John Lydon - Press Conference 16 May 2002...

John Lydon - Press Conference
(Promoting re-release of 'GSTQ' and 'Crystal Palace' concert)

When John Lydon swaggers into the Cobden Club, a working mens haunt in Londons Notting Hill, he resembles a prizefighter preparing for a bruising ring side encounter. He certainly doesn't seem like someone even remotely interested in having a cheerful chat about why the Sex Pistols are re-releasing their anthemic single 'God Save The Queen', during the Queens Golden Jubilee.
Sporting a red, white and blue Union Jack hairdo - and the obligatory sneer - the Sex Pistols legendary mouthpiece, Johnny Rotten, is soon up to his old tricks, teasing and tormenting the assembled throng of journalists, reminding them of the mayhem he wrought during punks hey day in the latter half of the 70's. 'Don't be shy, give us a question,' he barks. 'Oh come on. Somebody say something! I'm not going to be here all day you know.'
Eventually, after a pregnant pause - and a ripple of nervous laughter - two journalists attempt a couple of banal questions, simultanously. They're greeted by a curt, 'You can't all talk to me at once because you'll clutter my brain,' followed by a few dispariging remarks about their haircuts, dress sense and intelligence.
It's 25 years since the Sex Pistols imploded and Rotten hasn't changed.
Throughout the next half hour , his mood sways between feigned bordom
cutting criticism and acerbic commentary. 'And this is meant to be the
intelligentsia of the British press versus Mr Rotten,' he laughs. 'Well
you're losing!'
It makes the 30 minute exchange a lighthearted, humorous experience -
if you're tuned into Johnnys rotten sense of humor. If you're not its agony
- and anarchy.

JL: Come on then, anyone got any questions? Don't be shy!
P: Where are the rest of the band?
JL: On holiday - semi permenantly. Have you read this press release that's been passed out here because there are several things in it that are a load of old shit. Thankyou to Virgin for being inaccurate again! Courtesy of EMI nowadays though, isn't it? Now, don't you think this is fun? Well, come on, don't be shy...All right, look, I'll do it for you. I'm here to tell you that on July 27, we're going to be playing at Crystal Palace Sports Center. 32 pounds 50p... Hardly breaking the bank, is it? There will be four support bands. They'll be tasty numbers full of... no names, as of yet but, all good. And I can promise you one other thing: there will be three other Sex Pistols playing. But they're not here because, as you well know I could'nt victimise myself if they were.
P: Why aren't you doing a full tour?
JL: Cos I'm not interested in a full tour. Its my Jubilee. God Save The Queen, thank you. Twenty five years on and you silly bastards still ain't fucking learnt from them, have you?
P: Why don't you perform during the Queens Jubilee week?
JL: Cos that was her fun, right? And, quite frankly, even before the event, its absolutely guaranteed that her lark will be fucking dismal, right? So we'll let that taper out and then I'll come back and remind you what being British is all about. This is our country, this is our flag, they are our monarchy. they don't work too well at the moment, so lets make the fuckers do a good job. Get rid of a few of the useless ones and keep the goodies.
P: Who would you get rid of?
JL: Prince Charles. And quite frankly, as long as Elizabeth keeps him off the throne she's doing a good job.
P: Do you admire Queen Elizabeth?
JL: Can you talk louder and tell us who your representing?
P: The Daily Telegraph.
JL: Uh huh...(laughs) The only good thing about you lot is the Arsenal
section. Carry on sir.
P: Are you saying as long as long as she's keeping Charles off the
throne, she's all right? You rather quite like her don't you?
JL: Yeah. Isn't that what I said? Would you like me to repeat it?
P: But you made a record against her to embarrass her!
JL: Thats your opinion not fact. Check out the words. Johnnys a smart boy. Smarter than you.
P: Have you always admired her in some way?
JL: I've always wanted to get into her knickers, thats the problem! Know what I mean? But lets be honest, I am a SEX Pistol.
P: Is Britain a better place in 2002 than it was in 1977?
JL: No, much worse. You damn well know that Mr Blair has fucked it up royally. Socialism is a joke. But you voted them in. Can you explain that to me? I mean, you know, were the Tories looking that bad? come on, someone say something. Don't be shy. I'm not going to be here all day.
P: You've aged marvellously. But from the old days, who else do you rate?
JL: Well, I'd like to say Glen Matlock but that would be lying. I'd like to say Steve Jones but that would be a really big lie. Paul Cook because he still hasn't changed. His slip is on upwards.
P: If you love Britain why don't you come back from LA to live here?
JL: What makes you presume that I'd come back to Britain? Why should I? I've got to tell you honestly that for so many years I got endless police raids and none of you fuckers were backing me up! And there were several setups going on there. Victimisation seemed to be a natural, par for the course, Rotten style, and you never said a word did you? You went with your middle class shite, as per usual. Would you like to talk about the money now? 'Are you going to make alot of money out of this? Fucking right! This is about being working class.
P: Will this be the final challenge, or will there be another one in five years, when your 50?
JL: It all depends on how good a record deal we get out of it.
P: Any plans to write any new material?
JL: Not for that lot, no. I've got other things in mind. But I might change that next year. Look, I don't know, to be honest. You don't know about these things but I'm quite happy end this Jubilee on a nice happy note. It is our Jubilee. This is our Britain and we've kind of lost that idea, allright? And when I start to see dark doubts cast out there about the Union Jack - should we get rid of it? - I just think, Oh for fucks sake! What are you gonna hold up? A plate glass? Or a window? And for what? What have you got? What you've got here is an industry. What have got as respect for yourselves, as British folk? Fuck all. Well you got me. Here I am. Come see. Its only 32.50!
P: Who else do you respect in terms of music/bands?
JL: Theres quite a few who don't need to be waffled on about but the bad ones are obvious. You can usually tell by the hairdo.
next page...