Punks on TV: Bill Grundy Interviews the Sex Pistols, 1976
December 1st, 1976 was a day like any other in England, except for one thing: Freddie Mercury had a toothache. Had it not been for the pain in Mr. Mercury’s jaw – which caused him to call a dentist for the first time in several years – the world likely would never have been blessed with one of the greatest moments in British entertainment history, for that is the day Bill Grundy interviewed the Sex Pistols on live television.
That morning, Grundy and the producers of Today – a news magazine program that ran from 1968 to 1977 on Thames Television in London – had planned on interviewing Mercury and his band Queen. But when the famed frontman was unexpectedly forced into a dentist’s chair earlier that day, a quick replacement was needed. By some miracle, it was Sex Pistols manager Malcolm McLaren who got the call.
Claiming they were fed alcohol in the green room before the show, the four Sex Pistols (singer Johnny Rotten, guitarist Steve Jones, drummer Paul Cook, and pre-Sid Vicious bass player Glen Matlock) along with four friends standing behind them (including Siouxsie Sioux, who would shortly form pioneering goth band Siouxsie and the Banshees) fidgeted in their seats as Grundy awkwardly introduced the band to the world.
To get the ball rolling, Grundy comedically observed that his guests were not “the nice, clean Rolling Stones” and that “they are as drunk as I am,” which, admittedly, is pretty damned witty for a grumpy, out of touch, and no-doubt massively egotistical television host. He then launched into an attempted “gotcha” moment by implying that the record deal the band received from EMI is antithetical to their “anti-materialist” way of life. Predictably, his shallow jabs are blown off but not before Johnny mumbles “shit” under his breath. Grundy feigns shock but smug superiority gives away his supposed outrage.
It’s at this point that things go off the rails in the most amazing way possible. After Grundy flirts with Siouxsie, Jones begins a tirade of curses aimed at the aging host, calling him a “dirty sod” and a “dirty old man,” which prompts Grundy to challenge the guitar player to say something outrageous. Jones, of course, complies, calling Grundy a “dirty bastard” and a “dirty fucker.” Jones ends his rant with “What a dirty fucking rotter,” (slang for an unpleasant or despicable person) as Grundy puts an end to the interview.
The entire incident lasted only 2½ minutes, but its infamy is far reaching. Without knowing it, Grundy and the producers of Today, for the first time, exposed punk rock to a national audience. The outrage helped the Sex Pistols become the most notorious band in England, and with the help of their well-timed “God Save the Queen” record, were launched into destructive immortality. The words of Rotten and Jones may seem tame by today’s standards, but in 1976, the scandal of their audacious appearance shocked the nation.
Bill Grundy may have been a condescending shit, but without a doubt, his demeaning attitude toward punk and punk rockers converted countless disaffected youths straight into its loving arms. And for that, Bill Grundy, you arrogant ass, I thank you.
