera pricks made me lol

[@jessica_jam4386]

@Marathon Rubicon Sting and U2 I can’t listen to. Coldplay is even worse.

[@RideWithRen]

Siouxsie's suprised face when Steve calls Grundy a dirty old man... priceless!

[@DakinRinone]

Well cause she said she wanted to talk with him afterward. She made the face because Steve was acting like a pussy

[@adonaiyah2196]

I think its nice

[@stephenbrookes7268]

I have actually remember this happening. I don't think either Bill Grundy nor the Band were showing respect for each other. I felt that Grundy was just doing what our parents did whatever ephemera we were into had to be ridiculed and minimised. Siouxsie said she had always wanted to meet him, and he said they could meet after the show. Unless there was a really strong subtext to that which was not obvious, I don't know why Jones got so upset. Siouxsie did not seem offended. The controversy that all caused was completely unrelated to the situation.

[@davemcmahon4045]

@@stephenbrookes7268 Jones got upset because he had 4 bottles of blue nun before going on air

[@hhangiehh]

@@stephenbrookes7268 rewatch it, she looked shocked by what Grundy said

[@tungstenkid2271]

Grundy's been dead almost 30 years now and nobody remembers him but the name of the Pistols will be remembered forever..:)

[@paulmcnamara4774]

Remembered for what? Music was awful

[@tungstenkid2271]

@@paulmcnamara4774 The Pistols music was brash, raw and rebellious, great stuff..;)

[@marlongoncalvesdias502]

@@paulmcnamara4774 Pistols Não faziam músicas para serem bonitas, era, e é, um som rebelde e contestador do punk.

[@briannewton7786]

i had never heard of grundy as a kid let alone 30 yrs later lol

[@eddyvideostar]

@@tungstenkid2271: Well done.

[@flamingcabbage8359]

I'll always find it hilarious that the big controversy with this interview was the "shit" and not the swastikas

[@mostlyharmless88]

yeah like i thought i was going crazy.

[@carlodave9]

The Sweet beat them to the Nazi bit by quite a bit. Tempest in a teapot after that one. But to tell a host, "You dirty fucker. What a fucking rotter", and really MEAN it, that was something completely new and shocking.

[@dkizxpt-su3ze]

Whats wrong with them wearing swastikas? Do you think they might commit genocide?

[@thesystem4025]

@@dkizxpt-su3ze are you retarded

[@dkizxpt-su3ze]

@@thesystem4025 What makes you say that? Swastikas are a nothing burger in this context

[@ForestKicks]

"The nice clean Rolling Stones" Keith Richards is outside and wants a word

[@juztenable]

Well they used clean needles anyway.

[@thewhoman3182]

Yeah and the pistols will find him from round the corner and beat the shit out of him :)

[@juztenable]

@@thewhoman3182 You mean Simon Ferocious?

[@zackzallie8735]

@Ivary Mick Jagger had school girls in his master bedroom with David Bowie.

[@luvittodeath7031]

Ivary only Bill Wyman

[@ronwillott8965]

Treasured memory of Johnny Rotten being interviewed by Janet Street Porter, who, at that time sported hair dyed in red and yellow stripes. Janet (trying desperately to demonstrate how 'now' she is) launches into an interminable question, hoping for a reply about the aesthetics of punk. Johnny sits in silence, looking mesmerised. The silence continues for several seconds after the question ends. He eventually replies, "'Ere, your 'air looks like rhubarb". Priceless.

[@geoffpoole483]

Lydon can be very very funny.

[@leavemealoneyoutube1707]

Sex Pistols: We are going to ruin this man's whole career Freddie Mercury: Shit, we were supposed to be on that night

[@dannydorko7075]

simon ferocious

[@0sm4n]

what

[@ilovesammy3657]

@@dannydorko7075 😂 😂

[@louise_rose]

Brian May admitted to a kind of fascinated/bemused sympathy for punk, even though Queen were poles apart from the new movement.

[@ChrisJones-ij3xp]

@@louise_rose Apart from making "News Of The World" a bit more rough and unpolished in response to Punk (I MEAN, compare that album to its predecessor!), Queen continued to roll right along in their limousines, crying all the way to the bank

[@derin111]

I remember watching this live that early evening in 1976 as a 13 year old. By the next year of 1977, I was going to Punk gigs in London as a 14 year old. If you didn’t experience it, it’s probably difficult to appreciate the scale of revolution this time had on many of us young kids in the UK at the time.

