The summer of 1977 was a high-water mark for authority-challenging rock, bookended by The Sex Pistols' God Save The Queen, released late in May, and The Rods’ Top 10 smash Do Anything You Wanna Do two months later. It was a sweet vindication for the Canvey Islanders. After enjoying a brief music press tenure as the punk band of the moment under their earlier name Eddie and the Hot Rods, they were quickly ditched in favour of new media favourites the Sex Pistols.
The rivalry between the bands was personal, following a showdown when the Pistols supported them at London’s Marquee club in February 1976. Egged on by manager Malcolm McLaren, Johnny Rotten had attempted to square up to Rods singer Barrie Masters. Masters, a former school boxing champ, was not so easily cowed.
