The Sex Pistols released their classic track “God Save the Queen” in the U.K. on May 27, 1977. The track was released as a single from their only full studio release, “Never Mind the Bollocks, Here’s the Sex Pistols.” The song’s release was planned by manager Malcolm McLaren to coincide with Queen Elizabeth II’s Silver Jubilee, which occurred on June 7, 1977. McLaren planned a controversial performance of the track by the band on that day from a floating raft in the middle of the Thames. The performance was ultimately shut down by authorities. Johnny Rotten later explained that the track was inspired by class division in the U.K., saying:"You don't write a song like 'God Save The Queen' because you hate the English race. You write a song like that because you love them, and you're fed up of seeing them mistreated,” he said on his official website.