Sex Pistols
Press Conference

20.08.2008

Most of our readers must have heard the stories of Sex Pistols disrespecting their fans, telling the press they’re only playing music for money and giving a damn about the audience. That’s why before attending their press conference in Moscow I was a little nervous, because it’s not the kind of things I enjoy hearing. However singer Johnny Rotten behaved in a different way this time. Yes, he was extremely self-confident, but at the same time very humorous (or rather satirical) and entertaining. You may not like the word “entertaining” when used in reference to punk rock icons such as Sex Pistols, but that’s what they are today, and there’s nothing we can do about it. So relax an enjoy the transcript of the event, though, of course, it’s next to impossible to convey Johnny’s unique accent, articulation and manners in writing. Wish you were there, as they say…

It’s great to be here, thank you! But be careful with all these flashes at once, because you will send me nutty! It’s too much all at once. Do you understand? Thank you! I would not like to get angry, I came to Russia to be friendly. Now, I do not know who everyone here is, but by the end of this evening I surely will have a good idea. It has taken us 30 years to be able to get into Russia, and I hope you’re eternally grateful. I am here to answer questions, and I will answer questions, because this is my life. Has anybody got a question for me?

When you look in the mirror everyday, you see the icon of punk rock. How is it like to be a punk rock icon?

No, when I look in the mirror, I see a fucking annoying elderly cunt. As for punk icon or pop star, I’m none of those things. I live outside of the music industry, everything I’ve done and achieved – I had to fight for myself. As a true Sex Pistol, I am an individual. This is not the Rolling Stones! (everybody laughs)

There have been rumors that Sex Pistols are planning to record a new album. Is that indeed the case?

Don’t believe rumors! But it may be possible, because the way we enjoy what we’re doing, new songs will flow. But because we live outside the music industry, we do things in our ways.

Sex Pistols and Public Image Ltd. are two different kinds of music. What music are you interested in at the moment?

Over the years I’ve made very many different kinds of music. I also have a solo career, I perform under the name John Lydon. I intend to make music until I’m dead, six feet under. In my world, there are no rules. All music will be my music. This is why terms like “punk” are meaningless, because a true punk can play a trombone or even a violin. True music is folk music, everything I do is folk music. I am like you, I am one of the folk, but unlike you, I’m not lazy and I’m not frightened by the government. I think we all know I’ve been in and out of jail quite a few times, and I’m still smiling. (everybody laughs)

Is there a difference between Johnny Lydon and Johnny Rotten?

You can call me anything but “asshole”. (everybody laughs)

How do you like Russian fans? What do you expect from tomorrow’s gig?

We played St. Petersburg last night, and it was amazing! A truly magnificent crowd who came to have to have fun and party with the Sex Pistols the way we like it. You do not need a safety pin in your nose to be a punk, and you do not need to be a businessman to know that I’m a fucking clever human being. And this is not bad for a working class man. I come from the very poorest of slums, but I don’t know the slums were so particularly Russian till I got here. So I see similarities very very much, I see repression. But I see happy faces, and I see heart! Viva la revolution! Because this boy means it. Am I going to get tea and trumpets with the President? He would not want it. Well, fuck all politicians! (applause) All of them are liars. People like you and me, we don’t need to lie. Life is too short, mean what you say. And this is why anything I wrote 35 years ago is as relevant today as it was then. Not one word is fake. And this is a hard life I’ve chosen, but I sleep well. Be loud, be proud. So hello, Russia! And well done against Holland! (everybody laughs) Well, if you want to know about football, I’m an… (shouts) Arsenal man! (getting louder and louder) Arsenal, Arsenal, Arsenal! (seeing somebody with an Arsenal tattoo in the crowd) Stand up, show me this again! Yes, wow!!! (applauds) That is very excellent! Thank you, that was a treat!

What do you think about Russians in Britain?

They are very different. The ones that managed to buy their way out tend to be corrupt. It seems to be that Russia’s very good at exporting gangsters. But we love borsch!

What if a daughter granddaughter of one of the bandmembers married Prince William or Prince Harry, how would you react?

Execute all of them! Of course, this is a joke!

And what if…

(interrupts) Shut up, I haven’t finished! (everybody laughs) I told you to be fucking polite! I hate no man, I defend British monarchy. But when I write a song called “God Save The Queen”, I’m telling you what is wrong with British monarchy. I’m always hopeful that they might listen and get it right. (at this point the interpreter gets confused) Oh my God, we need a proper translator! I will explain again, and I will do it nice and slowly. (laughs)

(making a pause after every word) I wrote a song called “God Save The Queen”. In my country this was perceived as an act of treason. Thanks to this and a few other songs I was faced death penalty, which was discussed openly in the Houses of Parliament. It was understood that I resented and hated the monarchy. This was not true. As a British citizen, I will speak honestly about my monarchy. We love our queen, but she’d better fucking start getting it right.

To me true freedom is the right to say what is wrong. I live in this world to get it right. I don’t believe in fake patriotism. If I want to live in this world, it must be with honesty and integrity. And of course, with manners, which is something football hooligans like myself have a great deal of. Only the stinking rich are rude. At the moment I just stink. (smells his arm-pits) I smell Russian. Oh!

