Punk's Jubilee Boat: The Sex Pistols on the Thames

London, June 1977. The city was a sea of flags for Queen Elizabeth II’s Silver Jubilee, a nationwide celebration of her 25 years on the throne. But not everyone was celebrating. The Sex Pistols’ manager, Malcolm McLaren, and the head of Virgin Records, Richard Branson, saw an opportunity. They planned a counter-party, a provocative stunt on the River Thames. Their band had just released a single called "God Save the Queen," which was promptly banned by the BBC and major retailers. The song was a direct challenge to the monarchy. Now, McLaren and Branson would take that challenge to the water, organizing a boat trip designed to mock the official royal pageant and guarantee that the Sex Pistols could not be ignored.