EXCLUSIVE: Sex Pistols heading for Number One 45 years after originally being denied top spot

The Sex Pistols are Number One in the chart race with the re-issue of God Save the Queen exactly 45 years to the day that the punk band were kept off the top spot after its original release in 1977

The Sex Pistols ' controversial song God Save the Queen is the biggest selling single of the day as music fans go crazy over the Platinum Jubilee weekend.

It was originally released by the band in 1977 to coincide with the Queen 's Silver Jubilee celebrations that year, reaching Number 2 on the Official UK Singles chart at the time.

The track however was given a special re-issue yesterday (June 3) amid the latest milestone by the monarch - with it hoped that it may finally get to top the charts this time.

The original was banned by the BBC at the time but reached Number 1 on the UK's NME chart, despite not securing the same position on the Official UK Singles chart.

The Sex Pistols' originally released God Save the Queen in the 1970s 

It led to accusations that the song was purposely kept off the top spot and, for the only time in chart history, the track was listed as a blank, to avoid offence to the establishment.

If the re-issued song maintains its sales then it could claim the top spot next week - with today interestingly marking 45 years to the day that it was kept off the summit.

The band's guitarist Steve Jones, 66, previously said of the 1977 song: "I've never had any connection to the monarchy, to be honest. It meant nothing to me, still doesn't."