The Great Rock ‘n’ Roll Swindle
Lead singer audition recorded august 1978.
The name goes on.... In August the band got around to auditioning a new singer. Adjoining to a London theater, participants were given a pre-recorded backing track of this song and left for a few hours to figure out how best to add their vocal contributions. The next day, with Sid in attendance to spur them on, the four or five finalists were asked back to do it again, this time with tape rolling. Their efforts were then edited together to form the master take of the title track of the Pistols’ next project. Eddie Tudor-Pole, AKA Tenpole Tudor, won the slot by specifically not trying to be Johnny Rotten.
Rare ending: This is the American Express lawyer's telephone message which is on the end of the A Side of the rare editions of The Great Rock 'n' Roll Swindle. This is followed by the "Cha-Ching" sound effects which follows the song on "Flogging A Dead Horse"
Lyrics:
People said we couldn't play
They called us foul-mouthed yobs
But the only notes that really count
Are the ones that come in wads
They all drowned when the air turned blue
Cause we didn't give a toss
Filthy lucre, ain't nothin new
But we all get cash from the chaos
The time is right to do it now
The greatest rock and roll swindle
The time is right to do it now
E.M.I. said you are out of hand
And they gave us the boot
But they couldn't sack us, just like that
Without giving us the loot
Thank you kindly A & M
They said we were out of bounds
But that ain't bad for two weeks work
At 75,000 pounds
The time is right to do it now
The greatest rock and roll swindle
The time is right to do it now
I just want to play with my band
Are you good enough for me
Hi'ya boys I'm the chosen one
Can't-cha fuckin see
I'm a jealous god and I want everything
And I love you with a knife
I'll take you, if you're ready for me
I'll give you my life
The time is right to do it now
The greatest rock and roll swindle
The time is right to do it now
The time is right to do it now
The greatest rock and roll swindle
The time is right to do it now
The time is right for Nickey's Special
The greatest rock and roll star
The time is right for me now
I kill
Elvis Presley died in 1959
Chuck Berry you're a big ugly fucker
Ian Dury Cockney Fraud
Mick Jagger white nigga
Bob Dylan got a parking ticket stuck to his assehole
David Bowie you are a bloody cunt
Malcolm Mc
Rod Stewart‘s got a luggage label tied to his tonsils
Elton John hair transplant
Sid Vicious Rock and Roll Cliché
Paul Cook bare bones
Johnny Rotten-ah his days are even numbered
Rock and roll swindle
Swindle
It's a swindle!