The Sun
9th May, 2002

 
© The Sun 2002
 

Johnny Rotten meets Dominic Mohan
(and gives him a hard time!)

 

It is the strangest and most difficult interview I have ever done - and that's saying something.

I'm in a suite at one of London's most expensive hotels but it resembles Kevin The Teenager's bedroom. The antique tables are strewn with empty beer bottles and I can see at least three ashtrays containing around 100 fag butts.

Never say that 46-year-old former Sex Pistol Johnny Rotten, born John Lydon, has grown up.

I am meeting him as he prepares for the Golden Jubilee re-release of the punk group's God Save The Queen, a hit banned during the Queen's Silver Jubilee celebrations in 1977. And there is certainly anarchy in the Grosvenor House as LA-based Johnny casts his eye over modern Britain.

The conversation begins . . . . 

JL: This is the land of thin third-rate versions of mohawks with hair pointing forward. Horrendous. Designer punk. People feel rebellious when they wear it. Isn't that just being the way it's always been? Assholes running around in camouflage jackets. Have you begun?

INT: Yes. Do you follow the music scene here very closely at all, So Solid Crew and the like?

JL: There isn't a music scene, it's obscene. There never has been, come on, it's like Jimmy Savile. You don't really respect very much at all, you trivialise everything and Tony Blair's been able to operate in that environment rather wonderfully. He's turned you into one big, dull gray - there's no get-up-and-go here, there's just no bollocks left. And it's odd to me but true, and I said it thirty years ago, the only true anarchists in Britain are the football hooligans. They're the only ones that actually do something. They don't know what they're doing most of them but at least there's a motivation in it.

INT: Do you sympathise with their actions? Do you back them?

JL: That's none of your business and you're missing the point. I haven't finished. I'm coming back. I'm not known as a royalist, not by any stretch of the imagination. But I am a taxpayer and I pay more than most and less than some - and I'm appalled that a jubilee thing like this, which is one of the major things you have about being British in respect to the rest of the world, is so fashionably ignored. Your royal family is a pile of shit 'cos you let it be that way. You're paying for this. Where's your say-so in this? How come the Union Jack's become a racist symbol? That's outrageous. That's out-fucking-rageous - that you accept that. I'm gonna throw the best fucking party of the year, and there won't be any Beckhams at it.

INT: But you're a footie fan - aren't you a fan of Beckham?

JL: Well I really might be if he joined Arsenal.

INT: But he's the England captain. Surely you admire him for that?

JL: No, I do not admire him. Anyone who lets that Posh bit lead him by the nose is not to be admired. He's another one of those thin, hairdo boys. He's a copycat, he's empty-headed. He's unoriginal and that's your culture now, that's people you admire. . . being famous. You cannot say that about me. You actually know I've fucking done something and meant it and I'm resilient.

INT: Does that make you quite angry about fame now?

JL: Yes, always did and I've never sort sought it either, never gave a tuppence. I don't hang out at Stringfellows. I'm not like that crowd, I don't need a Ferrari.

INT: What car do you dive?

JL: A Volvo. Solid, sensible. It snows a lot where we go skiing so it makes sense.

INT: Tell me the story about that . . . 

JL: Read the book.

INT: Tell me again.

JL: You're a journalist, read the book - No Irish, No Blacks, No Dogs. I'm not gonna explain myself to anybody. Life's been hard, I don't care, it's hard all over but I don't roll over and die. And when I see people roll over and die it sickens me. If I really hate and get angry about anything, it's a cop-out. It really is worth making the effort in any single thing you do in this life. Failure is not a problem, the lack of attempt is the problem.

INT: Is that your criticism of this country at the moment?

JL: Oh yes. You cannot explain to me, how a pompous, upper-class twit like Blair could possibly be a Labour Prime Minister, that is illogical. The contradictions are absurd.

INT: Tell me exactly what you're doing - you're going to release God Save The Queen?

JL: Am I?

INT: That's what I've been told.

JL: Get it right, Virgin Records are. I'm only responsible for collecting the royalties. I made the thing, I don't mind it being heard again but I have no interest in chart positions. There is a nonsense all this betting whether it will be No 1 or not. Fuck that, get real, you're missing the point, boys and girls.

INT: Do you think there'll be a lot of 18 year olds who have never heard this before who'll say 'That's still relevant to me today' or do you not really care? Do you think 18 year olds know who you are?

JL: What kind of human being do you think I am that wakes up in the morning with the weight of the world on his shoulders, angst-ridden. You do what you do and you hope for the best, the best being that somebody's actually listening and paying attention. Now that doesn't mean they necessarily completely agree with you. It can mean, which is far superior, they come up with a better alternative and then you progress - it's logical, not a reaction, an action on an action. So it moves on.

INT: Why did you go on Richard and Judy?

JL: Why shouldn't I?

INT: Just seems like an odd sort of coupling.

JL: Why?

