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Coldplay 'tosh' says Lydon
Ever-outspoken Sex Pistol hits out at Chris Martin and Co., Radiohead and James
- 15/12/2009
Public Image Ltd member John Lydon has labelled music from bands like Coldplay and Radiohead "tosh".
The newly regrouped post-punk pioneers PiL kick off their UK tour tonight (15 Dec) at the O2 Academy, Birmingham.
Lydon may live in LA now, but he reckons the UK needs his band and his honesty, more than ever: "Coldplay and Radiohead bug the hell out of me because it’s so soulless."
"It just seems pointless. It’s nice, but it’s tosh. I’ve been out of this country for a few years and you seriously do need me back here to tell you what’s what," he explained. "That’s not me being awfully grandiose about it, but you need to get some sensibility together here. That grandiose idiocy."
He also name-checked Manchester band James, claiming the band has "pompous presentation".
"Coldplay and Radiohead bug the hell out of me because it's so soulless. It just seems pointless. It's nice, but it's tosh."
John Lydon
Adding: "It’s too much with no content. They don’t care about you. They care about lining their coffers. There’s nothing about heart and soul, they don’t know about people dying, living, aspiring.
"They don’t sing those songs out of a sense of community. They sing them to you out of contempt, with fiddly studio gadgetry. Is this acceptable? Is this what you want? Well, you’ve got it in spades."
The PiL tour takes in dates at the Leeds Academy (16 Dec), Glasgow Academy (18), Manchester Academy (19), London’s Brixton Academy (21) and Electric Ballroom (22, 23).
As for how rehearsals for the PiL shows went, he responded: "It sounded excellent. Excellent."
In the past, PiL counted guitar legends Keith Levene and Jah Wobble in their ranks, but Lydon reckons it’s essential that the line-up continues to evolve.
"Of course, it was a wonderful privilege to work with very many PiL guitarists and people would love to talk about say, Metal Box. Public Image is an ongoing process right? We’re a runaway truck with none of your rules to tell you what’s what," said Lydon.
Comments
Andy
The funny thing is he's absolutely right.
Will
The last time I heard Radiohead play "Nude" I sure thought it was soulless... I doubt Lydon has even heard much Radiohead in the last 10 years. Lydon and Branca have completely ignored electronic music and the possibilities it presents and it's proponent musicians have realized. This is the guy who admitted doing a reunion tour for money.
Jon, Oxford
This guy should keep his opinions to himself and just concentrate on selling butter.
Mark, Scotland
So Radiohead only care about 'lining their coffers'? That's strange, because the last time I looked Radiohead gave their fans the chance to download their last album completely free of charge. Compare that to Lydon... the endless tired reunion tours to syphon even more dosh from his dwindling ageing fanbase, the embarrassing butter commercials, and worst of all, I'm A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here. Oh sorry John, you walked off that, didn't you? Guess that was your way of keeping the punk credentials intact. I guess he has to slag someone off though. Because for all his talk of PiL being an 'ongoing process' he hasn't released anything of musical worth in 30 years that he could use interviews to talk about. What a pathetic, lonely old man.
Natalie UK
Sex Pistols = one of the most overrated bands of all time. John Lydon is a looking for more publicity by bad mouthing frankly the easiest of targets, shame on you.
BCA, Cornwall
Not that I care much for Coldplay (and I don't at all see how Radiohead could ever be lumped in with 'bands like Coldplay'), but whatever, go sell some Country Life butter, Mr. Lydon... That's all about 'living, dying, aspiring' eh?
Andy, Salisbury
Lydon does butter adverts and then accuses other artists of 'lining their coffers'. Senility beginning to creep in, perhaps?
Jensen, Happyland
Once a great, now a washed up oldie. It happens to us all. At least he's doing what he enjoys. Oh well.
Dicky
"Soulless" is so wide of the mark when it comes to Radiohead, poor Johnny.
Clare, near Gairloch, Wester Ross
That's the pot calling the kettle black. If I believed Lydon actually thought bands like Radiohead lacked content, I'd be incensed - but everything the old fool says is for effect. He's nothing but a publicity-seeker. Always has been.
Cuckfield West Sussex
Their goes the ramblings of a middle aged manis this man serious??.they only care about lining their coffers?. I seem to remember the Sex Pistols changing labels a few times and reaping the benefits, even writing about the lucrative deal in the song " The Gretaest Rock and Roll Swindle". Times change John, so do attitudes, except yours.Believe it or not, your band were important at the time, but to quote the Beatles.."You are really only very small and life goes on within you and without you".
Joseph Spott Gouldsboro, Pa. USA
The Two BEST Recording and Live Bands Today. Include The FOO Fighters , and Big Head Todd and The Monsters too.
Ian McNally / Cambridge.
Well said John. I agree totally with what you are saying, except the fact that it is nice. It certainly is not!Why no metion of U2????
Jim, Manchester
Yeah, Radiohead is soulless...I'm gonna be 'real punk' when I grow up and do 'I'm a celebrity get me out of here' and butter adverts.Clown.
Lauren Laverne
Live music sessions most weekdays with Lauren.
Marc Riley
A live session most nights from Manchester.
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