A gig cancellation that created musical folklore

Instead of playing Dundee, band swore on live television

It is perhaps the most famous Dundee gig that never was – a cancellation that was to change the face of music history in the UK.

In the week tickets went on sale for John Lydon’s return to Dundee with Public Image Ltd, memories have been stirred of the Caird Hall cancellation that will forever take its place in music folklore.

Having been due to play the venue, the band instead made one of the most infamous TV appearances of all time.

The band’s first single Anarchy in the UK was due for release on November 26 1976 and manager Malcolm McLaren put together a tour to promote the record, which would include a second gig in Dundee on December 1.

However, when Queen pulled out of making an appearance on Thames Today on December 1, the London evening TV show presented by Bill Grundy, a plugger suggested the Pistols as a substitute on the tea time show.

McLaren thought the publicity generated by live TV was too good to turn down and a limousine was sent for the band and the Caird Hall gig hastily rescheduled for later in December.

On live TV guitarist Steve Jones responded to Bill Grundy’s dare that he say “something outrageous” with a fourletter word and turned the air blue.

EMI withdrew the single and shortly afterwards fired the band. The infamy that surrounded the Pistols as a result of the Today show turned them into stars.

McLaren later said the interview was a “pivotal moment that changed everything” and “punk became the most important cultural phenomenon of the late 20th Century”.

Former Dundee DJ Pat Kelly said: “I do recall the outcry when they swore on TV and the media were on their case.

“They lost work but gained financially when EMI Records dropped them.

“However, Virgin came in and signed them and the rest was history.

“Dundee Corporation was frightened that the Caird Hall would not be in one piece if they allowed them to perform the rescheduled date so they dutifully cancelled their booking.”

Picture: Getty Images. John Lydon, in his days as Johnny Rotten, on stage with the Sex Pistols in 1976, when they made their infamous swearing appearance on live TV instead of playing Dundee.