November 08, 2004
John Lydon's Biography
There was a time when I was younger that I thought John Lydon(Johnny Rotten) was everything that was right with music. After visiting his site and reading his bio posted there I now see that he is everything that is wrong with music. His bio reads like an informercial, after reading it you would think the man had cured polio and redefined all music for the last 30 years. Punk's not dead!!! (it's just hiding from johnny)
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Rotten is a walking contradiction, an agitator, an asshole, a tireless self-promoter and a consummate showman. In my eyes he can do no wrong. Give the guy a break, countless poseurs have made countless millions by co-opting and bastardizing something he helped create a long time ago with his own blood, sweat and tears. I will always be grateful to Johnny because as a 13 year old in my whitebread suburb in 1980, I got my older sister to buy me a copy of Never Mind the Bollocks, and upon a few listens, and for the first time in my life I felt like I wasn't alone.
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Lyddon is a shithead. But his redeeming feature is that he knows and accepts he's a shithead, and that he never misrepresents himself. Long live punk!
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psmealey, Never Mind the Bollocks had the same effect on me at the age of 15! Johnny Rotten is definitely an A-hole with a capital A, but I love him to death. I just don't especially want to hang out with him. ;)
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psmealey never mind the bollocks made growing up tolerable. For some reason that bio really pissed me off. I agree I will cut him a break, he more then deserves it. One of the best interviews I ever heard him give was on a local station the day Kurt Cobain died. It was the first time I ever heard John get truly serious and sound seriously sad while talking about the wasted life of Kurt and Sid. I wish I could find that interview somewhere.
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I remember that interview well, and it also made the same impression on me. I think his point was that fame isn't "real". It's all a temporary illusion. I also thought that moment in the most recent Pistols biopic where he talks about Sid, was also quite poignant and heartfelt. It's not accurate to say that Johnny is a misunderstood figure, as to my mind, what you see is what you get with him, but people do tend to interpret and judge him in a lot of different ways. If he pisses you off, that's fine, and that might be the reaction he's trying to get from you. But, as much of a provocateur as he is, I think he's authentic. As far as the bio goes, that was written by some fanboy or some PR wonk. It does read like a Hollywood junket piece of crap, but like everything else about him, it was probably done to elicit some type of reaction. As always, he gets the last laugh at our expense.
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He was always an arrogant prick. I don't know if he really thinks the sun shines out of his arse, but no doubt he knows how much he will irritate people by coming across as if he *does* think that. Does he have musical talent? No. Not at all. Is he a showman? Yes. And an amusing one. Has he sold out? Of course! He sold out in 1978. And admitted it. Ever get the feeling you've been cheated?
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i got to the the filth and the fury on ifc that's a different john but as far as the person goes why does anyone have to live up to your pr expectation?
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typo: to see the--
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The Sex Pistols cause amnesia. The brother of a very good childhood friend of mine was obsessed with The Beatles in his early teenage years. The next summer his obsession polarized to the Sex Pistols, with equal ferocity. He now has absolutely no recollection of any interest in the band.
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maybe it's all a ruse to provoke anger or sadness or whatever in his old audience. i'm just saying.
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Read his autobiography. Really good.