6 rock ‘n’ roll hits banned from being played
There’s something about a song being banned that makes it even more sought out (and often popular) as these artists found out. When the radio won’t play it, the fans like it even more. Here are six rock and roll hits that were banned from being played.
Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds
The Beatles
Is the song really about LSD, or was John Lennon telling the truth when he said he was inspired by a painting by his son Julian of his friend Lucy? Either way, the song was banned for perceived drug references.
My Generation
The Who
The famous stutter by Roger Daltrey in the song saw the BBC ban this hit for some time from the radio. The line ‘Why don’t you all f-f-f-fade away’ might apparently offend those with a stutter, and also there may be allusions to another ‘f word’ instead of ‘fade’
God Save the Queen
Sex Pistols
Not only was offence taken about the song’s title, but the artwork and the content itself too. Timed to coincide with the Queen’s Silver Jubilee, the song was written to highlight the divide between everyday people and the royal family.
Puff the Magic Dragon
Peter, Paul and Mary
Once again the possible links to drugs saw this song banned in several countries around the world. Apparently ‘Jackie Paper’ was a joint while the ‘autumn mist’ was the smoke.
Lola
The Kinks
The famous song about a man’s one night rendezvous with a transvestite wasn’t banned due to any problems with the sexual content. In fact it was an issue with the fact that the song specifically mentioned Coca-Cola. The line was later changed to ‘just like cherry cola’ and all was well.
Khe Sanh
Cold Chisel
When Jimmy Barnes sung about women whose ‘legs were always open, but their minds were always closed’ he found his rock hit a victim to the censorship police.
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