In 1979, the Sex Pistols shocked, delighted, and scandalized the British public once again, this time with a bawdy, irreverent sea shanty called “Friggin’ in the Riggin’.” Filled with explicit innuendo and defiant mockery, the track managed to chart in the UK Top 5, despite being banned from radio and television. How did such a blatantly rude song not only slip through the cracks of the censors, but also become a national talking point?
The Origins: Punk Meets Pub Singalong
“Friggin’ in the Riggin’” was originally a traditional naval song, passed down through generations of sailors with increasingly obscene verses. The Sex Pistols gave it a punk rock revamp as part of The Great Rock ‘n’ Roll Swindle soundtrack, a post-breakup project orchestrated by manager Malcolm McLaren. With drummer Paul Cook on lead vocals, and Steve Jones driving the irreverent energy, the song was a middle finger to decency, propriety, and the establishment.
The lyrics were lewd, the delivery was rowdy, and the entire package was unapologetically crass. Lines like “her name was Dinah / she almost had a vagina” were hardly subtle. Yet somehow, the song made its way into shops, uncensored.
Why the Censors Missed It
In a twist of irony, “Friggin’ in the Riggin’” evaded official censorship largely due to format and timing. The song was released as the B-side to “Something Else,” and was pressed onto vinyl records, not broadcast. At the time, censors focused their attention on airplay and TV appearances, not what people bought in shops.
Retailers were selling what was legally printed and distributed. There were no radio-friendly edits, because there was no radio play. The BBC and major radio stations flat-out refused to touch it. But this only added to the song’s mystique.
Charting Without Airplay: A Punk Statement
Against all odds, “Friggin’ in the Riggin’” reached No. 3 on the UK Singles Chart in early 1979. This feat was extraordinary, especially for a song that was completely ignored by mainstream broadcasters.
Its success was driven purely by public interest, fans buying the single as an act of rebellion, or simply for a laugh. In an era where punk rock was seen as dangerous and subversive, the Sex Pistols had managed to weaponize vulgarity and use it as a cultural critique. The song’s popularity proved there was an appetite for anti-establishment satire, and people were willing to pay for it, even without the airwaves.
The Aftermath: Punk’s Last Laugh
Though the Sex Pistols had already imploded by the time “Friggin’” charted, the song was one last anarchic hurrah. It embodied everything punk stood for: irreverence, shock value, and a refusal to play by the rules. It didn’t need corporate approval, just enough people willing to be in on the joke.
In the end, “Friggin’ in the Riggin’” wasn’t just a rude joke in musical form, it was a middle finger to censorship itself, sailing gleefully past the gatekeepers with a bottle in hand and no apologies.
Coming next: The Guns of Brixton: The Clash’s Warning Shot Before the Storm.
The Rights of Fans. 