one of the most intelligent entertainers maybe ever

...is the original antichrist/anarchist.



Interview with John Lydon at the Onion Av Club.

I'll spare you bombastic historical context of Lydon, Malcolm McLaren and whether the Sex Pistols were actually even punks at all since McLaren was a charlatan who just co-opted the whole idea from American proto-punks like the Velvet Underground, et al, and then commodified the entire thing (see Please Kill Me for full background story*) and instead just leave you with some bons mots from Lydon:


"It depends on what you mean by the word “art.” Art as in craftily manufactured? Art as a commodity to be purchased? No."


"Pop music is just as valid as any other intellectual process. It all requires effort."


"I love pop music. It’s not easy to write a good pop song. It may be easier to put out a fake jazz album, as Sting does from time to time."


Pretty impressive that he's still alive in 2010, let alone still making music with PiL and thoughtfully discussing the creative process.



*this weblog fully endorses checking out the book from your local library or at least buying it used if you have to.