Illustrated throughout with rare photographs and memorabilia, The
Anarchy Tour tells the story of why the 'Anarchy in the UK Tour' was
so important, examining along the way punk rock's impact on the nation
in the Seventies. In December 1976, a coach drove off down a London
street. On board were the Sex Pistols, The Clash, The Heartbreakers and
their respective management, while The Damned, who were also on the
bill, were travelling separately.The 'Anarchy in the UK Tour' should
have been just another rock 'n' roll tour, and surely would have been,
had it not been for the Sex Pistols' anarchic antics on the Today show
two days earlier. What should have been an inconsequential three-minute
interview to hopefully plug the new single, and the accompanying
promotional tour, descended into farce when the show's host Bill Grundy
goaded the Sex Pistols' guitarist Steve Jones into saying something
outrageous. The Anarchy Tour explains why many local councils
banned the tour resulting in only seven out of a scheduled twenty gigs
taking place. One London councilor stated: "Most of these groups would
be vastly improved by sudden death"Author Mick O' Shea has
interviewed members of the band's involved, managers, roadies and
audience members to tell the story of why this was such an important
tour.
