John Lydon gets riled by John Humphrys: 'Don’t tell me what to do, don’t tell me nothing'
The Sex Pistols frontman and BBC broadcaster get somewhat heated in a new interview on the establishment and punk
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.John Lydon, also known as Johnny Rotten, demonstrated his most combative side during a BBC Radio 4 interview with John Humphrys today.
The Sex Pistols frontman – who, he says, offered a “direct assault on mediocrity” – did not react well to the broadcaster’s suggestion that he wasn’t the only young person to have been anti-establishment.
“What you were doing was what every young person with a bit of energy, with a bit of interest in life, was doing and that is being anti-establishment,” said Humphrys.
“Stop it, don’t be silly,” responded Lydon. “That’s neither here nor there. That’s just the backdrop of nothing. I was standing up and being counted; I made my opinions very clear and you can’t lighten that load at all.
“It was no fun to be discussed in the Houses of Parliament, under a traitor and treason act – that wasn’t what everyone was doing.”
“It was great publicity,” suggests Humphrys.
“Great publicity? It carried a death sentence mate. Let’s get serious,” said Lydon angrily.
“Well you’re still here,” said Humphrys calmly.
The veteran broadcaster goes onto comment: “You wanted to change attitudes. What you haven’t succeeded in doing is changing society and if that’s what you really were setting out to do…
Lydon jumps in incredulously: “You put a lot on me don’t you?”
“It was you claiming it,” laughs Humphrys, to which Lydon calls him a “silly sausage” and denies ever wanting to change society.
Humphreys, who admits he’s “never been called a silly sausage before”, continues: “You can’t be both outside the establishment looking in and saying, ‘I want to change things or I am different.’”
“Says who? Says you! Says you!” exclaims Lydon. “Don’t tell me what to do, don’t tell me nothing, don’t tell me what to wear, don’t tell me what to think. I mean you no harm. I’ll let you trundle along as merrily as you like, so long as you don’t step into my space.”
When Humphrys suggests that Lydon – now a frontman for Country Life Butter adverts – has changed over time, he gets riled again:
“I wouldn't say I've mellowed over time or calmed down; that's just not ever gonna happen,” he said.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments