Grundy became infamous in a matter of two minutes due to an incident that occurred when the punk band Sex Pistols and their entourage appeared at short notice on the Today show of December 1, 1976. They were a last minute stand-in for Queen, who were forced to cancel. The Today show was broadcast during daytime hours, at a time when bad language was forbidden.

Grundy proceeded to introduce and provoke the band, with tongue firmly in cheek. He joked that he was under the influence as he introduced them - “…they are as drunk as I am!”. Steve Jones when asked by Grundy what the band had done with the several thousand pounds given to them by their record company said: “Fuckin’ spent it” which was apparently not noticed by Grundy at the time. This was followed by two more uses of the word ‘fuck’ by Jones (only the fourth and fifth occurrences of this ever on British Television), following this Johnny Rotten muttered the word “shit” under his breath, but then mumbled an apology. Grundy insisted that Lydon repeat what he had said and then responded mockingly when Lydon complied.

Next, Grundy jokingly began to “chat up” Siouxsie Sioux, who appeared as part of the band’s entourage, by saying “let’s meet afterwards shall we?” The show went downhill from there. Steve Jones responded by calling Grundy a “dirty sod”, a “dirty old man” and “you dirty bastard”. Grundy further goaded Jones to “say something outrageous”, a challenge Jones was ready to meet. He called Grundy a “dirty fucker” (to which Grundy mockingly responded “what a clever boy”) and finally proclaimed “what a fucking rotter”. As the show ended, Grundy could be seen saying “oh shit” as the credits rolled and as the band began dancing to the closing theme.

Although Today was only shown in the London ITV region, it became a national story due to coverage and comment by the tabloid press. As a result, Grundy was suspended for two weeks and Today was axed two months later.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_Grundy

The Filth and the Fury

BY ROGER EBERT / April 7, 2000

At the height of their fame, the Sex Pistols inspired a London city councilor to observe, “Most of these guys would be much improved by sudden death.” In a decade when England was racked by unemployment, strikes and unrest, its season of discontent had a soundtrack by the Pistols. They sang of “Anarchy in the U.K.,” and their song “God Save the Queen (She Ain’t No Human Being)” rose to No. 1 on the hit charts–but the record industry refused to list it. In “The Filth and the Fury,” a hard-edged new documentary about the Pistols, we see a Top 10 chart with a blank space for No. 1. Better than being listed, Johnny Rotten grinned.

The saga of the Sex Pistols is told for the third time in “The Filth and the Fury.” Not bad for a band that symbolized punk rock but lasted less than two years, fought constantly, insulted the press, spit on their fans, were banned from TV, were fired by one record company 24 hours after being signed, released only one album, pushed safety pins through noses and ear lobes to more or less invent body piercing, broke up during a tour of the United States, and saw front man Sid Vicious accused of murdering his girlfriend and dying of a drug overdose.

[…]

http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20000407/REVIEWS/4070301/1023

Punk single ‘has most influence’

The Sex Pistols’ Anarchy in the UK has been named the most influential record of the 1970s in a magazine poll.

[…]

The classic punk single provoked outrage when released in November 1976.

A Q spokesman said the Sex Pistols spawned “a whole new musical movement which will continue to inspire musicians for generations to come”.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/3511145.stm

Sex Pistols snub US Hall of Fame

Punk band the Sex Pistols have refused to attend their own induction into the US Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

In a handwritten note posted on their website, they called the institution “urine in wine”.

“We’re not your monkeys, we’re not coming. You’re not paying attention,” continued the statement.

[…]

The group’s letter acknowledged that the organisation’s judges are anonymous, but denounced them as “music industry people”.

Pistols lead singer Johnny Rotten once famously derided the rock ‘n’ roll institution as “a place where old rockers go to die”, dubbing it the “Rock and Roll Hall of Shame”.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/4750262.stm