[@seansands424]

I remember watching this on our GEC colour tele 1976 in the early evening I was 15 at the time

[@SB-ok3xc]

What a shame that there's not much left now. The UK today is one of the most conservative places in the world.

[@Sidneyyoungblood75]

Always feels like a revolution when you are in it.... However, it isn't.

[@nordic8960]

@@SB-ok3xc Define “conservative”

[@sabre6449]

Nice sharing your memories,I’ve always been fascinated by those years in England,and how you lived them

[@reginahyde1488]

Love how polite and unassuming Glen Matlock is.

[@jamesgretsch4894]

Steve - "you dirty sod". Top shelf comment. Love it.

[@benparsons4979]

Why do you love it so much?

[@1Superchops]

why? because Bill was clearly being a dirty bastard lmao. feels good to see someone like that get immediately called out for it

[@soyuzdavillan721]

I liked " what a rotter" myself, simple yet effective for this situation haha

[@gutz323]

@@soyuzdavillan721 i think you'll find he said 'what a fucking rotter!' which is ten times worse lol!

[@mbrady2329]

Well, Bill Grundy appeared to be after a bit of top shelf action - a dirty old man indeed!

[@jvttblvck103]

Siouxsie was so cute in the background with all her faces and her messing with her suspenders

[@joeywhiteside3729]

FOR REAL

[@jasrust]

Nope. Anyone who wears a swastika, at any point, is a cunt for life.

[@crystalmonroy9111]

jasrust eh. i give her a pass considering it was the 70s and it was supposed to be shocking. quite “white-middle-class” rebellion but it is what it is. at least shes turned around and denounced fascism at every chances she gotten since the early 80s

[@snipes1000]

@@jasrust Boohoo

[@davidsouness9563]

@@jasrust she doesn't even have one on.

[@jagmarc]

On the night this happened MacLaren was pissed off angry saying "big chance ... and you blew it" then when saw the Press the next morning completely changed his tune

[@khent712]

"We fuckin' well spent it didn't we" , I saw this interview on tv in '76 in London and bought the album, never mind the bollocks is still one of the best rock albums ever, imo.

[@SpeedKing..]

100 percent

[@rolandedrummer9723]

Truth and I didn't discover it until a few years ago and I'm 51!

[@mikemurray3962]

That album is pure angst and energy and hits you like a sledgehammer. Amazing record

[@davidturner1641]

so you paid into their capitalist scheme, good job

[@ariaciano6910]

Yep, the affect that album had will always be iconic and will always be it’s greatest strength. No amount of professional musicianship can make up for pure affect.

[@IvanLendl87]

The best part is 1:08 through Rotten: “That’s just their tough shit.” Grundy: “It’s what?” Rotten: “Nothing. A rude word. Next question.” Grundy: “No, no, what was the rude word?” Rotten: (like a little kid admitting wrong doing to an elder) “Shit.” Grundy: “Was it really?” Good heavens, you frighten me to death.”

[@deedeemerry1295]

Rotten didnt say "tough shit". Dont know what that word was after 'tough" but it definitely wasnt 'shit'

[@attentionaddicts]

@@deedeemerry1295 he does say "tough shit", he just say it in a way to censor it slightly (cost he's on live TV)

[@ianbauer4703]

Grundy seemed like a cool old guy, in fact.

[@Smarf182]

yes then he frightened everyone to death when he became a tory voting inbred

[@moogyboy6]

I'm actually surprised at how demure and apologetic Johnny seems in this exchange. Unless it's a put-on. I would have expected him to clear his throat, stare at the camera in his trademark fashion, and clearly enunciate in his best Received Pronunciation, "Shit."

[@bluecheesewithwings2105]

Shows how much a lot of the world was fine with a dude coming onto a teen but soon as they hear curse words it's like the devil is present

[@geoffpoole483]

Steve Jones has always been a bit rough around the edges but he called out Grundy for being a perv.

[@nereitaammc_99]

Exactly

[@walterkronkitesleftshoe6684]

While Grundy was undoubtedly out of his depth with the short notice interview, Siouxsie Sioux was 19 years old at the time of this interview, and above the age of consent. Bill Grundy was 53 years old.

