Scarce original color ‘glossy’ 39.5 x 27.25 Virgin Records promotional poster for the Sex Pistols mockumentary film and soundtrack for The Great Rock 'n' Roll Swindle, which was released two years after the band broke up. Designed by Jamie Reid, the poster is a parody of an American Express credit card that contains textual commentary attacking the music industry and lines pointing to areas of the card like Sex Pistols (“The Artist (The Prostitute)”) and Virgin Records (“The Record Company (The Pimp)”). The upper border features the motto: “Young Flesh Required.” Rolled and in fine condition, with some creases, a few scuffs, and light edgewear.
The poster aligned with the packaging of the 45 RPM single of the title song, which also featured this credit card parody. Reid later said that he was ‘trying to explain what the real relationships within the music industry are; just seeing the record company as nothing more than a huge pimp and the band as prostitutes.’ Amex ultimately sued Virgin, with Richard Branson retorting: ‘I shall not be using my American Express card much this week.’ According to 'Satellite,’ both the poster and single were subsequently withdrawn from circulation and the unissued copies were destroyed after a court judgment favored American Express.
The Great Rock 'n' Roll Swindle is a mockumentary film directed by Julien Temple about the British punk rock band Sex Pistols. The movie tells a stylized fictional account of the formation, rise, and subsequent breakup of the band, from the point of view of their then-manager Malcolm McLaren. The footage was filmed in early to mid-1978, between singer John Lydon's departure from the band and their subsequent split. Lydon (who is listed in the credits as ‘The Collaborator’) and early bass guitarist Glen Matlock only appear in archive footage; Lydon refused to have anything to do with the production.
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