The Beatles - Lucy in the Sky
with Diamonds
the_beatles-lucy_in_the_sky_with_diamonds,banned_song,banned_music,banned_music_video,music,ban_music,banned_from_radio,banned_from_television
The Beatles
The 1967 album \'Sgt Pepper\'s Lonely Hearts Club Band\' caused a stir when critics started picking out psychedelic references in the songs. \'Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds\' was banned on the BBC - the song title was widely thought to be a code for LSD. John Lennon and Ringo Starr argued that it was based on a picture drawn by Lennon\'s son, Julian. The last track \'A day in the life\' was also banned for allegedly referring to LSD and marijuana use
Paul McCartney - Give Ireland Back
to the Irish
banned_song,banned_music,banned_music_video,music,ban_music,banned_from_radio,banned_from_television,paul_mccartney-give_ireland_back_to_the_irish
Sir Paul McCartney
McCartney and Wings weren\'t in favour with this song, following the events of Bloody Sunday in 1972. It was not only banned by the BBC but also Radio Luxembourg and the Independent Television Authority. The Radio 1 show \'Pick of the Pops\' referred to it as \'a record by the group Wings\', failing to mention Paul at all!
Fatboy Slim - F**king in Heaven
banned_song,banned_music,banned_music_video,music,ban_music,banned_from_radio,banned_from_television,fatboy_slim_-_f**king_in_heaven
Fat Boy Slim
Before the BBC started bleeping out swear words in songs, any artist who chose to swear was simply not broadcast. Would have worked a treat on the likes of Fatboy Slim, who decided to use the F-word 108 times on one track!
The Prodigy - Smack my Bitch Up
banned_song,banned_music,banned_music_video,music,ban_music,banned_from_radio,banned_from_television,the_prodigy_-_smack_my_bitch_up
prodigy
This time the BBC swooped down on inciting violence to women. The final single from their album \'Fat of the Land\' was aired but only after all the lyrics had been removed. Meanwhile the video was universally banned from television but following massive demand, MTV showed it, after midnight and after an MTV news warning
Frankie Goes to Hollywood - Relax
banned_song,banned_music,banned_music_video,music,ban_music,banned_from_radio,banned_from_television,frankie_goes_to_hollywood_-_relax
Frankie Goes to Hollywood
This was the band\'s debut single - and it was banned while at number six in the charts. On 5 January 1984 the group from Liverpool made it onto \'Top of the Pops\' and launched themselves to fame. Eight days later Radio One DJ Mike Read decided to listen a little more intently to the lyrics and described it as \'obscene\'. The BBC followed Mike\'s lead and banned the song and video from TV and Radio
Serge Gainsbourg - Je T\'Aime,
Moi Non Plus
Europe,music
jane birkin getty photo
Despite being sung entirely in French, it was the orgasmic sighs and moans from British actress Jane Birkin that, even in the height of the swinging \'60s, proved too much for the BBC. Lyrics such as \'Je vais et je viens, entre tes reins\' or \'I come and I go, in between your hips\' struck a chord with the sexual revolutionaries in the \'60s and put the track at number one in the charts
The Cure - Killing an Arab
banned_song,banned_music,banned_music_video,music,ban_music,banned_from_radio,banned_from_television,the_cure_-_killing_an_arab
The Cure
Not surprisingly, during the Gulf War in 1990 quite a few songs were banned. The BBC was clearly looking out for the sensitive ears of their Arabic counterparts, with Little Angels\' \'Bone Yard\' banned as well. However the Beeb, keen to avoid belittling their troops, also listed John Lennon\'s \'Give Peace a Chance\' and \'Imagine\' as songs unsuitable to play during the war
The Stranglers - Peaches
banned_song,banned_music,banned_music_video,music,ban_music,banned_from_radio,banned_from_television,the_stranglers_-_peaches
The Stranglers
With Hugh Cornwell\'s lecherous deep voice assessing girls as he walks down a beach and the most recognisable bass riff in rock history, The Stranglers were punk rockers just asking for a ban. Considered by the BBC as \'girl baiting\' they got it, but \'Peaches\' was still a 1977 hit and a close rival to the Sex Pistols\' \'God Save the Queen\'
Sex Pistols - God Save the Queen
banned_song,banned_music,banned_music_video,music,ban_music,banned_from_radio,banned_from_television,sex_pistols_-_god_save_the_queen
Johnny Rotten
Did you think we\'d forgotten? Of course the classic anarchist\'s anthem was banned. Pure punk, The Sex Pistols released \'God Save the Queen\' in May 1977, the year of the Queen\'s Jubilee. The BBC didn\'t want any of this anti-monarchist music on their waves and it was banned from local and national radio. Still the ban only generated more support from the Sex Pistols\' rebellious fans. On the day of the jubilee the track reached number two in the charts
Off-screen moments
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Ron Mael - The Sparks
As Sparks missed out on BBC airplay in September just because of the title of their new single, we take a look back through rock and pop history to find the other rebellious musicians who\'ve been banned by the Beeb
Pick your favourite BBC banned artist
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kate
vote
Sparks - Dick Around
banned_song,banned_music,banned_music_video,music,ban_music,banned_from_radio,banned_from_television,sparks _-_dick_around
the sparks
In September Ron Mael accused the BBC of killing off the Sparks\' new single \'Dick Around\' after BBC London breakfast show host Jono Coleman was told he was not allowed to play the single on air. Ron called the objections \'childish\' saying the title was \'an innocent reference to the idle life\'. The duo were about to walk out of the studio but eventually stayed to discuss the decision to ban