[@willyoueatmypussyplease3549]

Back when I used to labour for builders alot of them where worse with some of the stuff they would come out with when they saw a young lass even when they was in a school outfit dirty sods

[@ariaciano6910]

And..? Legality does not always align with morality. In some countries the age of consent is 14. In other countries, men his age can marry 9 year old girls, effectively making them sex and gestation slaves since children can’t divorce their adult husbands. Morality goes beyond the laws of any individual country. If your defense comes down to “but it’s legal” then your argument is shit, unless the specific topic is on the legality of it in that country. Now notice how no one raising issue with this in the comments is claiming it was illegal. It is a MORAL argument.

[@mojopin70]

Steve Jones what a legend , we are talking about a drunk middle aged snob who wanted to take young Siouxsie around the back and do a Jimmy Savile.

[@mojopin70]

​@Kitten Lyric Makes no difference , he was a perverted dirty old man.

[@terencemcgaughey4944]

mojopin 70 In a way I wish he had have tried to take Siouxsie somewhere around the back because she would probably have seriously injured him!

[@gerrygroves]

nah he was just making a dirty joke is all. Jimmy Savile? you're a freak mate.

[@gardnerberry113]

I believe Grundy is just trying to be an early version of a "shock" host. He's provoking EVERYONE on the set who says something; Siouxsie just opened her mouth and he baited her. (If he TRULY wanted her, he would have singled her out backstage in classic Hollywood fashion like any other lech - NOT in front of a group of people and cameras!)

[@kamandi1362]

@@gardnerberry113 Quite right, but Sex Pistols worshippers hate to hear facts like that.

[@richardsharpe2966]

It ended Bill Grundy career

[@mediterraneandiet2483]

“Bill, can I see you in my office as soon as possible.” The boss.

[@MultiEvil85]

Why? Because of the cussing? Give me a break! That's idiotic.

[@mediterraneandiet2483]

@@MultiEvil85 It was 1976. Obscene language was not heard on TV then. There were only 3 TV channels and there were strict rules about things like that, so Mr Grundy goading on the Sex Pistols to swear was going to end badly for him.

[@stevelund7512]

@@MultiEvil85 apparently in the green room- complaint calls came in after the show and the Sex Pistols were picking up the phone and telling people to piss off... the show before, during, and after was a mess

[@ichbin4122]

@@MultiEvil85 it is true...he died a misery some years later, like 10 years maybe but he went out to buy all the Pistols' singles and thee album. Then ginned himself to death. In Britain TV presenters are a nuisance...and TV's done now

[@darrensiegel6651]

I'm just really impressed with how many people here spelled "Siouxsie" correctly.

[@Boilingfrogg]

Suzi

[@ustheserfs]

TVs finest moment. This is precisely the intersection of old and new Britain at the time.

[@andrewdemetrius8090]

I saw this live when I was 11 and it was the best thing ever on TV

[@le_th_]

For an 11 year old, you're probably right. However, any emotionally mature adult would be sickened by the comments of a 53 year old man to a 19 year old female. smh

[@ianbauer4703]

Love how Siouxsie's just chilling in the back row.

[@jadeshannon5583]

Good to see Siouxie in the background

[@lavielemond]

+Jade Shannon Yes, in the background but she ended up being one of the standout stars of the interview, even making the front page of some newspapers afterward, on her own.

[@bentramer682]

You dirty bastard

[@johnharriel4485]

Cause she always looked like some clown

[@johnharriel4485]

dinner here music's garbage

[@zackzallie8735]

@@johnharriel4485 Hahaha nice bait.

[@hajciho5025]

Johnny was so shy and innocent...

[@discodave6153]

Jonesy’s hip thrusts over the credits are the best bit

[@spanqueluv9er]

You mean dancing? It’s not hip thrusts you fuqwit.🙄🤦‍♂️💩🤡👎

[@jamesgretsch4894]

Johnny Rotten was great. He was clever and whitty and smart.

[@markyncole]

Was?

[@MarkSmith-er7fe]

witty

[@leegibbs1727]

Was he really? He said shit and that was it?

[@lavielemond]

+James Gretsch LOVE the guy!! From his work with the Sex Pistols, then P.I.L. - & not to mention the fact that he's a lifelong Arsenal FC NUT!! A VERY intelligent man, btw...especially when it comes to politics & sociology.

[@MrSteeleification]

What went wrong?

[@carlskelton5230]

Rotten looks like a scalded schoolboy when Grundy asks him to repeat the "rude" word.

