Rich M is generally right but is slightly wrong about the details. The Pistols signed with EMI in 1976 and were on the label long enough to record and release the 45 rpm version of "Anarchy in the UK". Then came the infamous appearance on Bill Grundy's TV show, just after "Anarchy" was released. In the wake of the controversy over that appearnce, EMI got cold feet and dropped the band and withdrew the single.
That's why original EMI pressings of the "Anarchy" are a valued rarity, and I think it also explains all the lines about "unlimited supply" in the lyrics. One thing that characterized the early days of punk was a fetish for limited-edition releases (on pink vinyl, etc.). But the most limited edition of them all was the initial pressing of "Anarchy" on EMI. Lydon's song is in part a sarcastic commentary on this, since the song itself is now available to everybody on the same album that contains "EMI".
Between EMI and Virgin, they were on A&M for about a day, which explains the reference to that label in the song.
Rich M is generally right but is slightly wrong about the details. The Pistols signed with EMI in 1976 and were on the label long enough to record and release the 45 rpm version of "Anarchy in the UK". Then came the infamous appearance on Bill Grundy's TV show, just after "Anarchy" was released. In the wake of the controversy over that appearnce, EMI got cold feet and dropped the band and withdrew the single.
That's why original EMI pressings of the "Anarchy" are a valued rarity, and I think it also explains all the lines about "unlimited supply" in the lyrics. One thing that characterized the early days of punk was a fetish for limited-edition releases (on pink vinyl, etc.). But the most limited edition of them all was the initial pressing of "Anarchy" on EMI. Lydon's song is in part a sarcastic commentary on this, since the song itself is now available to everybody on the same album that contains "EMI".
Between EMI and Virgin, they were on A&M for about a day, which explains the reference to that label in the song.