2001
December 17: According to the NME, the Sex Pistols might reform for the Queen's Golden Jubilee in 2002.
December 18: The UK media pick up on the NME story. The Sun, under the heading Pistols v Queen, state "Exactly 25 years after hijacking the Queen's Silver Jubilee celebrations, the Sex Pistols are planning a new insult....the infamous punk band....are lining up a tour to coincide with HRH's Golden Jubilee....they may even play a gig on June 3 when the Queen will have reigned for 50 years....Promoter John Giddings: 'We have had big-money offers.' "
2002
January 11: www.sex-pistols.net reports: "The latest on the Pistols/Queen's Golden Jubilee reunion, direct from the promoters to www.sex-pistols.net: "There are no definite plans yet." "
January 20: According to the News Of The World, the Sex Pistols are to headline the Isle Of Wight Festival in early June.
February 8: Promoters Solo have a webpage dedicated to the Sex Pistols Golden Jubilee reunion. It boasts "Watch this space". The site also states that they will not, however, be appearing at the Isle Of Wight Festival.
March 4: John Lydon interviewed for an upcoming ten part documentary on punk rock, to be shown on the digital channel Play UK in June.
March 5: John features in a full page interview in the Daily Star. John talks about his plans to reform the Pistols, and his wish to perform a special show on 3rd June, supported by The Clash!
 March 7: Latest official news from promoters Solo on the Pistols reunion: "Discussions are under way - we should not have to wait much longer."
March 23: John Lydon states on The Jonathan Ross Radio show (BBC Radio 2), that he is planning a one-off Pistols event in July. He also said that there will be no June Jubilee show.
April 4: Latest official news from promoters Solo on the Pistols reunion: "Will they, won't they?"
April 6: www.sex-pistols.net reports: "Pistols live date rumours. Crystal Palace, Saturday 20th or 27th July. Although this possibility has been in circulation for a couple of weeks, it remains unconfirmed as yet by Solo."
April 16: NME.com reports the news of the proposed one-off Pistols gig at Crystal Palace, this time giving a possible date of 21st July.
May 1: www.sex-pistols.net reports: "It's fast becoming the summer's worst kept secret, but barring some unforeseen disaster, expect the Sex Pistols to play a one-off concert at Crystal Palace on Saturday July 27th."
May 7: Steve Jones interviewed by Phil Singleton for www.cookandjones.co.uk.
May 9: John Lydon is featured in a two page interview in The Sun to promote the re-release of God Save The Queen on May 27th.
May 10: www.sex-pistols.net reports: "The Pistols' concert on July 27th at Crystal Palace will be sponsored by Coors Brewers Ltd. Note: Promoters Solo still have not confirmed the concert, but expect an official announcement within a week."
May 12: www.sex-pistols.net reports: "Tickets for the Sex Pistols Crystal Palace show will go on sale this coming Thursday, 16th May. This will coincide with an official announcement on the same day from a location 'somewhere in West London'. The gig on 27th July will actually take place at the Crystal Palace Sports Arena, with a capacity of 30,000 permitted for the show. The venue allows for both standing and seating. Places will be unreserved, so to secure the best spots, get there early."
May 14: www.sex-pistols.net reports: "Sex Pistols at Crystal Palace, London, 27th July. News Flash! Sponsors' banner link will be posted on the site tomorrow night. The agreement to display the banner link first on God Save The Sex Pistols in readiness for the launch, will put site visitors on the starting blocks, in pole position to purchase tickets!"
May 15: www.sex-pistols.net reports: "Tickets go on sale Thursday 16th May at 11am (UK BST), and will coincide with a Press Conference in London, announcing the concert officially."
May 16: John Lydon holds a press conference in London, at the Cobden Club, and announces the Sex Pistols concert at Crystal Palace, London, on July 27th.
May 17: John is pictured on the front of The Daily Star, allegedly "Grabbing our Amy's (Daily Star reporter) assets" at the conference. The paper declares: "It's Johnny Rotter." The Mirror reports: "Sex Pistol attack on Tony Blair." The Sun also picks up on John's attack on Tony Blair: "Ear's Rotten", with a picture of John pulling his ears to mimic the Prime Minister.
May 17: The Guardian 'Friday Review' features a three page interview with John Lydon. John states his opinion of Britain, the Monarchy, the music industry and of course the Jubilee. "The real motivation for this is that it's the jubilee of the Pistols. Nobody seems to have noticed that. And I think it's quite poignant, you know. Going out properly with a great jubilee bash. Our jubilee bash."
May 26: Virgin Radio broadcast a John Lydon interview .
May 27: Release of the 7", 12" and CD single God Save The Queen / God Save The Queen (Neil Barnes extended mix). The 12"/CD singles contain the additional Neil Barnes "Dance mix".
May (unknown day): John Lydon is interviewed by CNN.
June 1: Jubilee CD reviewed in the Daily Mirror.
June 2: God Save The Queen enters the UK charts at No.15.
Ultimate Questions (ITV), a programme debating the future of the monarchy includes Glen Matlock.
June 5: God Save The Queen, a musical documentary highlighting the various musical styles popular in the year of the Queen's Silver Jubilee, airs on BBC1. Includes the Pistols.