[@frankieryan2840]

Grundy soon realised he’d definitely bit off more than he could chew 😂😂😂😂😂🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

[@_6079SMITH]

Young bands these days have no concept of how bad this was back in the day. In fact things have gone backwards really as you'd never get anything like this happening on TV these days.

[@robynsegg]

Siouxsie and The Banshees are behind The Sex Pistols. LOVE THEM!!!!!!

[@robynsegg]

Weren't they a trio when they got started? That looks like Siouxsie Sioux, Steve Severen, and Budgie. (Isn't that Budgie on the end? I don't know who the black girl is. I never saw her anywhere else in home movies of Britain's Punk Scene. I wonder if anyone else know who she is.)

[@safeashouses211]

robynsegg, her name is Simone Thomas.

[@robynsegg]

Thanks for that! Btw... Your username... I love it! So much so that I have this strong urge to change mine to "aslongasIrememberwhoiswearingthetrousers"! 😂

[@safeashouses211]

Haha, thanks! It just came to me on the spur of the moment when I joined YT all those years ago.

[@tstantonjr]

It's only Siouxsie and Severin, Budgie didn't join the band until the Banshee's third album, Kaleidoscope, Just as a side note, Sid Vicious played drums for SATB's first gig

[@clarejackson970]

When Grundy came up on stage to announce 10 Years of Punk at G-Mex in 1986,we all instantly booed him off the stage and people threw things at him 'til he staggered off.I think I remember Frank Sidebottom took over hosting for at least some of the show.

[@NoxiousRob]

Oh yes he did, he really did

[@davidturner1641]

ok, good. at least you played into their crony capitalism by going to the planned show that made more corrupt capitalism from nothing. instead of normal capitalism where the people at least get something of value other than more p3d0 band leaders and drug addiction. i am so impressed epstein would be proud

[@QuinctiliusVarus]

I can’t stop watching this. I love how deadpan Jones said those words. No screaming like on our “shock TV”shows. Just a nice, dry “fucking rotter”. And Grundy was the perfect sarcastic foil.

[@marlongoncalvesdias502]

Kkkkkkkk steve não suportou a falta de respeito do apresentador.

[@Adam-pu6jg]

The Pistols didn't even know it was live TV!!!

[@mikewalsh5825]

"what a fuckin' rotter" is such a low-key fantastic put-down. I keep it in my archive of expressions, to be used at appropriate moments.

[@davefb]

I'm watching after seeing the "amish sex pistols" clip. Well worth a watch.

[@eddieingalls534]

It is strange how a simple law not to allow swearing on television made this interview such a 'shock, horror!' event. The young lads and girls all look very shy and uncomfortable, trying to hide that behind arrogance as so many youngsters do. Had they not chosen to swear and Grundy be so unprofessional as to goad them on, this would have been one of the most instantly forgettable 'stroppy teen' talks ever.

[@robjones2408]

This in 1976. A very conservative year. Nobody had ever seen anything remotely like the Sex Pistols back then. Not even The Stones swore on network TV. It made them and broke them, but for a short while the Pistols were the most exciting group in the country.

[@musicwithmorals]

Actually I think calling the dirty old bas##d out on live TV took a lot of bollox (Pun intended). And Jonny Rotten was anything but shy.

[@clarejackson970]

Is there a list anywhere of all the names in that set?

[@raydonahue1978]

@@clarejackson970 Bill Grundy is the host. The Sex Pistols, left to right: Johnny Rotten/John Lydon, Steve Jones, Glen Matlock, Paul Cook. Back row, left to right: Budgie, Steve Severen, Simone Thomas, Siouxsie Sioux.

[@bamconceptstv8606]

@@robjones2408 c xxx cchygg🧢

[@komi-origami]

One of the greatest interview ever broadcasted.

[@SuperNevile]

You haven't seen any of Oliver Reed's? Puts these amateurs in the shade.

[@vinnycrever4863]

Siouxsie is so lovely here. :)

[@tomgat6314]

Always

[@countkronus1]

The band were not given the respect they deserved for their musician ship and song writing, Matlock, Jones, Cook and Rotten the original Pistols, Sid of course could not play a note (he was there for the image) but this does not detract from just how great and original the album was and still is.

[@ilovesammy3657]

Not into much British music as a rule but I like the Pistols and even Sid. Very interesting band and interesting times indeed.