INT: It just seems a crazy combination of people.

JL: I'm not being rude here, I'm trying to point out that a lot of problems with human beings is when you assume something. You must not assume that would be odd. Why can't you just wait to see what it is and then have an opinion? It just is. They're human beings, they were nice enough to want to talk to me and I'm certainly nice enough to want to talk to them - and we had a fun time and there's no problem about that because I'm not approaching it as: 'Oh, that might be bad for my image,' 'cos it's not about that.

INT: Is there not kind of band now that you look at and think they are carrying your torch?

JL: If they're carrying my torch, they stole it and I want it back.

INT: What about Oasis - do you see a lot of them?

JL: They're just another bunch of blokes who do what they do. You know they are saying this is Liam Gallagher carrying the torch. It's nonsense. The boy brags and professes to be a professional drunk and basically does Beatles songs - how the fuck can that be relative to me?

INT: Not rebellious at all then?

JL: It's very difficult to talk to you, you seem to miss the point deliberately.

INT: Just define your view exactly of the Royal Family?

JL: That during the jubilee week all drugs should be legalised - I know just the guy to bring them in.

INT: What are your views on the Royal Family, that's what I'm trying to get at.

JL: None of your business really or anybody's. Hear the songs, they're clear cut - and still Britain goes on and on and on that I called the Queen a moron. I've always been upfront and honest about anything I've done. It's all there on the cards. My finances are no secret. I've had to go into real estate to survive, 'cos there's just not enough money in this business. I don't mind the idea of a monarchy at all. It's actually helpful, it is a tourist trap, it can earn money. Why turn something over that might be productive? The fact that she won't hand her crown to Charles makes her wonderful. Is he still talking to his lettuce? Does he still hang around with somebody's wife that looks like a cardboard box and a car blanket? He's not playing with a full load.

INT: In terms of recording, we haven't heard a lot from you have we.

JL: Haven't we?

INT: What's the game plan for that?

JL: I couldn't care less what you've heard mate, to be frank. I do what I do. I don't like your newspaper, I don't like the editorial opinions or stance.

INT: We're pro-Britain, we're anti-euro.

JL: I don't know what you are other than a piece of condescension. You are a soulless, heartless cardsharp and you know I know it.

INT: I'm not soulless. I'm very passionate about what I do and passionate about music, that's why I'm here, isn't it?

JL: No. You're here to write another poisonous piece of shit.

INT: Not at all.

JL: Yes you are.

INT: Not at all.

JL: Well I was depending on it.

INT: Have you followed this whole Pop Idol phenomenon, is that a thing that's reached America?

JL: Is that new? I don't know what you're talking about.

INT: You're not aware of Pop Idol?

JL: Should I be? You're talking about manufactured creations. It's outrageous that human beings can be treated that way. You should be ashamed to mention it to me.

INT: But people say the Pistols were a manufactured band.

JL: People? How dare you talk about another newspaper? These are just traps and trimmings, they're all utterly irrelevant. Everything in pop music is fake and manufactured, I'm not. I don't care if you doubt that, I don't need to prove it. The fact that I could be doubted makes you really stupid. In a world of Madonna, no matter what I do, it's still better. It is still better. If I'm a conman, I'm the best conman you have ever, ever known. For 30 years I have kept it up, that alone makes me fucking splendid stuff and gosh, shock horror, if I actually mean this and it's real, well, I'm not losing each way, am I? And that isn't arrogance, that's just fucking life.

INT: That's why you're copied. You think you're the only true original then?

JL: I'm directly imitated, left, right and Center. Now that ain't bad for a bloke that's supposed to be a right thicko, right? Something's wrong wit this system and if you turn that, what I just said into - 'So, you're the only true original,' you are missing the point aren't you?

INT: I thought that's what you meant.

JL: Well then you're a fucking moron. That's why you work for the Sun, interview ended, go fuck yourself.

INT: Is that it then?

JL: Yeah.

INT: I've got a few more questions.

JL: I couldn't care less. I don't like you, you stink, everything about you is appalling. Go away. Stuff your paper, stuff you, I've got more interesting things to do.

INT: Why are you doing an interview with the Sun if you don't like us?

JL: Haven't you noticed? I'm not.

INT: No, you have been.

JL: I wanted to see what you chaps are all about, you ain't gonna change shit. You came in here with a bad attitude, you're not prepared to listen.

INT: I've listened for 40 minutes.

JL: Goodbye.

 

With that, the interview ends, but not before Johnny offers me another beer and poses for more pictures. I feel exhilarated and exhausted. As soon as the tape recorder has been switched off he is charming. It's hard to know what to make of him. He created a character 25 or so years ago which has given him a far-from-Rotten living - and feels he has to keep up the facade.

Still, I feel lucky to get out alive.

It was never like this with Celine Dion.


God Save The Queen is re-released on May 27 (2002)

 
 
 
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