| JOHN
LYDON (OR Johnny Rotten if you prefer) is a legend. As the face of
UK punk with the Sex Pistols and PiL, he revolutionised the nation's youth
culture. He now lives in Los Angeles and fronts his own TV show, Rotten
TV. On Saturday, the Pistols play their Silver Jubilee gig at London's
Crystal Palace.
Pap pop and old rockers getting together for reunion tours. Isn't it
as though punk never happened?
Nobody can ever deny that punk didn't happen. Its influence is everywhere
- even in the haircuts; all these ridiculous fins that people are wearing.
There's pap pop now and there was pap pop then. That'll never go away
- I even listen to some of it myself. The problem is that it's all too
formulaic now, music has never been less exciting. You only have to watch
Top Of The Pops to see that.
Did the Queen never get back to you about appearing at her Jubilee
concert?
No - I sent her an offer and it seems as though she has forgotten how
to write a simple note back. It's about time you changed your Queen anyway
- she's been there much too long. She should abdicate and let Charles
have a go - with all his talking to plants, he'd make a much better Queen
anyway. But what is that plant thing all about? It's not as though he's
going to find a huge range of personalities there, is it? Learn to talk
to real people first, Charlie...
Is the gig a case of more cash from chaos?
People can say what they want but this is not a scam. Every penny I've
ever earned in my life, I've worked bloody hard for. I've never been given
one single thing. I promise you, I will not let anyone down.
How are things with the band?
The rehearsals have been phenomenal. The old animosities are still there
- well, they aren't really animosities. We're just four different people
who work in different ways. When it comes together, the power it generates
is inspiring. I like that.
Is there nobody else you find inspiring any more?
I get inspired watching all these idiots who take fake drugs that do nothing
for you dancing about in clubs. We've become a mindless generation of
followers; nobody is a doer any more.
If there were an election tomorrow, how would you vote?
For anyone but Tony Blair - and you can take that to any extreme you want.
That man claims to represent the working class of this country and all
he's done is try and create a homogenised society that's bland. It's an
Ikea, yuppified version that reflects none of the values of this country.
He lets people think he's pally with President Bush when he's not. I live
there and know what the Americans think. They let him in through the tradesmen's
entrance.
Are we ripe for revolution?
Yes. I don't know what it will be and I don't know when it will come,
but we live in a society where the working-class ideal has been eroded
and there's no inspiration. Look at David Beckham - is he a great footballer?
He could be so much better but all he does is live a Hello! lifestyle.
Don't look to me to be a leader. Despite what people think, I've never
been a leader. I just live my life. If some people take example or inspiration,
then so be it.
Is anarchy the only way forward politically?
Anarchy is nonsense. If it were true anarchy in the real sense, it wouldn't
even have a name.
Do you agree with the war on terrorism?
What war on terrorism? We're bombing the f*** out of a load of sand. Killing
yourself is the ultimate sacrifice for a cause. These people are that
f***ing desperate. We need to look at the causes - why are people doing
that? What's pushing people to do that? Find out why and try and put it
right. Bombing innocent people and blowing up the desert is just wrong.
Should Ronnie Biggs have been let back into the country?
You'd have to ask that lot [points to other Pistols] about him - they
were the ones who recorded with him when I left the band. I've never met
him but he's an old man who is very, very ill. Show some compassion. Where's
the compassion gone in this country?
How will the Arsenal do this year?
The Arsenal that plays football today is not the Arsenal I love. Today,
it's Le Arsenal. When I was a kid, I grew up with the players. I went
to school with people such as Charlie George who then went on to play
for the club. The working class have now been priced out of the game,
so there's no community spirit in supporting your team any more. I don't
know half the players' names and I can't even pronounce the other half.
The only good thing about the Arsenal today is they've not gone as far
down that route as Manchester United have.
What are you like around the house?
I can cook - just about. I put far too much salt and sugar in things for
other people. I can at least cook to my and my wife's taste and that's
all that matters.
What would you do if you were offered a knighthood?
Do you really think there's ever the chance of that happening? People
like Mick Jagger have seriously had to suck up to get it - and that's
one thing I would never do.
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