[@mikemurray3962]

So sick of people saying Sid couldn't play bass. There's a 1978 concert where steve Jones's guitar shorts out for half the song and sid's bass playing carried the band through. Granted it was a basic bassline. The misconception I think started because Steve Jones did the mixing and played the bass on the recording of never mind the bollocks because Matlock had left and Sid didn't have time to learn the songs. I'm probably wrong though lol

[@dusty2080]

@@mikemurray3962 Nah you're right. He had never played bass before joining the band (he had experience in drumming and saxophone and even singing but never bass) but he was so excited joining the band the dude popped speed all night to learn how to play bass to The Ramones' debut so he could at least be passable. Then the heroin kicked in...

[@michaelblythe6525]

If only a band would emerge today to challenge the project fear and control there’s never been more of a time in since the 70s when another sex pistols were needed

[@EricStanway-ky9ys]

The Pistols sounded like nobody else at the time. I was living in the states, but could easily recall the claustrophobic atmosphere in England in the early 70s. I immediately understood what they were on about. The fact that Lydon followed it up with PiL, and the sheer brilliance of Metal Box just illustrates how potent a talent he was at that time.

[@garychopping2184]

And Siouxsie became a legend and a icon and SATB the greatest band :)

[@tz6414]

still listen to never mind the bollocks, great raw album that stands the test of time. Brilliant interview, why arent more guests like it.

[@sirphineasluciusambercromb9114]

In America, in 1976, the average youths were into KC and the Sunshine Band, John Travolta, Starsky and Hutch, Kiss, Boston, Skynyrd, the Eagles and Linda Ronstadt. They dug ABBA and art work made of yarn. They wore Earth shoes and watched drive in movies like Carrie, the Omen and the Texas Chainsaw Massacre to get freaked out. I was 5, but I remember what all my teachers, teachers aids, cousins, aunts and me mum were into. Needless to say, the Ramones, the Sex Pistols, the Dead Boys, the Vibrators and other punk and new wave groups got little airplay outside of New York, L.A., San Francisco and other, major, radio markets. The first time I saw Patti Smith Group, Devo, Blondie, Elvis Costello and others of that ilk was on Saturday Night Live, the Muppets and sundry, network, TV, variety shows.

[@Starsk25]

You are correct!

[@wanneske1969]

If you watch the movie 'control' about Joy Division (or better said Ian Curtis), there was nothing for the young people. They had no money, there were not a lot of clubs (apart from the big cities), there was no work, the third world war could happen any moment. Only thing you could do was listen to music in your room, get drunk, or start a band yourselves

[@sirphineasluciusambercromb9114]

@@wanneske1969 ... Also, it seems to me that with the ascendancy of Reagan and Thatcher, younger voters had turned sour on social democracy. In America, the country was in free fall. NYC and Detroit were bankrupt, Los Angeles and Chicago seethed with serial killers like the Hillside Strangler and John Wayne Gacy. In Chicago, Mayor Daley died in 1976. Although he was fascistic in the Democratic Convention, in 1968, the Chicago Police preserved disorder and made sure the palms got greased, and the trains ran on time. That ended in 1976. Pedophiliac, incest porn and brutal films featuring rape and disembowlment and Satanism were in theaters. Shame was non existent from the bathhouse culture in San Francisco to the Jim Jones cult. Abysmal. Baby Boomers wanted conservatives by the late 70s, because the postwar prosperity was over. Rich people finally convinced the young that income taxes levied on them were immoral. It was a right wing zeitgeist to be sure

[@sirphineasluciusambercromb9114]

@@wanneske1969 Ian Curtis was a genius and a tortured visionary

[@michaelbruns449]

Without a doubt, the motion picture camera is our greatest invention.

[@markcbb]

Unless you were there at the time ( I was) you cannot begin to imagine the shockwave this left behind. It was amazing to witness.

[@Stigmatix666]

I've heard about that. But in this day and age it seems so harmless and innocent

[@NoxiousRob]

One of the funniest things I remember was some outraged TV viewer kicking his TV in, so outraged was he.

[@andyhowpog]

@@NoxiousRob Hence the newspaper headline "The Filth and the Fury". You're right though, he got so angry he destroyed his own TV- hilarious!

