| John Lydon - Q Magazine, June 2002 continued... Looking back at the end of the '70s, the bands which ralled against - ABBA, The Bee Gees - are those whose musical legacy has enjoyed popular and, more recently, critical acclaim. Do you think punk lost the battle of ideas? David Whittaker, Welwyn Garden City For a start, we loved ABBA. This perception that we rallied against other peoples success - where does it come from? Will you please lay off reading the Guardian and The Express and The Observer? Those are the kind of dishcloths that propagate that kind of reasoning and logic, not us. And what battle? There were the Sex Pistols and a whole bunch of imitators. And you can call us what you like, but don't put me in the same shopping bag as the Clash and the rest. I know who came first and I know what came first. I may look like a horse, that lot were definitely the cart... I was a huge Pistols fan in the '70s, but lost all respect for you with the reunion. How can you really defend it John? John Mattell, London The reunion was all about getting paid, because we were never paid up to that point. We always left our bills unpaid - not deliberately. That reunion tour really paid back alot of people that were owed money. And I've got tosay this - go fuck yourself if you think I don't have the right to make money, because my level of work is fucking more superior to your opinion of my money. Was your change of musical direction after the 1981 PiL album 'Flowers Of Romance' due to giving up speed? Was it the result of a major comedown? David Eachus, Bath Pff. Well, hello? There were a couple of albums that were in different directions entirely before that one. No, I've never been a drug adict, so the premise is wrong. And the amount of alcohol I take - which has been a problem from time to time - has not affected what I mentally want to do. I'm not swayed by any other influence other than my own enjoyment. I make music to please myself. Get out of the hole! You used to a big fan of '70s prog rockers Van Der Graaf Generator. Which album would you recommend? Luke Wilson, Tunbridge Wells To who? For what? Y'know, it isn't like that. It's a personal decision. You buy whats good for you because you like it. It's not about what someone's recommended. I'm a fan of all walks of music. I hate the term ''music'' and I don't like musicians, but there's many things out there I adore. And theres a few Van Der Graaf things I like, but I'm not going to recommend anything to anyone. It might not be for them. Music doesn't come with a set of guidelines. I read on your website that there are plans to make a bio-pic called Rotten. How involved are you in the project and do you have any say on who should play you? Marios Panayiotou, Manchester (sneers) If I was making a film about myself, I think I would have plans and I would have a say in it. It's just common sense. Look, this comes from my book. A film company in America were interested in turning it into a film and, at the moment, theres a real problem with that because the swing has gone towards it being a Sex Pistols story and thats of no interest to me. So we're back at the starting blocks. And I won't put it out if it's not right. And how can I write a film about myself based on what actor I want doing it? And, more to the point, who the fuck could handle it? I bought Metal Box (1979 PiL Album) on record and the damned vinyl broke when I tried to get them out of the damned box. Can I get a refund? Brian Maull, Runnymede No Doubt. But whats that to do with me? I didn't sell it to you. I made the damned thing. Go see the manufacturer. Thats like saying, My radio broke when they were playing your record...please replace. Do you ever get jealous when you see pricks like Liam Gallagher getting rich and famous using the stage acts perfected by you 25 years ago? Andrew Lauder, East Kilbride He's not using a stage act perfected by me, I don't act and he's not a prick. He's many things, but I don't think he's deserved that moniker yet. And the word jealous. Please! I'm not 15. And I've gone past 35. What on earth would a person like me have to be jealous about? I'm giving them all their ques and I'm quite happy to do that. Anyone imitating me - and Liam doesn't imitate - that's not a threat. And why would I be jealous of someone being a second rate version of me? That sounds more like Sid. Pass the question on to him. I think he's blowing all over Heathrow Airport. What did your dad say after the Pistols famous appearance on The Bill Grundy Show? Liam Gower, Colchester I don't know. I was busy trying to get home at the time. We were in different parts of London, so I couldn't possibly comment. Ask him. My mate met Jah Wobble once and he said you were a cunt then and a cunt now. Do you agree? Martin Colvin, Scarborough If Wobble said that, then its my quote, he's misused it and he's still reiterating my words of wisdom. Why, I even invented ethnic forgery so Wobble could move into that... Can you recommend a good pub in Finsbury Park? Will Harrison, London No, I will not, so fuck off back to your own neighbourhood. Leave well alone. Y'know, theres a sensibility in the term ''yer local''...it's for the locals right? And it aint for you with your oyster bar mentality to waltz in and change everything. Theres to much of that. Finsbury Park will always be Warsaw. Thats just the way it is, but they're changing it and we're not liking it. It's my community and it's my culture and we're not antique buyers, OK? next page... |