John Lydon denies racist attack

[kevdo242]

The Sex Pistols John Lydon has hit back at claims he was involved in an "unprovoked racist attack" on Bloc Party singer, Kele Okereke.

Kele Okereke claimed he was assaulted by Lydon and members of his entourage who had directed a "racist tirade" at him.

Members of Foals and Kaiser Chiefs were said to have stepped in to help the Bloc Party singer.

However, the Sex Pistols frontman has put the incident down to jealousy on Okereke's part.

"I feel very sorry for a man who needs to lie about what was a perfect evening," Lydon said in a statement. "After the show John Rotten and management remained behind to sign autographs, which we did for four solid hours without incident and had a great time talking to other Spanish bands. This seems to have sparked jealousy in certain bands.

"The trouble was brought to us, resulting in those causing the trouble being physically removed by festival security."

He added: "We are in the middle of a wonderful tour, after 30 years we are achieving a true unity in our audience. They are multi-varied, all ages, all races, creeds and colours.

"When you are at a festival with bands who are jealous fools, lies and confusion usually follow. If they need publicity so badly this is the allegation universe they run into."

Lydon concluded by telling Okereke to "grow up and learn to be a true man."

"When you have achieved as much as I have, come back and talk to me," he added. "It's a shame that the wonderful world of the media is riddled with nonsense like this."

Okereke indicated that he has contacted the police both in Spain and in the UK in following the incident, though Lydon did not mention this in his statement. It is currently unclear whether any further action will be taken.

http://www.nme.com/news/sex-pistols/38319

[ffrankwhite]

John Rotten a racist?!?! the man who bought reggae to mainstream radio, the man who was obssessed with reggae, the man whoose drummer Martin Atkins was black, the man whoose stepdaughter is married to a black man and whoose subsequent kids he takes to Disneyland?? sorry, not buying it..

(although having said that, his minder John 'Rambo' Stevens is a man that admits to going out "paki bashing" in his day but i hear that was sort of commonplace in late 60s early 70s England...i wouldn't know).

Seriously though, Rotten a racist, its fucking ridiculous...this is a guy that got who used to catch hell in his day for being such a pusher of reggae, the man who, in their recent residency at brixton kept pushing a massive tribute to Denton 'The Bear' Collins, another black man...the man whoose new dvd (or whoose bands new dvd rather) has a good portion of it with him going on about how all cultures and creeds made up his crowd/fans/inner circle.

Rotten, the only man Richard Branson could find that was down enough to go with a Don Letts (another black man) to Jamaica scouting for talent.

ladies and gentleman the original Klan poster boy

Edited July 22, 2008 by ffrankwhite

[SolidSnake]

heres the original story - kele is a fuckin no mark attention seeking idiot.

Bloc Party and Sex Pistols' John Lydon in 'racist attack'

Kaiser Chiefs and Foals step in after 'unprovoked' incident at festival

Bloc Party's Kele Okereke was involved in a fight with The Sex Pistols' frontman John Lydon at the Summercase festival on Saturday (July 19).

Details of a disturbance at the Spanish event first emerged when Foals frontman Yannis Philippakis mentioned he had been involved in a fight with the veteran singer while onstage at the Latitude Festival.

However, speaking today (July 21), Okereke has explained that he was the target of the attack.

Branding the incident an "unprovoked racist attack", Okereke suffered severe facial bruising, cuts to his face and body and a split lip.

The incident began as Lydon socialised with a host of British acts backstage at the Spanish festival.

According to Bloc Party, their singer approached Lydon to ask if he would ever consider reforming one of Okereke's favourite bands, Public Image Ltd.

However, in a statement from the younger band they claimed that the Sex Pistols singer "became intimidating and aggressive while his entourage responded with a racist tirade including the statement, 'Your problem is your black attitude'."

Okereke was then involved in a fight with three of Lydon's associates, at which point Foals' Philippakis and Kaiser Chiefs' Ricky Wilson stepped in to help the Bloc Party man.

The incident was broken up by festival security and was later reported to Spanish police. It was reported to police in the UK after Okereke returned.

"It's not an issue of the physical assault, even though it was an unprovoked attack, it is the fact that race was brought into the matter so readily," Okereke explained today.

"Someone as respected and as intelligent as Lydon should know better than to bring race into the equation, or socialise with and encourage those who hold such narrow-minded attitudes.

"I am disappointed that someone I held with such high regard turns out to be such a bigot."

Edited July 22, 2008 by SolidSnake

[ffrankwhite]

heres the original story - kele is a fuckin no mark attention seeking idiot.

Bloc Party and Sex Pistols' John Lydon in 'racist attack'

Kaiser Chiefs and Foals step in after 'unprovoked' incident at festival

Bloc Party's Kele Okereke was involved in a fight with The Sex Pistols' frontman John Lydon at the Summercase festival on Saturday (July 19).

Details of a disturbance at the Spanish event first emerged when Foals frontman Yannis Philippakis mentioned he had been involved in a fight with the veteran singer while onstage at the Latitude Festival.

However, speaking today (July 21), Okereke has explained that he was the target of the attack.

Branding the incident an "unprovoked racist attack", Okereke suffered severe facial bruising, cuts to his face and body and a split lip.