[@johneeeemarry34]

He was right to be outraged.. Doing a job you don’t particularly like just to provide for his family, comes home on a Friday just to hear the Chelsea fashion elite (managed by the ‘Artist’ McLaren) and the smug suburbanites from Bromley, swearing and acting up on television… Kicking the TV is a fair response… Grundy calling out their bullshit was also fair… Those two were the good guys… look at Britain now.. 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🏳️‍🌈🛼🏳️‍🌈🛼🏳️‍🌈🦄👩🏿‍🦽🦄🇪🇭🦄🛼🏳️‍🌈🤣… you get what you fucking deserve…🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@bps3013]

"Good heavens!"

[@michaelmouse4024]

I love it when Rotten says "Oh alright Sigmund..."

[@TranzparentMethods]

Honestly, every SINGLE comment I've read is pure comedy gold... This is the absolute best interview in television history!

[@The4preston]

LOL @ 0:09 "You see they're as drunk as I am."

[@cyclingseagull]

Yes, nobody gives him credit for such a great joke.

[@johneeeemarry34]

Fucking love the true punk genius known as Grundy…🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@gringotroller]

Lol man times have changed, the pistols were on every front page newspaper for swearing, meanwhile the host admitted to being drunk and than creeped on a teenage girl and no one cared

[@timtucker7506]

The clean Rolling Stones. Lol!

[@pawnoir]

WOW I never heard about this incident! Rather shocked by the journalist hitting on Siouxsie Sioux…

[@rabfallon4507]

Obviously you're not a Pistols fan then

[@pawnoir]

@@rabfallon4507 many infos weren't spread out of the UK

[@chapingaryjr]

But no one has a issue with siouxsie saying to the old man I've always wanted to meet you...

[@thomasoflaherty3520]

@@chapingaryjr She was taking the piss, listen again to why.

[@shadynasty8729]

she was an adult and she started it

[@johnturner3455]

"They're as drunk as I am" Lovely way to start a moral posture high.

[@fredbloggs2206]

Jones was the only true anti-establishment figure here. The others look uncomfortable, Jones doesn’t give a toss. Innocent times, actually.

[@etanaedelman9011]

Apparently Jones was sexually abused as a kid. No wonder Grundy's behavior made him so mad.

[@aestheticaltwat]

Yeah, Lyndon went tits-up after the 70s.

[@danieljones8876]

Agreed. Everyone else came across as timid.

[@standingontheshouldersofgi5876]

@@etanaedelman9011 what, really?

[@etanaedelman9011]

@@standingontheshouldersofgi5876 I mean that's what Wikipedia says.

[@davidreichert9392]

Paul's face says it all. "Is it over yet?"

[@NoName-zi9qs]

Johnny Lydon is a really sweet man. His mom would be very proud.

[@r0s3h1ps6]

“NOTHING. Rude word. Next quesTION!” That’s so hilarious

[@jmc0075]

It was history in the making.and I think will never be forgotten. As today a lot of the pistols lyrics are relevant today. God save the queen. YES.

[@gordonferrar7782]

I fucking love Steve Jones reading his book at the moment fucking love it.

[@harryroberts2403]

_"God save Television and the programme viewer.."_ _"....and God bless William Grundy for for falling in manure"_

[@_fabio1978]

No One Is Innocent!

[@shauncalway62]

Harry Roberts is

[@DazzleMonroe]

*God save television Keep the programmes pure God save William Grundy From falling in manure

[@punkbedfilms]

Today, the headline in the newspaper would’ve been the exact opposite, “Band calls out creepy old interviewer for hitting on teenager on air”

[@loganbaileysfunwithtrains606]

No it would just be “neo nazi white supremacists harass journalist”

[@keirbourne5323]

She was 20, not really a teenage

[@principleofmoments8042]

@@loganbaileysfunwithtrains606 Lol

[@SpeedKing..]

@@keirbourne5323 *19

[@shadynasty8729]

@@SpeedKing.. So, an adult

[@mrwhompass1986]

"What a fuckin rotter." - Steve Jones. That line cracked me up.

[@lewisner]

And here we all are 44 years later, older than Bill Grundy. Fucked.

[@jackssmirkingrevenge9365]

_youth is a wonderful thing. what a crime to waste it on children_

[@dougmedina4619]

Such youth is wasted On the young We reach a higher state Then turn into all the things We're meant to hate ~Terry Hall

[@fredhall6525]

But we're not drunken sods.

[@lewisner]

@@fredhall6525 Chance would be a fine thing with all the pubs shut.

[@simonhunter3430]

such a classic piece of television. it couldn't have been scripted better.

