In 1977, British television and radio banned the Sex Pistols’ single, God Save The Queen. It sold 100,000 copies. It’s a critical and rebellious song aimed at the British monarchy and Queen Elizabeth II. The song caused controversy due to its anti-establishment lyrics. Virgin Records released the album that November. Never Mind the Bollocks, Here’s the Sex Pistols was the only studio album from the Sex Pistols. The band imploded.

To put Mike’s mind at ease, Richard offered to take him for a drive in his Bentley. They drove past the Queen Elizabeth Hall when Richard slowed down. There were Mike Oldfield posters everywhere. A crowd of people were making their way to the concert. Richard stopped the car. “Do you want to drive?” he asked. He knew Mike loved that car. “Alright,” Mike agreed. Mike drove Richard’s Bentley further. Then Richard asked, “Would you like to have this car as a present?” “A present?” Mike wondered....

“The music business is a strange combination of having real and intangible assets. Pop bands are brand names in themselves. At different stages in their careers, their name alone can practically guarantee hit records. It’s also an industry where the very few successful bands are very, very rich, and the bulk of bands remain obscure and impoverished. The rock business is a prime example of the most ruthless kind of capitalism.” – Richard Branson, Losing and Finding My Virginity: The Full Story...

Virgin Mail Order faced a crisis with no way to send records or receive payments. Postal workers were on strike. To avoid running out of money in a week, Richard Branson decided to open a physical record shop. He had no experience in running one. He found a location on Oxford Street in London. The building’s owner sold shoes out of the storefront. The owner agreed to provide the upstairs space for free. The arrangement would attract customers for both businesses. Within days, Virgin’s first reco

Starting your own airline can be a challenge. This would be his “what if I could” moment. The airport terminal was full of stranded passengers. Sir Richard Charles Nicholas Branson was one of them. His lover was waiting for him. Making a few calls to charter companies, one of them agreed to take him to the British Virgin Islands. It would cost him £2,000. He divided the price by the number of seats on the plane. Then he made a sign that read, “Virgin Airways $39 single flight”...