10 Greatest Secret Music Concerts Of All Time
6. The Sex Pistols
WHERE: A Boat on the River Thames
WHEN: June 7th,1977
People have this idea that The Sex Pistols were "real". That they were a grassroots, organic slap in the face to the ruling class. An anarchic untamed riot who did whatever they pleased no matter who they pissed off.
In reality, The Sex Pistols were less a band and more a cultivated collection of publicity stunts wrapped around a decent enough pub rock album with some great singles.
They were as manufactured as The Wanted but when the publicity stunts are this fun, you can let them off. From signing their record label in front of Buckingham Palace, to writing God Save The Queen explicitly because it was the jubilee year, all of it makes for a great legend, and this was one of the best.
A jubilee party never to be forgotten, the Pistols hosted their nearest and dearest on a barge going down the Thames. Then the moment they passed the houses of Parliament, they would launch into Anarchy in the UK. Hardly Guy Fawkes, but Vive la révolution, I guess.
In fairness to Malcolm McLaren and his Theatre of Provocation, Her Majesty's Finest did send a few boats to put the kibosh on it sharpish (once more, suck it Bono!), and as novelties go, it's pretty out there. Well, as out there as you can get when Richard Branson himself is footing the bill.