The incident began as Lydon socialised with a host of British acts backstage at the Spanish festival.

According to Bloc Party, their singer approached Lydon to ask if he would ever consider reforming one of Okereke's favourite bands, Public Image Ltd.

However, in a statement from the younger band they claimed that the Sex Pistols singer "became intimidating and aggressive while his entourage responded with a racist tirade including the statement, 'Your problem is your black attitude'."

Okereke was then involved in a fight with three of Lydon's associates, at which point Foals' Philippakis and Kaiser Chiefs' Ricky Wilson stepped in to help the Bloc Party man.

The incident was broken up by festival security and was later reported to Spanish police. It was reported to police in the UK after Okereke returned.

"It's not an issue of the physical assault, even though it was an unprovoked attack, it is the fact that race was brought into the matter so readily," Okereke explained today.

"Someone as respected and as intelligent as Lydon should know better than to bring race into the equation, or socialise with and encourage those who hold such narrow-minded attitudes.

"I am disappointed that someone I held with such high regard turns out to be such a bigot."

see now this complicates the whole thing a little. cuz its actually saying his entourage was saying the racist stuff, not Rotten himself and as i've mentioned earlier, John Rambo his childhood friend admitted to "going out paki bashing" as a kid. But yeah, Rottens boys are not to be messed with, he surrounds himself with these guys, the "Arsenal Mob" or "The Herd" (something to do with football and shit and where he lived and his local team) which sort of became a necessity back in the mid/late 70s when the whole God Save The Queen thing blew up and it wasnt the smartest thing for him to be walking down the street on his lonesome cuz he was literally headhunted and, apparently he's stuck with em ever since.

I actually remember a similar occurance, it seems wherever Rotten is with Rambo and the rest theres always some sort of trouble, some sort of fight...like at some afterparty for the reality show he went on and they turned up, scaring the crap out of Westlife and god knows who else, causing a ruckus and getting ejected around which point (as reported by some English tabloid or another) his wife Nora apologised to a few people in attendance saying that she really didnt like...that crowd he spent his time with.

Who knows what the truth of it is..

[mr.b]

Hmm why couldn't he beat up Westlife...

[LEARNING PROCESS]

John Rotten a racist?!?! the man who bought reggae to mainstream radio, the man who was obssessed with reggae, the man whoose drummer Martin Atkins was black, the man whoose stepdaughter is married to a black man and whoose subsequent kids he takes to Disneyland?? sorry, not buying it..

(although having said that, his minder John 'Rambo' Stevens is a man that admits to going out "paki bashing" in his day but i hear that was sort of commonplace in late 60s early 70s England...i wouldn't know).

Seriously though, Rotten a racist, its fucking ridiculous...this is a guy that got who used to catch hell in his day for being such a pusher of reggae, the man who, in their recent residency at brixton kept pushing a massive tribute to Denton 'The Bear' Collins, another black man...the man whoose new dvd (or whoose bands new dvd rather) has a good portion of it with him going on about how all cultures and creeds made up his crowd/fans/inner circle.

Rotten, the only man Richard Branson could find that was down enough to go with a Don Letts (another black man) to Jamaica scouting for talent.

ladies and gentleman the original Klan poster boy

Yeah, how can he be racist when his autobiography is named- Rotten: No Irish, No Blacks, No Dogs?

Edited July 22, 2008 by LEARNING PROCESS

[Spuffy78]

I wonder if Kele Okereke and Sunny are related?

[DopeSickGirl]

^^^

Johnny Rotten was Irish and worked with many black artists within the dub-reggae scene.

And that title is tongue in cheek, I would imagine, related to the fact that 'No Irish, No Blacks, No Dogs' is a sign that was posted in MANY shop windows as soon as people started emigrating to the UK.

He is not fucking racist.

EDIT: Frank, that is a fantastic picture you've found there.

&& Axl98 I think the whole mention SunnyDRE in every thread that mentions black people is wearing a liiiiittle thin.

Edited July 22, 2008 by DopeSickGirl

[Spuffy78]

It is.

Sunny getting upset over it though isn't.

[DopeSickGirl]

[SolidSnake]

why do most americans fail to understand irony?

[LEARNING PROCESS]

^^^

Johnny Rotten was Irish and worked with many black artists within the dub-reggae scene.

And that title is tongue in cheek, I would imagine, related to the fact that 'No Irish, No Blacks, No Dogs' is a sign that was posted in MANY shop windows as soon as people started emigrating to the UK.

He is not fucking racist.

EDIT: Frank, that is a fantastic picture you've found there.

&& Axl98 I think the whole mention SunnyDRE in every thread that mentions black people is wearing a liiiiittle thin.

I see...

[ffrankwhite]

whys everyone talking about Sunny, he aint even in here

and yeah, what DSG said, Rotten: No Irish No Blacks No Dogs is off of a sign on boarding house windows in england right up until the 70s. His whole family were irish, thats the entire point. Dont tell me you honestly thought it was some manifesto for race war?

EDIT: sorry, bit dim, missed that yeah... its Axl whatshisface being talked about not Sunny-Corleone

Edited July 23, 2008 by ffrankwhite