LAUNCHED: Sex Pistols Credit Cards

So this is an actual thing:

In one of the most unlikely tie-ups for a finance company, Virgin Money today launched a range of Sex Pistols themed credit cards. Sir Richard Branson, Virgin Group founder, says the move celebrates the firm's music heritage given the Sex Pistols were one of the most iconic bands signed by Virgin Records, Branson's record label. The new cards feature infamous 'Never Mind the Bollocks' and 'Anarchy in the UK' artwork. The Sex Pistols signed for Virgin Records in 1977 and released controversial single 'God Save the Queen' during Queen Elizabeth's Silver Jubilee celebrations under the label. In the mid to late seventies, Johnny Rotten (now John Lydon) and Sid Vicious were among the kings of punk. They split after just one studio album and Sid Vicious died of a heroin overdose in 1979.

Perfect for your next holiday in the sun.

(Tipped by JMG reader Lynda)

Pussy Riot - Putin Will Teach You

This is the video being made when they were beaten by Cossacks on Thursday.

With the song and video, Pussy Riot is asking for a boycott of the games, claiming that Putin is restricting human rights. The tune touches on Russia's new federal law prohibiting "gay propaganda" ("50 billion and a gay-driven rainbow/ Rodnina and Kabaeva will pass you those flames/ In prison they will teach you how to obey") as well as the state of Russia during the Olympics ("Sochi is blocked - Olympic surveillance/ Special forces, weapons, crowds of cops"). "The Olympics has turned the police state into a total police state and the authoritarian regime into a totalitarian regime with preventive arrests," collective member Nadezhda Tolokonnikova said at the press conference, according to the Post. "The Olympics has created an environment of sweeping violations of human rights in Russia. We are banned from speaking out here."

Prediction: The #1 Halloween Costume For 2012 Will Be Russia's Pussy Riot

Discuss.

Pussy Riot - Putin Lights Up The Fires

My new neighbors have been playing the new Pussy Riot single nonstop for two days, giving me a respite from the entire Skrillex catalog.

NEW YORK CITY: Six Pussy Riot Protesters Arrested At Russian Consulate

Six supporters of imprisoned Russian punkers Pussy Riot were arrested on Manhattan's Upper East Side yesterday after protesting outside of the Russian consulate.

The protest by about 30 people, several wearing Pussy Riot's signature bright-colored balaclavas, was the latest in a wave of demonstrations around the world supporting the punk rockers sentenced earlier by a Moscow court to two years behind bars. US-based sympathizers gathered outside the Saint Nicholas Russian Orthodox church and the nearby Russian consulate to sing punk songs and wave placards critical of Russian President Vladimir Putin and the powerful Russian church, which has close links to the Kremlin. "Unholy Trinity," one placard read, listing Putin, the judge who presided over the rockers' trial in Moscow, and the Orthodox Church's Patriarch Kirill. I'm here to express my outrage and to spread the word to people who don't know what's going on," said Russian-American Xenia Grubstein, 31, wearing a purple balaclava. The peaceful protest ran into a heavy police presence outside the Russian consulate and at least six people were arrested for blocking traffic or, under an obscure New York law, for wearing face masks, an AFP reporter said.

Those not arrested later joined a larger crowd for a protest in Times Square where the NYPD did not apparently object to their masks.

UKRAINE: Feminists Chainsaw Cross In Protest Of Pussy Riot Conviction

I can't see how this helps.

RUSSIA: Female Punk Band Pussy Riot On Trial For Anti-Putin Protest In Church

Some major Western pop acts such as Katy Perry and Pete Townsend have expressed support for Pussy Riot, whose members have been called "political prisoners" by Amnesty International and whose trial has riveted Russia. The impartiality of the below Russia Today report should be considered when viewing.

There's A New Joey Ramone Album

And Rolling Stone is streaming it today.

Joey Ramone's second solo album ya know? is a posthumous collection of demos and unreleased tunes that the Ramones singer recorded over the last 15 years of his life. The set may have been written and recorded at different times, but it's very cohesive, thanks to the rocker's distinct vision as a songwriter.