[@charlesmaximus9161]

This honestly never gets old for me. I always go back and try to see if I can hear what a lot of them are saying to themselves as Grundy speaks, you can make out a word or two but it is very difficult to tell. I wish somebody would see if you can possibly isolate some of the voices to be able to hear it better. Like after Grundy moves on from Rotten saying “shit”, you can hear him mumbling something, but it is really hard to tell exactly what he says.

[@alasidereal]

I only hear, "alright I guess, you rotten prick." But I'm not sure

[@rkk578]

He says: "oh alright so you are playing games now we're all very impressed"

[@mariadiangelo4197]

you can find a transcript of the interview. "THE BILL GRUNDY INTERVIEW" on televisionpersonalities

[@eightieslivenow7579]

they guy in the middle in the back is my old roomie Greg -- he came here to Canada and a bunch of us lived in a cool old house in the downtown part of my city - he was incredible - a writer actor poet musician magician - beyond talented and the greatest guy I ever knew - I miss him terribly

[@ilovesammy3657]

Is he dead ..? Was he the guy that Overdosed when staying with Sid?

[@eightieslivenow7579]

@@ilovesammy3657 no he passed a few years ago in Montreal

[@kirbyculp3449]

Do you know about the girl in the middle?

[@lestoil]

How unusual to see John Lydon being bashful and coy and everyone else being boisterous.

[@raconteur5195]

I thought that Grundy was just kidding around with all of them, but it seems that most people took it, and still take all that was said, as being serious.

[@paulnodalo9130]

Totally agree.I am sure there was never any bad blood between The Pistols,Souixe and Bill Grundy.It was all a bit of fun.

[@garethoneill5676]

Back when record turntables were contained inside varnished wood cabinets with integrated drinks cabinets.

[@williamstephenson8250]

Steve Jones OWNED this perfomance, with his insouciance. Steve just didn't give a fuck.

[@samueldieckmann2484]

Everything in life gets better to the sound of good old Rock 'n' Roll, and its derivatives like Punk rock.

[@tersemerkhet4633]

I remember this, I thought my grandad was going throw the telly out of the window

[@TobcioccLeyton]

I love this with all my heart, I was very young but I do remember it via my older brother.

[@tonymcmahon_historybear]

Must say as a teenager in the 1970s, I didn't even register Bill Grundy's existence until this interview - and then Grundy was fired.

[@joehart7260]

After half a decade of teenyboppers, weenyboppers Kenny, Racey and all the rest, this was the bomb that needed to go off.

[@Eleventhearlofmars]

Joe Hart shite like brotherhood of man, osmonds, mud, the tartan twats whose name escapes me atm and the types you mentioned, it was stale as fuck. I blame that type of music not the progressive rock that seemed to get the blame at the time, that was a facade brought on by music critics. I know Lydon actually liked Pink Floyd even though he had a tshirt stating the opposite lol

[@joehart7260]

Madrigalmann22 I couldn't agree more. I was into progressive rock before punk because it was the only type of music a self respecting young man could be into at the time, with perhaps Bowie and Roxy Music excepted. But I always felt a certain distance from it. When punk arrived like many others I knew it was what I had been waiting for.

[@Eleventhearlofmars]

Joe Hart I like both prog and some punk, but my music tastes really do range from Abba to Zappa, I’ll listen to most stuff apart from the dregs we listed above earlier.

[@seansands424]

@Margaret Ann Casey Good

[@thewhoman3182]

However sadly after punk had died all of the terrible disco bands just came back from the grave.

[@PorkchopGMX]

The reason that this happened was Freddie Mercury having a toothache

[@jackssmirkingrevenge9365]

somehow, my life feels more complete having heard this

[@mazdamiata786]

can u tell me more about it

[@PorkchopGMX]

Queen were supposed to be interviewed but Freddie Mercury had a toothache, which meant he had to go to a dentist appointment. So Queen dropped out and were replaced by the Sex Pistols.

[@mazdamiata786]

@@PorkchopGMX thats intersting, thank you

[@colallison6152]

With them gnashers it must have been well painful!

[@KR-rs3vn]

Amusing how Johnny Rotton gets pulled up for saying "shit"... and then at the end, while the credits start to roll, Bill Grundy is silently mouthing "oh shit". What a fuckin rotter.

[@registame2878]

Yeah having a friend was a nazi supporter is much worse

[@shaebryant1916]

At 1:20 it looks like he’s being told off😂😂😂

[@jamesthomison4356]

they're questioning "shit" but not the dude with a swastika on his arm?

