John Lydon shares the song that had the Sex Pistols dying of laughter – but it was never recorded

A never-recorded song written by John Lydon had left the Sex Pistols dying of laughter, according to the legendary songwriter.

Lydon, also known as Johnny Rotten, was a mainstay in the Sex Pistols and later fronted Public Image Ltd. His revolutionary work in the punk rock group was not all recorded, however, as Lydon shared one song the band never got around to recording had left them in stitches. Though the band “never even rehearsed it,” Lydon says the track received a warm reception from his bandmates at the time. The songwriter behind Anarchy in the UK and Hawaii confirmed it was the first set of lyrics he had ever written, though he has since lost the song.

Lydon confirmed the missing song in an interview with Daniel Rachel, author of The Art of Noise. Speaking of the song, Lydon says it was “not about murder” but featured a blood-covered house which originated from the songwriter being “sick on the punch” provided.

Lydon shared: “Yes, I do. It was a song called Mandy. It was about a girl I knew. It was
really silly. There was blood on the carpet, blood on the stairs. Mandy, I did it for you. It’s not about murder at all. We had a party round her house.

“Sid (Vicious) invited me. I got so sick on the punch; it was a mixture of Martini, Cinzano Bianco and red wine. I vomited everywhere, particularly the stairs, and bingo! I’ve lost the original song. We never even rehearsed it. The Pistols died of laughter.”

Though Lydon had plenty of unfinished songs with the Sex Pistols, it does not appear a reunion is on the cards. A reformed Pistols, minus Lydon, now tours with Frank Carter as the frontman. Lydon has confirmed he finds the reformation of the legendary band “awful” without him.

He said: “I’ve been shocked how awful it is. It just seems like they’ve rented a puppet, and there it is. It is truly karaoke with, I think, really mediocre results. He doesn’t understand any of those lyrics.

“He couldn’t possibly because if he did, he wouldn’t be doing it. He’d feel ashamed about that, of imitating someone else and pretending that the original songwriter and ‘Personality of the Year Award’ person didn’t exist.”

Lydon has also ruled out reuniting with the Sex Pistols, and cited the Danny Boyle-directed Pistol as a major reason for not wanting a return to the stage with Glen Matlock and company.

Lydon added: “After using Walt Disney’s financial backing to mock me in court while Nora was dying – and they knew this – that, to me, is an act of evil I can’t easily forgive. And why should I? No, I’ll do them no more favours ever again. Not ever. Not ever, never.”