The Sex Pistols are releasing a 35th Anniversary “super deluxe” box set of “Never Mind The Bollocks, Here's The Sex Pistols” on September 24th through Universal Music UK.
On the heels of groundwork laid by The Ramones and others before them, The Sex Pistols released their one and only studio album in 1977.
While many fans will undoubtedly be of the opinion that there can be very little left in the Sex Pistols vaults that hasn't already been seen and heard, followers of the band will be thrilled by the treasure trove of music, footage, interviews, pictures and artifacts confirmed to be included.
The original master tapes from the “Never Mind The Bollocks, Here's The Sex Pistols” recording sessions in 1977 were thought to be lost for many years. Now thankfully rediscovered during the recent move from Virgin Records to Universal Music Catalogue in January 2012, the tapes have been remastered, for the very first time, by Tim Young under direction from original producer Chris Thomas.
Some real treats have also been found along the way. The find that will perhaps excite fans the most is the lost 1977 demo studio recording of “Belsen Was A Gas,” the only original Sex Pistols composition of the era thought not to be recorded.
Other treats include the inclusion of six demos first included on the infamous "Spunk" bootleg album, released for the very first time in their original, untouched form following the very recent discovery of their original master tapes. These, combined with a selection of unreleased Chris Thomas demo's and outtakes from the recording of the album - including tracks with Sid Vicious on bass - plus a wealth of live audio and visual material all from 1977 make up a box set that will truly satisfy fans of the band.
Below is a breakdown of the contents (also see further below for more info):
CD1 - Never Mind The Bollocks, Here's The Sex Pistols: 2012 Re-mastered, from the thought lost original master tapes with process overseen by original producer Chris Thomas
CD2 - 1977 Studio Rarities & B-Sides: Previously unreleased 1977 recordings including the legendary "Belsen Was A Gas" with John on vocals plus the original single b-sides, again all remastered from the original master tapes
CD3 - 1977 Live: High quality live recordings from 1977, most of which are previously unreleased
DVD - 1977: Live 1977 DVD produced by Julien Temple and featuring many previously unseen performances plus DVD extras of promo videos and radio interviews
1977 Diary: Hardback 100 page 12" by 12" diary with quotes, rare and previously unseen photos, memorabilia and exclusive images
7" Single: Replica of the withdrawn God Save The Queen A&M single
Poster: 3FT by 4.5FT Never Mind The Bollocks replica promo poster
Stickers: Reproductions of the original Never Mind The Bollocks promo stickers
Lyrics: A copy of the original handwritten lyrics to God Save The Queen will also be included
Never Mind The Bollocks, Here's The Sex Pistols - Super Deluxe Box Set tracklistings:
CD1 - Never Mind The Bollocks Here's The Sex Pistols*
'Holidays In The Sun'
'Bodies'
'No Feelings'
'Liar'
'God Save The Queen'
'Problems'
'Seventeen'
'Anarchy In The UK'
'Submission'
'Pretty Vacant'
'New York'
'EMI'
CD2 - 1977 Studio Rarities & B-Sides
The single b-sides remastered
'No Feeling'
'Did You No Wrong'
'No Fun'
'Satellite'
Dave Goodman Jan 1977 demos recorded at Gooseberry Studios **
'New York'
'EMI'
'Liar'
'Pretty Vacant'
'Problems'
'GSTQ'
Chris Thomas Demo's & Outtakes***
'Did You Know Wrong' (March 3rd 1977)
'17' (April 21st 1977)
'Satellite' (April 22nd 1977)
'Submission' (April 22nd 1977)
'Holidays In The Sun' (April 22nd 1977)
'EMI' (April 22nd 1977)
'17' (May 16th 1977)
'Holidays In The Sun' (June 11th 1977)
'Bodies' (June 11th 1977)
'Submission' (August 12th 1977)
'Belsen Was A Gas' (original demo) (19 September 1977)****
CD3 - 1977 Live
Ssamfundet Club, Trondheim, Norway - 21st July
'Anarchy In The U.K.'
'I Wanna Be Me'
'17'
'New York'
'EMI'
'No Fun'
'No Feelings'
'Problems'
'God Save The Queen'
Happy House, Stockholm, Sweden - 28th July***
'Anarchy In The UK'
'I Wanna Be Me'
'17'
'New York'
'EMI'
'Submission'
'No Feelings'
'Problems'
'God Save The Queen'
'Pretty Vacant'
'No Fun'
DVD - 1977
Riverboat Party, The River Thames, London - 7th July
'Pretty Vacant'
'Anarchy In The UK'
'Problems'
Happy House, Stockholm, Sweden - 28th July***
'Anarchy In The UK'
'I Wanna Be Me'
'Seventeen
'New York'
'Problems'
'No Fun'
S.P.O.T.S. Tour - Winter Gardens, Penzance, Cornwall - 1st September***
'Problems'
'No Fun'
'Anarchy In The UK'
DVD Extras
'God Save The Queen' video
'Pretty Vacant' video
'Holidays In The Sun' video
The HeyDay Interviews. Interviews by Judy and Fred Vermorel recorded in August 1977 with:
Steve Jones
Paul Cook
John Lydon
Sid Vicious
Glen Matlock
BBC, Radio 1, Rock On, December 12th 1977 - John Tobler interview with John and Sid (previously unheard full uncensored version)
Other Content
1977 (The Bollocks Diaries)
100 page full-colour hardback diary detailing every significant band event in this explosive year. Written by former Mojo editor Pat Gilbert, the book includes multiple quotes from key figures, previously unseen photos, recording details, memorabilia and much more.
+ replica A&M GSTQ/No Feeling 7" single.
+ 3FT by 4.5FT Never Mind The Bollocks Here's The Sex Pistols replica promo poster.
+ copy of original handwritten lyrics to 'God Save The Queen'.
+ Replica Never Mind The Bollocks Here's The Sex Pistols promo stickers.
Content Key/Bullet Points
* = remastered from the recently found original album master tapes by Tim Young under the guidance of original producer Chris Thomas.
** = these 6 demo's would make up the legendary 'Spunk' album but are heard here for the very first time in their original, untouched form following the very recent discovery of the original master tapes.
*** = All tracks previously unreleased except Submission (track ) which unlike in 2002 when it first appeared is now mastered from the original tapes.
**** = This is the legendary original demo featuring John Lydon on vocals and is taken from the recently recovered original master tapes.
Sex Pistols
The Sex Pistols – Anarchy In The UK (TV broadcast debut)
So It Goes - August 28, 1976
See also:
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Sex Pistols: Johnny Rotten ponders reunion, new material
Sex Pistols, Ozzy make U.K. list of Most Controversial Songs
William Hill bets on The Sex Pistols
1978: Johnny Rotten joins Devo?
Johnny Rotten on Malcolm McLaren
BREAKING NEWS: Malcolm McLaren dies
The Sex Pistols - "Anarchy In The U.K."