The Sex Pistols and Never Mind the Bollocks II. Wait–What?

Despite their notoriety, legend and influence, the fact is that the Sex Pistols released just one–that’s one–studio album. There was Never Mind the Bollocks, released on October 27, 1977–and that was it.

Oh, sure, there have been plenty (hundreds!) of compilations and live albums–mostly bootlegs–and The Great Rock’n’Roll Swindle soundtrack (NOT a Sex Pistols album). I just did a quick count of what I have in my collection and I have 52 different Sex Pistols-related CDs and records.

But there was almost–almost–a second Sex Pistols studio album that actually made it into production during one of the band’s 1990-era reunions. Three-quarters of the band went into the studio with Chris Thomas–the producer of Bollocks–and laid down some basic tracks. Johnny Lydon wasn’t part of that. Johnny tells The Independent:

“They’d gone off with Chris Thomas, the producer of Never Mind …, and laid down some basic tracks without involving me at all, and then presented this cassette, not to my face, but snuck it under the bloody hotel door. To this day, I’m very bitter about that.”

And there’s more. Apparently, U2 asked for permission to use some kind of Sex Pistols clip during their unveiling of the iPhone 6. Johnny would have none of that. He’ll sell butter, but he won’t sell Apple products.