'Pistols
at the Palace', gig programme
July 27th 2002
John Lydon Interview
Why
are the Pistols playing again? Because oddly enough this is our Jubilee. It wasn’t pointed out to me until someone told me at the record company, because I don’t count time or dates, but I just thought why the hell not? I want a bloody good party out of it.
What happened with the idea of the all-nighter?
We can’t get the permits to run a rave. Can’t get the permits to do anything. We’re lucky to even get Crystal Palace, but that’s because it’s a field in the middle of nowhere! Nothing was made available, nothing at all. That’s why we’re grateful to Crystal Palace for having us, and it’s coincidence, but lovely, that the word Palace is in there…
What material will you be playing, will it be a new set or the same as the Filthy Lucre tour?
It’ll be free-form, we won’t have a set, set. It’ll be purely as the mood is. Absolutely like it used to be. Because it’s all about the crowd, and the energy you get from that. And if they hate us, or love us, it’s exactly the same potential. You feed off it. People know we meant it, it’s for real. There ain’t no room for wankers here, this is the real deal. This is arse on the line. It’s sink or swim, it’s always been like that. This could be the end of our careers – great! That’s the best reason to do it, and not give a damn if you fuck up. Whatever happens you did your best…
Did you enjoy the Filthy Lucre tour?
Loved it! Loved it. Loved the gigs. As people, as a band, we hated each other, but we loved the gigs, and that made perfect sense. It went on a bit because we probably over committed, but that’s the Pistols, we’re full on 100% commitment. We always have been.
Any favourite shows from the tour?
Finsbury Park, because the press were so against us. They didn’t understand what our audience is, they’re oblivious because they don’t know these people. They can’t manipulate them because they don’t buy their magazines, the press couldn’t relate to it. Our crowd don’t care if I’m fat or thin, it’s what I’m saying. But music papers, or the middle class, to them it’s the image that is essential. The Sex Pistols are not a bunch of closehorses, we’re not puppets… The Phoenix Festival was fantastic, amazing, furious enjoyment. Chile at the end was the most fucking perfect place on earth, Glasgow was an absolute highlight too. We’ve always been popular in the most serious deadly dangerous places, because we had the guts to run right in there and do it. Those people are the real deal, they don’t need to spit or throw things, they know what real violence is, they self policed themselves, they’re out for entertainment.
What have you been doing since the Filthy Lucre tour?
I don’t need to talk about that, I need to talk about this gig.
I was gonna ask what your future plans are?
Very many things that will be relevant at other times, but I don’t need to do that here. There’s a problem about me being seen as arrogant, talking too much, and it’s wrong I should feel like that. I’ve talked too much in the past before I’ve actually finished a thing, and the idea will be stolen off me. I’m not giving anymore out until I’ve done a thing. I’m fed up with it, I’m fed up with the lack of respect. Respect is the thing I give most people, I’m friendly until it goes the other way.
Do you think there is No Future for the Sex Pistols?
There never was. We never had a future at all. Every day of the Sex Pistols is a miraculous achievement. I can’t predict if we will ever meet again, or do anything again. I can’t say yes or no, I can’t. There’s a thing in there that binds us all, and we like it, but I’m not going to become a pantomime about it. There’s some serious political things in us that are very important and have to be achieved. If I see that someone else is prepared to take up that gauntlet, I’m more than happy to hand it over, because I’ve got many other things going on in my life. All of us have other things to do…
Were you happy with the recent dance mix of GSTQ?
I always like working with Neil Barnes, and I’m very pleased with the way it came out. That record refers directly to our roots, there’s T-Rex indications, there’s all kind of stuff. Yet it’s simplistic and sing-along childish. There’s nothing wrong with that, I love pop music. It’s harmless fun, but you can also use fun to educate, to improve…
What’s your relationship with the rest of the band ?
We genuinely do not like each other as human beings. The way we see things is so different, but when those differences came together it made pure common sense. That natural revulsion we had for each other brought out the best. Because despite the hate it never separated us. We’re still attached to each other. There’s a common bond there, but none of us can tell you what it is. I’ll have a go at them, they’ll have a go at me, but if anyone else has a go at them, I’m with them. This is one loyal firm in that respect. No one has earned the right to slag any of them.
25 years on no one really seems to care about the Monarchy anymore, do you think the Pistols helped put a nail in the coffin for the Royal family?
Nobody cares about the Monarchy anymore, but nobody cares about paying for them either, and that’s a curious state of affairs isn’t it? It comes through your tax, you don’t care what you’re paying your tax money for? It’s paying isn’t it, and it isn’t your choice, why don’t you have a choice? I don’t care if it’s a penny a decade, it’s not your choice. The Royal wave has turned into a Royal kiss-off, ‘Oh, you dirty things.’
Do you think the Pistols get the respect they deserve?
Probably not, but it really makes no difference in the long run because we are relentless. Nothing comes easy for us, if we don’t do it ourselves, it won’t be done. The disinformation of the music press is a real good challenge, and the further away you get from it, the better people tend to be. The music press don’t have a stance, they don’t have a point of view, it’s not about anything at all. It’s an advertisement from start to finish, and it’s record company sponsored, it’s a dopes world… You can hear the Pistols in a lot of bands, but they won’t admit it. They’ll rubbish us and the reason for that is we’re the real deal, and they can not come up to that level. We can’t play, we can’t sing, but you can’t say we don’t mean a thing.
Are you sick of talking about the Pistols?
I was for a long time until I did my book and we put together the documentary. I learned to respect myself again. Instead of ignoring it and walking away. It just seemed for a while that it was too fucking overwhelming. I took a sidestep because I didn’t want it slung at me that I was living off the Sex Pistols. Public Image and everything else I’ve done in between makes it clear I don’t need to live off the Sex Pistols. I’m more than fucking up there in other ways, and that’s good. That gives me my own self respect about things.
Any message for the fans!
I don’t know how to answer a question like that, because it brings in conceit. I don’t think like a pop star, I don’t think I’m superior, at all, not on any level. I’m lucky that the opportunity I was given I grabbed and ran with it. Don’t think I’m any better than you, I’m probably a lot worse. This is a difficult life I’ve got myself in to, it’s narrow and it’s insular, and it becomes very precious sometimes. Sometimes I see myself slightly too big headed, but I am trying, and all I ask for people is try too. If you’ve got something you do and it’s better than the way I do what I do, then question me. But until you’ve actually made a commitment to the human race, shut the fuck up.
What do you think of the support bands?
Some of them are wankers, and they charge too much! But I hope they’ll use this opportunity to prove they’re not, and excel as the years go by, and get better and better like we all have to. Understand what is worthy of your applause, and what isn’t.
Crystal Palace gig programme, July 2002 © F&F Publishing / Sex Pistols Residuals 2002