Punk rock brand: the Sex Pistols to feature on a range of credit cards

[geardaddy]

Oh boy

http://www.theguardian.com/music/2015/jun/09/punk-rock-brand-the-sex-pistols-to-feature-on-a-range-of-credit-cards
Shoppers may soon be flourishing credit cards featuring the word ‘bollocks’, as Virgin Money harnesses legendary punk band’s aesthetic



They railed against consumerism, but the Sex Pistols will now be helping to oil the wheels of the capitalist machine as the band’s

name and artwork are to feature on a range of credit cards.

Virgin Money, the bank backed by Sir Richard Branson, has launched an series of Sex Pistols credit cards, including two featuring the artwork for the band’s 1977 album Never Mind the Bollocks, Here’s the Sex Pistols, in its full uncensored glory.

A third card features imagery relating to the single Anarchy in the UK.

It is not clear that own-brand credit cards were what John Lydon had in mind when he spat out the line “Your future dream is a shopping scheme” on that debut single, released in November 1976. More recently, he starred in a TV advertising campaign for Country Life butter.

However, Virgin Money said it was “time for consumers to put a little bit of rebellion in their pocket”. Michele Greene, the bank’s director of cards, said: “In launching these cards, we wanted to celebrate Virgin’s heritage and difference. The Sex Pistols challenged convention and the established ways of thinking – just as we are doing today in our quest to shake up UK banking.”

The rest at link.

SMH

[malthaussen]

1. Success is when old revolutionaries are co-opted by the Establishmen.

They didn't sell out, they just sold well.

-- Mal

[HassleCat]

2. Irony

Never mind the high interest. Charge it to the Sex Pistols.

[KingCharlemagne]

3. Coming soon, a Discover Card based on the MC-5 :sarcasm: - nt

[bettyellen]

4. The worst was the Met Museum's punk fashion exhibit.

100K ball gowns with spray paint on them next to a recreation of CBGBs men's room. I used to park my ass in one of those sinks when I was 16 years, lol. Those ball gowns were the worst. Ugh.

[Avalux]

5. Actually, they did not rail against consumerism; they were a creation of it.

Malcolm McLaren, a visual artist and performer - created the band and his version of 'punk' - then he marketed it.

The Sex Pistols were not a bunch of kids with a message until he gave them one, and told them how to dress and sound.

It's only fitting the Sex Pistols will be adorning credit cards.

[geardaddy]

6. That's true.

They were put together by McLaren. I had forgotten about that.

[yallerdawg]

7. That was the perfect irony!

McLaren was a genius!

The great rock 'n roll swindle, yes indeed!

[ProfessorGAC]

9. Exactlly Where I Was Going To Go

They were practically The Monkees of Punk.

[Avalux]

10. Very apt description!

Give me the Dead Kennedys any day.

[Bluenorthwest]

8. The Sex Pistols were a marketing device from the start, constructed by McLaren to sell stuff

This is the perfect fruition of his vision.

[Scurrilous]

11. LOL

Anarchy for the U.K.

It's coming sometime and maybe

I give a wrong time, stop a traffic line.

Your future dream is a shopping scheme

..... .....

... ... ... ...

[Erose999]

12. The Great Rock and Roll Swindle. Now with 18.9% more swindle.

[KamaAina]

13. Oligarchy in the U.K.?

[JEB]

14. How low have the mighty fallen?