So far I'm digging it. But I'm a biased Ramones freak going way back to the 70s.

Bob Mould Rocks Madison Square Garden

At a sold out show at Madison Square Garden, the Foo Fighters invited openly gay rock legend Bob Mould to join them for a jam session which included a cover version of Tom Petty's classic, Breakdown. The audience gave Mould a rousing welcome.

Swag Tuesday

Courtesy of the publisher, today's Swag Tuesday prize is the new autobiography from punk pioneer turned openly gay nightlife kingpin, Bob Mould. See A Little Light: The Trail Of Rage And Melody is available nationwide now on multiple formats.

From the start, Mould wanted to make Hüsker Dü the greatest band in the world - faster and louder than the hardcore standard, but with melody and emotional depth. In SEE A LITTLE LIGHT, Mould finally tells the story of how the anger and passion of the early hardcore scene blended with his own formidable musicianship and irrepressible drive to produce some of the most important and influential music of the late 20th century. For the first time, Mould tells his dramatic story, opening up to describe life inside that furnace and beyond. Revealing the struggles with his own homosexuality, the complexities of his intimate relationships, as well as his own drug and alcohol addiction, Mould takes us on a whirlwind ride through achieving sobriety, his acclaimed solo career, creating the hit band Sugar, a surprising detour into the world of pro wrestling, and most of all, finally finding his place in the world. A classic story of individualism and persistence, Mould's autobiography is an open account of the rich history of one of the most revered figures of punk, whose driving force altered the shape of American music.

Enter to win a copy of See A Little Light by commenting on this post. Only enter once and please remember to leave your email address in the text of your entry. Entries close at midnight on Thursday, west coast time. Publicists: If you'd like to take part in Swag Tuesday on JMG, please email me.

RELATED: This Thursday, Bob Mould will appear at the 92nd Street Y in Manhattan for special combined evening of readings from his book and performances from his lengthy catalog.

Punk Singer Poly Styrene Dies At 53

Poly Styrene, lead singer of the seminal 70's British punk band X-Ray Specs, has died of breast cancer at the age of 53. The band was best known for their hit single Oh Bondage, Up Yours, but I always liked the below track, which I believe was one of the first import 45s I ever bought. Only two months ago Styrene released her long-awaited comeback single, Virtual Boyfriend.

Tonight: Henry Rollins Guest Judges On RuPaul's Drag Race

Even if you aren't a regular viewer of RuPaul's Drag Race, you may want to set your DVR for tonight's episode when Henry Rollins guest judges.

Ch-Ch-Ch-Ch-Ch Cherry Bomb

I'll admit I'm quite skeptical about the coming Runaways biopic. But holy crap, this cast cover of their 1976 proto-punk classic Cherry Bomb totally does NOT suck. Just true enough to the original and different enough too. Dakota Fanning, who knew? (Yes, I was rocking the original on 8-track in my '73 Lemans. Suck it, kiddies.)

Author Jim Carroll Dies At 60

Best-selling author and early punk singer Jim Carroll died in NYC on Friday at the age of 60.

Carroll, who wrote 'The Basketball Diaries', died on Friday at his Manhattan home, his former wife Rosemary Carroll confirmed. A heroin addict at 13, Carroll documented his teenage years in 'The Basketball Diaries', which was originally published in 1978 and turned into a film starring Leonardo DiCaprio in 1995. As well as being revered as a writer, Carroll was embraced by the late 1970s New York punk scene, becoming a punk poet and starting his own band (The Jim Carroll Band) at the behest of Patti Smith.

Carroll's 1980 album, Catholic Boy, got a lot of play at my house.

80's Flashback

Black Flag, TV Party, 1982. I never got into very many American punk bands other than the original, The Ramones. (Unless you consider X to be punk.) But the presence of Henry Rollins made Black Flag a notable exception, especially for their funnier numbers like TV Party. I love the roll call of 80's television shows: That's Incredible! Hill Street Blues! Dallas! Anybody remember Emilio Estevez singing TV Party in Repo Man?