Holidays In The Sun

Album: Never Mind The Bollocks, Here's The Sex Pistols (1977)
Charted: 8
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • After getting hit with a great deal of negative publicity back home in London, The Sex Pistols felt like they had been trapped in a prison camp environment, so they decamped to the Channel Island of Jersey. The group was so notorious, they couldn't find a place to stay. Steve Jones and Paul Cook returned to England, but John Lydon and Sid Vicious continued on to Berlin, where they spent two weeks. The lyric was inspired by this trip, including their views over the Berlin Wall into communist East Berlin.
  • The opening riff bears a resemblance to The Jam's "In The City." Paul Weller of The Jam in the Uncut August 2007 issue confirmed he had a scrap with Sid Vicious in the Speakeasy Club over this song: "He started it and I finished it. I don't know if anyone can claim any victory. He just came up to me and he was going on about 'Holidays In The Sun' where they'd nicked the riff from 'In The City.' I didn't mind them nicking it - you've got to get your ideas from somewhere, haven't you? Anyway, he just came up and nutted me. So I returned it."

Comments: 3

  • Margie from St. Louis, MoOne of their best songs.
  • Mike from Matawan, NjThey're ALL phucking amazing on NMTB's. It still has a great raw edge to it over 30 years later. A fantastic snap shot of a particular time and place in not just rock but the Western World.
  • Sheeberson from Wrightsville Beach, Ncno comments? REALLY? this song is sooooooooooo amazing! i cant believe im the first one to comment... probably the best song on the album (at least in my opinion)
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Harold Brown of War

Harold Brown of WarSongwriter Interviews

A founding member of the band War, Harold gives a first-person account of one of the most important periods in music history.

Have Mercy! It's Wolfman Jack

Have Mercy! It's Wolfman JackSong Writing

The story of the legendary lupine DJ through the songs he inspired.

Wherefore Art Thou Romeo Lyric

Wherefore Art Thou Romeo LyricMusic Quiz

In this quiz, spot the artist who put Romeo into a song lyric.

A Monster Ate My Red Two: Sesame Street's Greatest Song Spoofs

A Monster Ate My Red Two: Sesame Street's Greatest Song SpoofsSong Writing

When singers started spoofing their own songs on Sesame Street, the results were both educational and hilarious - here are the best of them.

Devo

DevoSongwriter Interviews

Devo founders Mark Mothersbaugh and Jerry Casale take us into their world of subversive performance art. They may be right about the De-Evoloution thing.

Dave Mason

Dave MasonSongwriter Interviews

Dave reveals the inspiration for "Feelin' Alright" and explains how the first song he ever wrote became the biggest hit for his band Traffic.