 |
Battle
of the Bands Finale, LA, Sep 5th 2007
© courtesy
Bodog / Fuse TV |
|
There have been a lot of rumours recently about the Sex Pistols being back in the recording studio and being involved with a video game?
Yeah. I’ve heard there are reports saying we are connected with a Tony Hawks skating game – they did apply for the rights to songs – but we’re wrapping ourselves round ‘Guitar Heroes’ right now because they’ve
been very good and fair with us.
‘Guitar Heroes’? What kind of game is it?
It’s a Playstation game and Xbox 360 – gosh, don’t I sound like I know what I’m talking about. I don’t! – it’s
kind of a humorous look at the wonderful world of music; and I
think it sits in very well with the Sex Pistols ethos. The idea is to
learn how to play guitar. You plug the guitar in and you can play along
to other people’s songs.
I’ve played the game with my brothers kids and they love it. It’s very, very funny. When you get things wrong the crowd boo! Kids love it. They think it’s
hilarious; and kids always get things better than adults anyway.
And the Sex Pistols have re-recorded tracks for it?
We had problems finding or locating the original masters, and that made life
very difficult. So re-recording for things like this was an essential.
What did you record?
We re-recorded ‘Anarchy in UK’ and ‘Pretty Vacant’ very quickly with our usual aplomb! (laughs)
I never thought you’d get the Pistols back in the studio again.
Well, it’s exactly like how we did it in the first place. With Chris Thomas on the controls; and me, Steve and Paul. That’s it the three. Because Glen wasn’t really a part of the band at that time when we recorded ‘Bollocks’.
Steve pretty much played all the bass on ‘Never Mind The Bollocks’ didn’t
he?
Yeah. Which is just boomp, boomp, boomp. We’re not undermining that. The point is, there is no need for a heavy bass-line in these kind of tunes. It’s
a different way. We had to learn how to do this as a threesome for a long, long
time with Sid on stage! You know! We had to record the album in the first place
that way. So it flowed really well.
The rumours were the Pistols were doing a new album.
There’s been rumours I’m recording a reggae album! (laughs) You know! Rumours are for fools. It’s only idiots that rush to rumours rather than wait for the reality of a thing. I’m
glad there is a ground swell of interest; be it all wrong so far! (laughs) But
cruel world of rumour just get off our backs.
So there won’t be a reggae album coming out for Christmas then John!
No! Not ever! (laughs)
That’s what it said in the UK press!
Well, the thing is, I’m always recording new songs at home. Always.
But don’t guess what I’m doing, wait till I’m ready to tell you. Yet again, press articles come out and no one asks me anything. That photo [in The Daily Mirror] was taken as I was standing on a street corner with Chris Thomas; waiting for Paul Cook to pick us up! (laughs)
So they’ve got the photo, and then they just make the article up. I don’t know, it’s the word of gossip magazines now. So we’re either getting ribbed in gossip magazines, or being torn to pieces in the likes of ‘Rolling Stone’; and frankly I can’t
tell the difference in their approach. Both I see as contaminating agents I really
do.
 |
Guitar
Hero III Sex Pistols Trailer
© courtesy Guitar
Hero / Yahoo Games |
|
Do you think the re-recorded Pistols tracks might come out separately?
Yeah. I’d like to see it come out as a single. It sounds great. It really does. It sounds really great fun. I gotta tell you, working with Steve and Paul has never been a problem for me. And as for the volatility between our different personalities. Well, that’s
what makes the songs what they are.
Regardless of what anyone wants to interpret it as, me, Steve and Paul
are solid as a rock; right? We like to tease each other in the press.
We do it a lot but don’t ever conceive that as hatred amongst each other. Because it isn’t. I wouldn’t waste my breath on someone I hate. I’m
always looking for the better side in a person. Including Malcolm! Still
looking! (laughs) But you know, you gotta play the game fair!
You said on the Ian Wright radio show in June that there was a possibility of some Sex Pistols shows at Christmas?
Yes! I lied (laughs). I can tell you I outright lied for a laugh! I wanted
to see the response of it, because now for several years I’ve been hearing all these rumours that we’re
going to do gigs at Christmas. I would not mind. But I would like some
serious offers this time; and not just a bunch of rumours.
There’s nothing wrong with ferreting out the cash flows of promoters (laughs), because lets be honest, there’s
no record company sponsorship really. In fact, no sponsorship of any
kind (laughs). We are utterly outside of this industry. And very much
happier about it I must say.
So, it is a possibility?
Yeah. I’d like it. I would. This is the alleged year of punk.
And so far all I’ve seen is plonk. I would like to do it, I really would. There’s
a bond between me, Steve, and Paul that’s impenetrable. And try
as they might no one can drive a wedge through us. We do that ourselves,
very well! We like our wedges, we find them oddly enough comforting (laughs).
John Lydon.
The Horses Mouth.
July 2nd 2007.** |
Mr Rotten
would like to add the following…
Maybe it's because we're all Londoners, but there
would be no Sex Pistol without dear old London town.
See you all at Brixton with proper feelings and proper
people all around.
From London Bridge to the Rose and Crown, all of Britain
is welcome so come on down.
John Lydon.
The Horses Mouth.
September 18th 2007. |
©
2007 JohnLydon.Com