John 'Johnny Rotten' Lydon slams "God Save The Queen" re-release

Sex Pistols frontman John Lydon, aka. Johnny Rotten, has slammed plans by Universal Records to re-release notorious Pistols single 'God Save The Queen' to coincide with Queen Elizabeth the Second's forthcoming Diamond Jubilee.

Lydon, quoted by BBC News, had this to say:

It is certainly not my personal plan or aim. I am proud of what The Sex Pistols achieved and always will be but this campaign totally undermines what The Sex Pistols stood for.
This is not my campaign. I am pleased that the Sex Pistols recordings are being put out there for a new generation, however, I wish for no part in the circus that is being built up around it.

For those unfamiliar with the ins and outs of the British monarchy, a Diamond Jubilee occurs when a monarch has been on the throne for sixty years. 'God Save The Queen' was initially released to coincide with the Silver Jubilee in 1977, and re-released to coincide with the Golden Jubilee in 2002. The idea of an elderly woman being on the throne for sixty years is made significantly more amusing when one understands that 'on the throne' is also a, decidedly British, euphemism for sitting on the toilet.

Few can forget the moment, during the Golden Jubilee celebrations, when Queen guitarist Brian May played 'God Save The Queen' (the national anthem, not the Pistols track) atop Buckingham Palace. God knows we've tried. You can click Read More for the video.