In one of the interviews you said that you already know how you will spend the money you’d be paid for the Moscow gig. Can you share your thoughts on this with us?

Did I say such a thing? That was yesterday, I forgot it. Always on good causes, always. I’ve never done this for personal gain. Believe me, if you live in the West, you have to know a thing or two about the tax system. They have ways of keeping us down. 90% of every one hundred is on tax. So I’m thinking of investing in wood. I have a woody!

You recently told a lot of unpleasant things about your fellow countrywoman Duffy. Why do you dislike her so much? Are there any Russian artists that you dislike as much?

Let me correct you: what you read or hear from Western press is usually shit! And you were talking nonsense made up in the media. I love Duffy’s voice. I don’t love Duffy, I’m a married man. And I cannot help it if female pop stars try to fondle me. Because being this handsome is a burden I have to bear. You may call me Johnny Romantical. (everybody laughs) I bring you love, but beware of the flowers.

Why do you use swear words so much? Aren’t you get tired of that? (everybody laughs)

There are no such things as swear words. All languages is the most wonderful achievement of the human being. I use words for poignancy, direction, to pinpoint a thought, set a clarity, so that you’d never misunderstand me. This is important: any government or institution or other human being that tells you that you cannot use a word is my enemy. I am a product of my mother and father fucking. What is wrong with that? This is clarity. Sex is good, Sex Pistols is better. (everybody laughs)

Is it true that Sex Pistols could not play property in the beginning of your career? It’s hard to believe that when listening to your records…

Oh, this is true! And we still can’t – because according to whom? Who is to tell us what is playing or what is not? All true music comes from the heart, it is not learned, it is lived. Hence, folk music. You don’t learn emotions, you experience and live emotions. And this does not come with notation.

In 1978 the British press wrote a lot about a possible Sex Pistols tour of the Eastern Block. Was that indeed planned, and did you intend to visit the USSR as well?

I’ve always planned to visit Russia, the USSR, the various different guises. But as you can understand, seeing that I was at war with my own government, you government wasn’t too happy about the idea. In fact, even in Britain, Scotland, though there is no border, banned me from playing there, and the Lord Provost of Scotland declared that they have enough hooligans already without importing them from England. Such is my life!

What are you going to play tomorrow?

I’m going to play with myself! As a band, we tend to make songs up sometimes on the spot, we improvise. We are currently dabbling with a song called “Baghdad Was A Blast”. This is an anti-war song about Iraq. And it is based loosely on the idea of an elder song called “Belsen Was A Gas”. I am an anti-Nazi – remember Stalingrad! Any Nazis in the house? No! (everybody laughs) OK, you are my friends!

How does it feel to come back to the stage?

Where do you think I’ve been? As far as I know I have never retired, I’m a survivor. I’m also very proud to be half a century young.

You are holding a cigarette in a very special way. Why?

It means I’m concentrating. And I need to be near the microphone, and if I smoke like “Pffffff!”, you will not hear me. I am being polite. This is not marijuana, by the way. (everybody laughs) I have no problems with drugs, drugs are God’s gift like alcohol, if there is moderation – no harm.

Johnny, you have said that you are a regular guy, just like you used to be, that you have not changed. Could you, being a regular guy, present a ticket to your concert to another regular guy, me? (everybody cracks)

I could, but I won’t. (everybody laughs) Because there are other regular guys, too, and unfortunately, this cost me money to get here. There is a limit to my charity. But I’m rather short of guests for my guest list. And if you’re very nice to Mr. Rambo (Johnny’s personal manager, also present at the press conference – ed.), we might pay attention to you, because that’s a fucking cheesy monkey! (everybody cracks)

A lot of foreign punk bands have visited Russia in the past few years. Who do you think punk is still relevant here?

I would ask you that question, because I don’t know. That’s why I’m here – I want the answer. To me, it is not only punk, it is all music. Are you not my parallel human beings? Why has the government built walls between us? You are not my enemies, the politicians are, so we have common grounds.

A question! Is anybody hungry? Please, come on! (hands over plates with food to the press) I came to share, not to stare! Please, take it! Have a snack! I’m generous.

Can you say a few words about your attitude to Malcolm McLaren, Vivienne Westwood, Sid and Nancy?

How can I be short talking about four people? Sid was one of my closest friends. Malcolm and Vivienne are thieves, they stole all my ideas. Nancy was a prostitute from New York. I have managed to survive all of them, but I miss Sid. I miss Sid very very much. You must understand when I say friendship from the heart, I mean it. All the Sex Pistols are a family, and I would die for those people.

Do you believe in God?

I believe that God is in us. When we die, we rot and we feed the maggots. This is why we must live well and honestly. Because I personally cannot die with a lie. I am not a moral man, because morals imply religion. What I do believe in is values, and I value human being above all else. I believe that there is a God, and we are his finest creation. This is why I eat meat. (everybody laughs)

Sex Pistols on the Internet: http://www.sex-pistols.net

Special thanks to Yevgenia Ivanova (Melnitsa Concert Agency) for accreditations for the press conference

Transcript by Roman “Maniac” Patrashov
Photos by Natalie “Snakeheart” Khorina
June 24, 2008
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