March 16, 2009 10:42

Peter Cook, Dudley Moore AND NME faced 'obscenity' ban

Official papers reveal attempts to banish 'Derek N Clive'

It has been revealed that comedians Peter Cook and Dudley Moore's 'Derek And Clive Live' album was almost banned following official complaints after the pair appeared in NME.

Files released by the National Archives last week (beginning March 9) show that the tapes were banned following complaints from parents of teenagers who read about it – with some suggesting that the article itself should have been banned, reports The Guardian.

The LP was recorded by the pair in New York, and featured sketches including a scenario in which a lobster is removed from a actress Jayne Mansfield's posterior.

The Rolling Stones[/b], [a]Led Zeppelin and The Who were all said to be fans, passing bootlegs of the recording between themselves, before Island Records officially released them in 1976.

According to the newly-released files, a man Dennis Jude complained about the to the then-home secretary, Merlyn Rees, after reading about it in his 14 year-old daughter's copy of NME.

The West Yorkshire obscene publications squad also endorsed a complaint from a further, unnamed parent of an NME reader. A PC Wilson of the West Yorkshire Police added that the article itself should have been banned.

The director of public prosecution did not move to prosecute the comics or the NME – but the BBC banned the album from being aired.

The LP went on to sell over 100,000 copies.