John Lydon: Morning.... I said Good morning!

("Good morning Johnny")

JL: Uh – I don’t know why I’m here…If I’m expected to talk for an hour and a half – good fucking luck.

(Laughs)

JL: No – I’m never short of words – but what’s this about – this is what? To help young bands is it? My best advice is to fucking give up. Several reasons = one: I don’t need the fucking competition. Two – you can bet your sweet fanny Adams that none of you are honest. If you are in this business just for the cash that's a good enough reason in itself, but then you shouldn’t be talking to the likes of me. Cause I’m the exact opposite of that. And every penny I’ve earned it’s been hard. It’s been deserved. It’s a difference, in’t there? You don’t penny pinch just out of sheer molestation? So on that – good bye.

(Walks off stage to applause)

JL: You know what I’d love to do – just for a laugh – let’s have questions and answers – cause honestly, it’s a fucking wasted of time otherwise…(addressing the throng of photographers – can you not get out of the way, cause I can’t see all of the people.

(To applause from annoyed audience)

Global TV reporter: (overdressed – like a news anchor) Over the last couple of mo…

JL: (derisively) Your look like your from TV!

(Laughs)

JL: What difference a hairdo makes!

(Laughs)

GTV: (continues blushing) … You might be aware that this city has been struggling with a disease called SARS…

(Met w/ derision from the audience – groans – "yawn")

JL: Shut up! – Now you’ve got a ‘superSar (smiling)

(Groans)

GTV: A lot of performers have been told not to come as a result of that and I was just wondering …

JL: Who told them that? Who told them not to come?

GTV: It’s not far – is it?

JL: Was it. Well what do you want me to do about that?

(Laughs)

GTV: Well you’re not exactly among those who decided not to…

JL: No – I make my own decisions.

GTV: Well that’s why I‘m asking…

JL: Well hello! – I’m a free per-son. I am not a number.

(Laughs)

JL: That’s why I am here, and those wankers are not.

(Cheers – applause)

JL: Next! (audience is reserved). I’m all ears!

(Pakistani kid wearing Wimbledon Colours – hyper) : Mr Lydon sir! (Laughs). What? What? I’m sorry, I’m a little starstruck…I wanted to ask you...

JL: Struck by something!

(Laughs)

JL: Calm down…calm down (sympathetically)

Kid: If there was any actor – or even musician that you’d like to…ummmm…portray in a film about you, if you were to choose who it would be…

JL: Yes! – it would be Jesus Christ

(Laughs)

JL: And I’d do the musical too – Jesus Christ, the Canadian version - * superSARS *

(Groans and laughs)

Audience member: I uh just wanted to know what you’ve been doing more quite recently – writing more? Or doing music…?

JL: I’ve been banned from TV regularly – I’ll tell you the biggest tragedy for me has been, um, since the Sept 11 fiasco because America’s closed down it’s doors on just about everything that’s like, fucking contentious or variable in any way shape or form, we all know that. The new Russia is the USA. I’m going back there on Sunday.
Ummm – Rotten TV I loved that – doing that – I only got 3 episodes out, and the excuses were – uh ‘content’…well – I didn’t believe that what I was up to was completely contentious – that ‘fuck you asshole cunt’ kind of way

(Laughs)

Audience member: You were being yourself?

JL: I was being myself I don’t mind talking to politicians. They argue worth beans after all…This is the state we make of this world. It’s like ‘oh the nasty police force’… It’s NOT the nasty police force – Iit’s the nasty bastard in control of the police force…right? They’re people just like the rest of us – they got family, friends and kids. And when we break down those values that they keep putting in between us, we’ll be able to change the world…

(Applause)

JL: My enemy’s socialism, communism, democracy… The list is endless…

Aud member: John, you’ve mentioned being banned and you’ve experienced that – I want to know, uh, you said in your book that it was actually good press for you, it worked to your benefit, being banned or people trying to ban you – how do you feel about that now…

JL: Well good luck – you can ban be all ya like – I’ll just keep on going – you don’t roll over for that…Who are you to tell me anything…

Audience member: But is it good press - good for you?

