Sex Pistols may mark royal jubilee

The group's John Lydon, originally known as "Johnny Rotten"

LONDON, England -- Punk godfathers The Sex Pistols may reform to mark the British monarch's Golden Jubilee.

It was 25 years ago that the punk rockers scandalised British society as their anti-royal hit single "God Save the Queen" threatened to overshadow what was then Queen Elizabeth's Silver Jubilee.

The controversial single, whose front cover bore an illustration of the Queen with a safety pin through her nose, rocketed to number one in the charts despite being banned by the BBC.

Despised by the establishment for their anarchist theme, the band famously was arrested as they performed on a Thames riverboat on the day of the Queen's 25th anniversary celebration.

If the band decides to accept offers to reform next year, the gigs would take place on June 3 when the queen will celebrate 50 years on the throne.

"I can confirm I've been approached by a number of separate parties offering substantial sums of money for the Sex Pistols to regroup," promoter John Giddings, who organised the group's last UK tour in 1996, told Reuters.

He said the decision depended on whether band members can free up their schedules to perform on the Jubilee date.

The group rocketed to fame in 1976 with their debut single "Anarchy In The UK."

This was given massive publicity after an interview with Bill Grundy of Thames TV's "Today" programme, where they unleashed a string of expletives live on air.

Later works like "Pretty Vacant" and the LP "Never Mind the Bollocks" confirmed their huge pop status.

Two figures in the group became legends -- John Lydon, known as "Johnny Rotten" not because of his attitude but, according to Rolling Stone, this was his nickname due to the state of his teeth.

Bassist Sid Vicious (John Simon Ritchie) hit the headlines for the wrong reasons.

In October 1978 Sid's girlfriend Nancy Spungen was found dead in the couple's New York hotel room, and Sid was jailed for the murder. He was released on bail but died from a heroin overdose on February 2nd 1979 whilst awaiting the murder trial.

The Sex Pistols last played together at the Phoenix Festival in 1996 with original bassist Glenn Matlock replacing Vicious.