Never Mind the Bollocks Here's the Sex Pistols thumbnail 1
Not on display

Never Mind the Bollocks Here's the Sex Pistols

Artwork
1977 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This is the original artwork for the album Never Mind the Bollocks Here's the Sex Pistols. It was designed by Jamie Reid (1947-2023) and, although seen here in its artwork black and white, the fluorescent colours it was printed in and the title were chosen in order to be noticed and to offend. Malcolm McLaren (1946-2010), manager of the Sex Pistols, has said that, to this end, Reid's "style subverted the spectacle and commodification of every day life by being bolder and more shocking". In November 1977, the Nottingham Virgin record shop was taken to court for displaying the album in its window, because of its 'obscene' name. They were found not guilty when the defending counsel produced expert witnesses who were able to prove that the word 'Bollocks' was an Old English term used to refer to a priest.

Jamie Reid's cut-and-paste aesthetic grew 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, later to become the manager of the Sex Pistols.

Object details

Category
Object type
Titles
  • Never Mind the Bollocks Here's the Sex Pistols (assigned by artist)
  • Jamie Reid archive (named collection)
Materials and techniques
Paper collage on cardboard
Brief description
Artwork by Jamie Reid for sleeve (front cover) of the Sex Pistols album Never Mind the Bollocks Here's the Sex Pistols. Cut paper on card
Physical description
Black typeset print attached to white artboard
Dimensions
  • Height: 336mm (maximum dimension)
  • Lower edge width: 225mm (maximum dimension)
irregular width
Production typeUnique
Marks and inscriptions
NEVER MIND / THE BOLLOCKS / HERE'S THE / SeX PiSTOLS
Production
Attribution note: Original artwork for Never Mind the Bollocks Here's the Sex Pistolsalbum
Subjects depicted
Summary
This is the original artwork for the album Never Mind the Bollocks Here's the Sex Pistols. It was designed by Jamie Reid (1947-2023) and, although seen here in its artwork black and white, the fluorescent colours it was printed in and the title were chosen in order to be noticed and to offend. Malcolm McLaren (1946-2010), manager of the Sex Pistols, has said that, to this end, Reid's "style subverted the spectacle and commodification of every day life by being bolder and more shocking". In November 1977, the Nottingham Virgin record shop was taken to court for displaying the album in its window, because of its 'obscene' name. They were found not guilty when the defending counsel produced expert witnesses who were able to prove that the word 'Bollocks' was an Old English term used to refer to a priest.

Jamie Reid's cut-and-paste aesthetic grew 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, later to become the manager of the Sex Pistols.
Associated object
E.1829-1992 (Object)
Bibliographic reference
Seiler, Burkhardt "The Album Cover Art of Punk!" Collins & Brown Ltd. London 1998
Collection
Accession number
S.863-1990

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Record createdMarch 6, 2003
Record URL
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