The music publisher EMI has ended its contract with the Sex Pistols punk rock group because of their notorious behaviour in public.
In a statement, the company said: "EMI feels it is unable to promote this group's records in view of the adverse publicity generated over the past two months."
The move follows the group's appearance on ITV's Today programme six weeks ago in which they used strong language.
Malcolm McLaren, Sex Pistols manager | ||||||
|
|
Reports that they had sworn at Heathrow Airport staff and spat at each other while waiting to board a plane for the Netherlands yesterday proved to be the final straw.
EMI broke the news to Pistols manager Malcolm McLaren by telephone this morning. But he denied the contract had been ended by mutual agreement.
In Amsterdam preparing for a series of concerts and recordings, he told the BBC: "That's rubbish. I haven't signed a single paper - as far as I'm concerned, we're still on EMI."
The four-man band - Johnny Rotten, Steve Jones, Paul Cook and Sid Vicious - had only served three months of the two-year contract, worth £40,000, and release one single - Anarchy in the UK.
EMI has also come under pressure to drop the group from the Conservative MP for Christchurch and Lymington, Robert Adley.
Last night, he wrote to the managing director, Sir John Read, saying: "Surely a group of your size and reputation could forgo the doubtful privilege of sponsoring trash like the Sex Pistols."
Asked whether he would sign up another punk rock group, Sir John told the BBC: "Certainly. I am told there is a demand for this style of music and provided we can have groups that don't attract the adverse publicity this group has had, we'll certainly want to be in it."
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