June 6: Release of the Jubilee CD (CDV2961) and the 3 CD box set (SEXBOX1) on Virgin records.
June 7: Top Of The Pops shows a clip of the God Save The Queen video (approx. 2 minutes).
June 9: Jubilee enters the UK album charts at No.29.
God Save The Queen falls to No.30 in the singles chart.
June 15: Total Guitar magazine features a Steve Jones interview conducted by Phil Singleton.
July 2: www.sex-pistols.net reports: "World Exclusive! Support bands confirmed! Direct to God Save The Sex Pistols from sources at Solo UK, the full line up for the 27th July at Crystal Palace is: Sex Pistols, Amen, Dropkick Murphys, Trail Of The Dead, and The Libertines."
July 12: www.sex-pistols.net visit the Sex Pistols during rehearsals in North London.
July 21: Sunday Express & The Independent both carry articles relating to the gig.
July 22: Sex Pistols switch rehearsals to Stanbridge Farm in Sussex.
Sex Pistols appear on London TV News.
July 23: The Daily Star reports: "Just As Rotten.... The Sex Pistols were reunited yesterday in the last place you'd expect - on a country house lawn sipping tea." The Daily Mail carries a full page feature: "More tea, Mr Rotten?"
Breakfast show GMTV shows clips of the Pistols rehearsing and drinking tea at their country retreat.
A TV programme is shown in Germany with the band rehearsing and being interviewed in London. Tracks filmed (partial) are Pretty Vacant and New York.
July 24: www.sex-pistols.net reports: "The final revised support for the Pistols is as follows: Trail Of Dead, Dropkick Murphys, The Libertines, The Rapture, and Mellobostic (DJ)."
July 27: The Daily Telegraph contains an interview with John Lydon: "Johnny Rotten's core values are really rather respectable."
Crystal Palace, London (recorded + filmed): Silver Machine / Holidays In The Sun / I Wanna Be Me / No Feelings / Substitute / Seventeen / Pretty Vacant / No Lip / Did You No Wrong / New York / Submission / No Fun / Satellite / Stepping Stone / Bodies / Belsen Was A Gas / Through My Eyes / Liar / Problems / E.M.I / My Way / Anarchy In The UK / God Save The Queen.
The show is taped and filmed by fans in the crowd. The performance of Silver Machine is also available on John Lydon's DVD "Best of British One Pound Notes".
John Lydon hosts an aftershow party
at a club in Wandsworth, South West London.
July 28: The Sex Pistols are featured as People Of The Week in The Sunday Times, with a picture of them drinking tea at Stanbridge Farm. The Caption reads: "Never Mind The Tea Leaves."
July 29: The Daily Star reviews the show: "Pistols still on target. Forget parties at Buck House, the real highlight of the Queen's Golden Jubilee year was at Crystal Palace on Saturday night."
The Independent: "The architects of anti-everything bring a strange sense of belonging to their fans."
The Daily Mail has a large colour picture of John from the gig with a full page review and asks: "He was the snarling face of punk. Now, he hates Blair and the Euro but believes in marriage. Has Johnny Rotten turned Tory?"
The Evening Standard (London) has a colour picture of John Lydon on its cover, a full page feature, and an unflattering gig review: "Pistols pack no punch."
The Daily Telegraph also gives a lukewarm response: "Even Rotten's shirt seemed to be saying sorry."
July 31: www.sex-pistols.net reports: "USA gig. God Save The Sex Pistols has spoken to one of the band regarding the rumours of a possible concert in LA. While there is no smoke without fire, they are not sure themselves at the moment, as with the Pistols, plans can go 'tits up'. "
August 4: The Independent On Sunday carry a positive review of last week's gig with the headline: "Character! Talent! Intelligence!"
August 7: www.sex-pistols.net reports: "Pistols live in California, 14th September. Barring an unforeseen hitch, it's looking increasingly likely that the Pistols will make an appearance at the KROQ Levi's Inland Invasion 2 Festival, playing the 65,000 seater, Blockbuster Pavilion. Also billed are Blink 182, Offspring, Pennywise, Social Distortion, Bad Religion, X, The Damned, Buzzcocks, & others."
The September issue of French magazine Rock & Folk carries a review of the Crystal Palace concert by Géant Vert (exact date of publication unknown).
September 14: Blockbuster Pavillion, Devore (recorded + filmed): Bodies / I Wanna Be Me / Seventeen / New York / No Feelings / Pretty Vacant / Did You No Wrong / Belsen Was A Gas / No Fun / Stepping Stone / Problems / Liar/ E.M.I. / Holidays In The Sun / God Save The Queen / Anarchy In The UK / Silver Machine.
A part of the show appears on the "No Fuckin Way " bootleg LP (AKA47 001 LP).
October 26: The documentary, Classic Albums. The Sex Pistols Never Mind The Bollocks, recorded in the lead up to the Crystal Palace show, debuts on BBC1.
December 1: The Sunday Times has an interview with John Lydon: "Under his tan something Rotten lingers." John reflects on the Crystal Palace gig: "It was the best Pistols show ever." |
