The Sex Pistols Aren't the Only Rock 'n' Roll Band With Their Own Credit Card

Sex Pistols credit cards. The ironic headlines wrote themselves. The British band that embodied rebellion will now grace the front of Virgin Money credit cards and pocket Richard Branson’s money while perhaps encouraging consumers to spend more of theirs.

A critic might be tempted to call it the most dramatic sellout ever, given the Sex Pistols anti-consumerism message, but that would ignore the Country Life butter TV ad that singer John Lydon appeared in several years ago. (Later, bragging about the ad’s success, Lydon told the Guardian newspaper, “It amazes me that people don’t get the opportunity of me … I sell.”

But let’s not pretend this is the first time a famous person has tried to make a buck on plastic. It’s not even the first time a rock band has tried to make a buck by appearing on plastic — far from it.

Back in the mid-1990s the Rolling Stones lent their images to credit cards. KISS, Elvis and Johnny Cash are pictured on credit cards. But then, so is your college, and your favorite professional sports team and…well, just about anything. The image on a credit card really doesn’t mean much, unless it comes with some kind of benefit, like points toward free game tickets. The Sex Pistols credit card comes with a standard interest rate of 18.9% APR and fees, according to the Guardian.

And it’s not just rock ‘n’ roll bands that have their own plastic products. Other music moguls are getting in on the act too. Hip hop star Russell Simmons has the RushCard. Hillary Duff had a card targeting teenagers. Alan Jackson and Reba McEntire have tried to attract the country crowd to prepaid cards.

And then there was Justin Bieber, who back in 2013 hawked a card arguably designed to make it easier for kids to spend their parents’ money. Bieber was paid $3.75 million for a 14-month contract to promote a product that was initially called BillMyParents, but morphed into SpendSmart, according to the New York Times.

With the variety of musical acts getting in on the credit card business, maybe a simple credit card image of the Sex Pistols isn’t the sell-out it might initially appear. Still, the partnership is a bit odd, given that the Sex Pistols actually refused to appear at their own induction to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, calling the institution a…. well, we can’t really write what they called it. Something like bollocks.

Keep in mind that you may be paying extra for a celebrity-sponsored credit cards (they have to pay the celebrity somehow, right?), so keep an eye out for high fees and thoroughly read the card’s terms. Comparing offers can help you determine the best credit card for you. No matter what kind of credit card you’re shopping for, it’s always important to know where your credit stands, since your credit score will play a part in determining whether your application is approved and the interest rates you’ll be granted. You can check your credit scores for free on Credit.com.

Note: It’s important to remember that interest rates, fees and terms for credit cards, loans and other financial products frequently change. As a result, rates, fees and terms for credit cards, loans and other financial products cited in these articles may have changed since the date of publication. Please be sure to verify current rates, fees and terms with credit card issuers, banks or other financial institutions directly.

At publishing time, several RushCard products are offered through Credit.com product pages, and Credit.com is compensated if our users apply and ultimately sign up for this card. However, this relationship does not result in any preferential editorial treatment.