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Not currently on display at the V&A

Jamie Reid archive

Artwork
1979 (designed)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This is the original artwork for the back cover of the Sex Pistols single C'mon Everybody, designed by Jamie Reid (b. 1947). This was the forth single released in order to promote the Sex Pistols movie, The Great Rock n Roll Swindle in 1979, and was released months after bassist Sid Vicious's death and the break-up of the band. Vicious had ostensibly become the front man of the outfit, after Johnny Rotten, the previous singer, had split the band up in January 1978. McLaren, the band's manager, wanted to carry on with Vicious as singer. Vicious recorded two covers of songs by 1950s rock 'n' roll star Eddie Cochran, one of which was this single, C'mon Everybody. Following this Vicious would have nothing more to do with McLaren. The b-side of the record, GSTQ, was an orchestral version of the Pistols' God Save the Queen.

The photographic image is a photo from the filming of The Great Rock 'n' Roll Swindle, in which an effigy of the band is being burnt. Reid wasn't happy with the film, and the text alongside was written with McLaren to try and explain their intentions in the work they did with the Pistols, in a semi eulogy.
It also showcases Jamie Reid's cut-and-paste aesthetic, developed from his interest in radical politics. His artistic style developed while at art college in Croydon, where he was influenced by the ideas of the avant-garde political group, the Situationist International. The political slant to his art was aroused by the May 1968 Paris student riots, which inspired fraternal protests organised by Reid at the Croydon College of Art. These were directed with fellow student Malcolm McLaren, who would later become the manager of the Sex Pistols.


Object details

Category
Object type
TitleJamie Reid archive (named collection)
Materials and techniques
ink and collage on paper and transparency
Brief description
Original artwork for back cover of Sex Pistols single, 'C'mon Everybody', from 1979.
Physical description
Torn photographic image of people around a bonfire, with a man holding up a guitar. On the right hand side are strips of white paper, with a hand written eulogy to the Sex Pistols on a red background, on artboard. Above is a transparent cell, with some collage pieces on. A tracing paper sheet is above this, with illustration and written detail for the printers. This is covered with a blue protective paper sheet.
Dimensions
  • Height: 33cm
  • Width: 32.7cm
  • With cover open height: 66cm
Marks and inscriptions
  • The God Save The Queen Symphony / ROT 'N' ROLL / THE SEX PISTOLS ARE AN UNDOUBTED SUCCESS / BASED ON AN IDEA CALLED PUNK ROCK, WHICH / SETS OUT TO TRAIL BLAZE A PATH OF ANARCHY AND / RUIN WITHIN A CULTURE THAT CHOOSES TO DESTROY / US BY MAKING OUR DECISIONS FOR US. / PUNK ROCKS CAUSE IS TO CREATE AS MUCH FUSS, / HAVOC, EXCITMENT AS POSSIBLE / CRIME PAYS US. / PUNK'S SLOGANS ARE - CASH FROM CHAOS - / - BELIEVE IN THE RUINS - NEVER TRUST A HIPPIE - / - ANARCHY IS THE KEY, DO IT YOURSELF IS THE MELODY - / - IN OTHER WORDS, ROT 'N' ROLL. / THE MEDIA WAS OUR HELPER AND LOVER AND THAT / IN EFFECT WAS THE SEX PISTOLS SUCCESS. / AS TODAY TO CONTROL THE MEDIA IS TO HAVE THE / POWER OF GOVERNMENT, GOD, OR BOTH. / IT IS ALL THAT MATTERS TO EXPLAIN OUR GREAT / ROCK 'N' ROLL SWINDLE. A TRUE SWINDLE OF IDEAS / THAT GIVES YOU BACK YOUR RIGHT TO DECIDE / FOR YOURSELF. / WaTCHa GOnnA DO ABOUT IT
  • Transliteration
Subjects depicted
Summary
This is the original artwork for the back cover of the Sex Pistols single C'mon Everybody, designed by Jamie Reid (b. 1947). This was the forth single released in order to promote the Sex Pistols movie, The Great Rock n Roll Swindle in 1979, and was released months after bassist Sid Vicious's death and the break-up of the band. Vicious had ostensibly become the front man of the outfit, after Johnny Rotten, the previous singer, had split the band up in January 1978. McLaren, the band's manager, wanted to carry on with Vicious as singer. Vicious recorded two covers of songs by 1950s rock 'n' roll star Eddie Cochran, one of which was this single, C'mon Everybody. Following this Vicious would have nothing more to do with McLaren. The b-side of the record, GSTQ, was an orchestral version of the Pistols' God Save the Queen.

The photographic image is a photo from the filming of The Great Rock 'n' Roll Swindle, in which an effigy of the band is being burnt. Reid wasn't happy with the film, and the text alongside was written with McLaren to try and explain their intentions in the work they did with the Pistols, in a semi eulogy.
It also showcases Jamie Reid's cut-and-paste aesthetic, developed from his interest in radical politics. His artistic style developed while at art college in Croydon, where he was influenced by the ideas of the avant-garde political group, the Situationist International. The political slant to his art was aroused by the May 1968 Paris student riots, which inspired fraternal protests organised by Reid at the Croydon College of Art. These were directed with fellow student Malcolm McLaren, who would later become the manager of the Sex Pistols.
Associated object
S.886-1990 (Object)
Collection
Accession number
S.855-1990

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Record createdMay 12, 2009
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