[@rabfallon4507]

Get a grip and learn about punks shock value

[@aaronramirezrodriguez4719]

Dude Go complain to prince Harry

[@SkragorSkumdreg]

Being shocked by a swastika is a relatively new phenomenon

[@Arshink]

Because the generation who fought in WWII were still around and had been directly exposed to that symbol and Nazi ideology but they knew that the Nazi Germans were long dead and understood for this reason that it was just a shock fashion statement being made by punk kids as a "fuck you" to the establishment. It wasn't like today where the WWII generation is dying out and the media is changing the definition of Nazi and fear mongering with a supposed revival of Nazi ideology (lol) and brainwashing people into thinking the Nazis are still relevant in society to distract the masses from more important enemies. The fact that you can't show a swastika on TV anymore is one of the ways the media mystifies Nazism and perpetuates the fear and delusion. And they're allowed to do this because the WWII generation isn't around to stop them and their trauma from the war isn't fresh in the minds of the corporations anymore.

[@crystalmonroy9111]

@@SkragorSkumdreg thats not true. the old punks wore the swastika specifically TO shock. shoot, siouxsie got beat up once for wearing it in one of the central european countries on tour. thats why she stopped

[@OiSam-ir9me]

I would have loved to have been their age in London at this time, tough times without a doubt but real times, you knew where you stood.

[@markbarker6739]

Grundy tried to called their bluff and provoke them he come unstuck and ended up paying a heavy price he was never seen on TV again

[@johneeeemarry34]

He was the real punk.. the Pistols are promoted and celebrated by the arts, media, fashion and politically correct establishment..

[@sofiaplatini3273]

Remember seeing this at the time .

[@carlosmarxo8132]

Siouxie presence on this is just awsome, and fires up the whole incident without doing nothing hahaha

[@denisespencer6550]

He wanted them to say something outrageous, so they did. What did he expect?! He brought it on himself

[@archyleach]

Grundy is actually pretty damn funny. This whole interview is the most entertaining interview with a band I have seen.

[@Chorkaloopa]

Check the Tom Snyder / KISS interview. 🦇⭐️🐱🚀

[@archyleach]

@@Chorkaloopa Watched it, thanks. Very down to earth interview with Kiss being regular guys.

[@michaelblythe6525]

He was another Saville you dick

[@IHaveExactlySubcribers-eq5ms]

Gene Simmons is a fuckwit

[@weirdplanet1082]

Love how Grundy mouths "Oh Shit!" right at the end! It was at that point, he knew he done fucked up!!! 😂

[@jaronimo1976]

I always wondered what hapened the day before I was born.... Now I know... :-P

[@123prova]

that was probably the best marketing campaign they could hope for (without realising it). Actually I read the the Sex pistols were replacing the Queen who declined joining the show with a last minute notice.

[@charliemaguire2210]

WATCHED it live, it was not the Grundy show from memory but from what i recall was Thames TV's early evening slot " Today " ( usually followed by Crossroads ) for the London area usually hosted by Eammon Andrews but Grundy was a very regular fill in by the mid 70s - until this.

[@kevh9497]

You're right, it was just called "Today"

[@slipperman6770]

Peter Gabriel of Genesis actually had the Punk look before Punk even came out..with his elaborate haircuts!!!

[@readmelancholystrumpetmaster]

The new generation which curses out its teachers on a daily basis cannot begin to imagine how outrageously radical Steve's words were here. This was something completely different

[@hitakkjismith3115]

lol now people literally seem way more preppy and tame

[@SpiceUpYourLife123]

Lmao an older person criticizing the new generation? How mundane.

[@shadynasty8729]

@@SpiceUpYourLife123 Ageism. How trite

[@elgonm289]

"Fuckin spent haven't we" haha 😅 Steve Jonesy you're brilliant

[@qwargy]

I think Glen Matlock (being a proper musician and all) actually looked interested when Grundy referred to Bach and Beethoven, I can see it in his eyes. But Johnny interrupted. Maybe he knew that Glen was about to say something intelligent in response!

[@TheBlueCream]

Glen's an intelligent musician.

[@Seanryan2001]

An iconic tv moment.

[@grunge_rocker]

1:19 “no no.. what was the rude word?” “..shit 😐”

[@jakehughes735]

Love how hype Paul is in this interview 😂😂😂😂😂man really didn't wanna be there 😂