The Sex Pistols certainly weren’t the first to balk at showing up to receive a trophy at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony. They were, however, notable for the style in which they declined to attend. When word came in early 2006 that the Pistols would be inducted, the band’s singer John Lydon, whose stage name was “Johnny Rotten,” faxed the Hall of Fame a handwritten note. “Next to the SEX-PISTOLS rock and roll and that hall of fame is a piss stain,” wrote Lydon. “Your museum. Urine in wine. Were not coming. Were not your monkey and so what?” You can read the rest above, or watch below as a bemused Jann Wenner, co-founder of the museum, reads the letter out loud during the ceremony.
via Letters of Note
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Good boy, Johnny. Now its time to practice our “ABCs”.
Johnny, let’s see, uh, is he still alive?
Thanks JR for not selling out.
not selling out!!!….hmmm Country Life
While they didn’t refuse the induction, one of the members of Rush (sorry, never been a fan of the band, though always respected their musicianship) gave the best acceptance speech in history, commenting on the absurdity of the enterprise in what was essentially – well, an absurdist performance piece:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TKuO1FpCWRI
Start it at 4:20 for fun.
Kudos to him. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is a joke. No rhyme or reason. Arbitrary nonsense. I don’t know why anyone feeds into it.
I think Jan was plastered
he’s a punk rocker to the end. I do find some of the inductions ridiculous but hey who am i to say. i’m just a guy who listens to rock is all
Johnny Rotten, you would have made Sid Vicious (and Nancy Spungeon(sp?)) VERY proud. Thank you.
Much Love, kl
Hardly a surprise. I don’t think it’s the middle finger some perceive it as since it was a predictable response. And who cares? They made one glorious raucous years ago, have had several skeptical reunions to cash in, and keep acting like 20 somethings they are not. Bit sad really as the joke isn’t funny anymore. But they got it right once which is more than most bands.
“Congradulations.”
Well played, Mr. rotten. Well fucking played.
Johhny was not playing some game here, what he wrote in letter is what he truly is – at home, on street, in movie, on concert – he is always same man, so I respect him !
When I first heard they were going to have a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, I thought it was a joke, and figured, no self respecting rock an roller would ever go. And now voila! it’s like the Oscars. We now live in a Corporate world where everything is swallowed up by the corporations, music, sports, health, religion, art, food, fashion, drugs, the list goes on and on. Bravo Johnny, and to all the free spirits on this planet, that see past the nonsense of “left” and “right” and keep spreading the love, soul and passion.
would like to have Blue Magic entered into the Hall of Fame for their known hits & talents & for the great lead singer Ted mills
America never really got it , but John did,think free and you may just have an incline into what really counts ,peace
It’s appropriate for the R ‘n’ R Hall to induct the Pistols, but, they should’ve bin ready for JR’s response.
I, too, think they’re a piss stain. There’s nothing like seeing a hypocritical snob like JW read a letter from an actual rockstar telling him to go get fkd. Beautiful.
I love jonny rottens performances too but you do realize that he is playing a character and that the real john lydon is nothing like this? he is the gordon ramsay ofthe music industry…this is a persona he wheels out for the press and public…a very clever bloke that made good use of what talent he had…but make no mistake, its still an act