JL: Yes it is. Yes. Of course it is. Arrogance is a wonderful thing…I highly recommend it! Y’know, but you’ve got to come fully loaded – that’s the difference… Know what you're talking about… There’s no reason to be dumb – not at all…If you’re dumb you’re just cannon fodder… Y’know, I come from the lowest kind of shit you can imagine – Working class British – nice – *particularly when you’re Irish*
You know – and I’m here – I can string a couple of words together and might not be, hmm we’ll say – the Bill O’Reilly kind of way of life – but I’m up for it… Nice and cheerful and honest. Ok – I’ve finished chatting you up…You’ll be backwards, forwards, and upside down…!

(Laughs)

JL: Metaphysically speaking.

JL: Ok, anybody else? – HEL-LO?!

Aud member: A long time ago you sang ‘Anger is an Energy’ – why is anger an energy?

JL: Why? Who are you and where are you…I can’t see you…Why is anger an energy? Because it’s anything that motivates you…Is love not an energy (directed at asker) – (silence) - DUH?

Audience member: Are you going to see any bands while you’re here John?

JL: Not in particular – is there any reason I should? You’ve got to understand, if your making music all your life, the last thing you want to hear is somebody else’s efforts…

(Laughs)

JL: Because isn’t it difficult enough? It’s like the old cliché of mine I suppose - if I was at a plumbers convention the last thing I’d want to see is your ‘u-bend’…

Aud member: Could you describe how the Sex Pistols got their break? Like the steps you took…

JL: Break?!

Audience member: Ummm yes…

JL: Oh my dear. We broke in!

Audience member: But can you describe it…?

JL: At times – just sheer bloody minded ignorance mostly, right…and I think that’s the key to it, there are no rules - if I don’t step on anyone I don’t hurt anyone, but if you get in my way, you’re gonna have a serious bad time…I mean no harm, but I will if you make me think so…It’s as simple as that… I don’t give two fucks if anyone bought a single thing I ever made…but there’s no difference, I will do it anyway…and that kind of relentless spirit is what is missing…songs should have a meaning – anything I write, I *mean*…
"we mean it, maaaaan."

(Applause)

JL: All this hand clapping after all, is a bit naff, innit?!

(Laughs)

JL: You make me feel right pretentious…(smiling). I could really get into this!

Audience member: Just wondering if you’ve got any plans for PIL and just wondering if you have any intentions on working with Jah Wobble…

JL: Well Wobble I love – he’s one of my old time mates, but I’ll tell you, there’s been many different guises of PiL ummm…It would be difficult to pick on particular period wouldn’t it? I mean, how many albums are there – 25? Jesus Christ I’ve been there forever…I’m just filibustering up and down.
The reason I do Pistols is that’s where I started, right? And that makes things clear how I went on, and I’ve not changed, and any different kind of music I go into the momentum is the same – I don’t really need to go back into PiL, any PiL I do at all will be new, and you won’t get me doing new Pistols, see, there’s a difference…

Audience member: Are you looking at doing any solo stuff then?

JL: Um, I did. Didn’t you notice?

(Laughs)

Audience member: Well you did 'Psycho’s Path' – right?

JL: Oh shit! What was that I was saying about not caring if I sell a record?! I take it ALL back!

(Laughs)

JL: Affects radio voice : It was called 'Psycho’s Path', and it’s still available!

(Laughs)

Audience member: I was talking to someone at a major label here in Canada, if you wanna call them major labels here, but he said he didn’t want to come here because…

JL: Well this isn’t a major country! So…

(Laughs)

JL: I mean that in terms of none of that military spirit…’y’know, there’s no general notice either..

Audience member: But he said that he didn’t want to come here today because he thought whatever you had to say wouldn’t be relevant…what you would like to say to that…?

JL: He’s dead right as far as he’s concerned! He’ll be his own self-fulfilling prophecy, matey! See, I don’t own you – I don’t own anybody…come if you want…don’t if you don’t wanna…that’s the difference...

To be continued… (hopefully)