Signs of the time, or sign of the end? Virgin Money – and did you know that Richard Branson also had a bank? – has launched a new series of credit cards, decorated with the Sex Pistols’ imagery and logo, including a few featuring the artwork for the band’s 1997 ‘Never Mind the Bollocks, Here’s the Sex Pistols’ and the single ‘Anarchy in the UK’… Because when I think anarchy, I think about banks? It sounds like a blasphemous joke invented by the Onion, but it ain’t one!
Weren’t the Sex Pistols screaming anti-capitalism, anti-consumerism anthems? What happened to lyrics addressing economic frustration and social alienation for youths? How did John Lydon let this happen? Was he even consulted? But yeah, I forgot, as the Guardian points out, Lydon starred in a TV campaign for Country Life Butter, killing once again what was left of punk…
In a statement Michele Greene, the bank’s director of cards, declared: ‘In launching these cards, we wanted to celebrate Virgin’s heritage and difference. The Sex Pistols challenged convention and the established ways of thinking – just as we are doing today in our quest to shake up UK banking.’… it was ‘time for consumers to put a little bit of rebellion in their pocket,’ she added.
Oh yeah! What revolution are they talking about when the cards have a representative interest rate of 18.9% APR? What are they trying to sell us? This is just a piece of plastic with the Sex Pistols logo on it to better steal our money… It’s sad but it was predictable, the establishment has bought every imagery which was rebelling against the system, we have seen the branding of everything, killed the last rebel, and everything is safe except our bank accounts. What’s next the famous Pettibon Black Flag logo on Walmart gift cards?
‘There is no future in England’s dreaming, No future for you, no future for me’… yes, really!