Neil Young appeared to be a fan of Sex Pistols frontman Johnny Rotten as he “pissed off a lot of people”.
The Godfather of Grunge would make his thoughts on the Anarchy in the UK singer clear in an interview with Spin Magazine. Young spoke highly of the at-the-time Public Image Ltd. frontman, who would reform Sex Pistols briefly for a run of shows in 2002 and 2003. The band are still touring, though without frontman John Lydon, also known by the Rotten moniker. Lydon is still touring with Public Image Ltd., while the newly reformed Sex Pistols have Frank Carter as their frontman. Young was full of praise for the Lydon-fronted days of the band as he liked what he was capable of doing to people. Though the two had never met at the time, Young was delighted by Lydon’s attitude. Fans are just as delighted with Young for praising the Rise hitmaker.
Young said: “I never met Johnny Rotten, but I like what he did to people. He pissed off a lot of people who I think needed waking up. Rock ‘n’ roll people, who in the ’70s were asleep and thinking they were just so fucking cool and they knew what had to happen. They were telling me why don’t you make a real record.”
Praise for Lydon would soon devolve into Young denouncing the record industry and then suggested it was better to “burn out” as an artist as it would mean “disintegrating” in wild fashion. He continued: “I think art is a private thing. I’m not sharing my creative moment with whoever’s in the hallway. Rust implies you’re not using anything, that you’re sitting there and letting the elements eat you.
“Burning up means you’re cruising through the elements so fast that you’re actually burning, and your circuits, instead of corroding, are fucking disintegrating. You’re going so fast you’re actually fucking the elements, becoming one with the elements, turning to gas. That’s why it’s better to burn out.”
Fans agree, with the quotes posted to the r/NeilYoung subreddit. One person wrote: “It’s kinda ironic to me that Neil is about the only artist from that era that has done well rusting or at least has been able to cruise not too fast not too slow. Quite a few burned up and a lot just faded away. Seems he found the sweet spot.”
Another added: “So awesome, thanks for sharing. Agree that rock and roll in the late ’70s was on cruise control and too comfortable with the status quo.” A third wrote: “Almost surprised there’s never been a PIL + Neil collab. They could play Albatross for an hour.”
Sex Pistols were just as out-there in their comments, with a letter penned to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame mocking the institution for even considering their inclusion. It reads: “Next to the SEX-PISTOLS rock and roll and that hall of fame is a piss stain. Your museum. Urine in wine. Were not coming.
“Were not your monkey and so what? Fame at $25,000 if we paid for a table, or $15000 to squeak up in the gallery, goes to a non-profit organisation selling us a load of old famous. Congradulations. If you voted for us, hope you noted your reasons.”
