Rotten: This agreement smacks of slave labour
Lydon fights back in legal battle over use of punk songs in drama series
This is my life, my history. I didn’t write these songs [for them] to be given off to nonsense JOHN LYDON ON THE SEX PISTOLS’ BACK CATALOGUE
FORMER Sex Pistols frontman Johnny Rotten has claimed an agreement at the centre of a High Court legal dispute between him and ex-bandmates “smacks of slave labour”.
Ex-drummer Paul Cook and guitarist Steve Jones are suing the 70s punk group’s ex-lead singer, real name John Lydon, to allow their songs to be used in six-part TV drama Pistol, which is directed by Danny Boyle and due to air next year.
The series, which is being made by Disney, is based on a 2016 memoir by Jones called Lonely Boy: Tales from a Sex Pistol.
Jones and Cook argue that under the terms of a band member agreement (BMA) made in 1998, decisions regarding licensing requests can be determined on a “majority rules basis”.
But Lydon, who has previously said he thinks the series is the “most disrespectful s**t I’ve ever had to endure”, argues licences can’t be granted without his consent.
Giving evidence in London, Lydon said the Sex Pistols have previously agreed how to conduct their business with “unanimity”.
In a witness statement, he said: “The BMA has never been applied in anything we’ve ever done since 1998.
“It also seems completely unnecessary. There is no point in me being here, or ever was, if it’s the case I can just be completely outvoted by the vested interests of all in one management camp. My fear is they are demanding I agree to sign over the rights to a drama documentary I’m not allowed any access to. To me, that smacks of some kind of slave labour.”
He added: “I don’t understand how Steve and Paul think they have the right to insist I do something I so morally, heart and soul disagree with without any involvement. It is infuriating to me.” Edmund Cullen QC, representing Jones and Cook, suggested to Lydon his reference to “slave labour” is a sign of “how deeply you regret having signed the BMA”. The barrister added: “Given that you regard it as slave labour, Ex-drummer Cook you will do whatever it takes to try and get out of it. You will do whatever it takes up to and including giving false evidence.”
Lydon replied: “False evidence? I’m sorry, how? Where?”
He added: “I don’t think the BMA applies so I’d resist that. I didn’t ask for this court case. It was brought to me, so I will naturally defend myself.”
Lydon said he can’t understand legal documents and they “terrify” him. He added: “It’s obvious I didn’t understand what the BMA was.” He said it has “never come up” and added: “Unanimity is what has made this band as a business tick over.”
Lydon also said: “I care very much about this band, its reputation and quality control. I will always have a say if I think anything is being done to harm or damage [it].”
He added: “You can’t let your history be rewritten for us by a complete stranger with no interest in it. This is my life, my history. I didn’t write these songs [ for them] to be given off to nonsense.”