Sex Pistols and former P.I.L. front man John Lydon, a.k.a. Johnny Rotten has denied reports of a racially fuelled attack by him and his entourage on Bloc Party singer Kele Okereke.
For those of you who missed it, Okereke’s claim was that upon asking Lydon backstage at backstage at the Summerstage festival in Barcelona about the possibility of a P.I.L. reunion, he became “intimidating and aggressive while his entourage responded with a racist tirade, including the statement, 'your problem is your black attitude'.”Lydon has today hit back, saying to The Guardian, “I feel very sorry for a man that needs to lie about what was a perfect evening. Trouble was brought us, resulting in those causing the trouble being physically removed by festival security.
“If they need publicity so badly this is the allegation universe they run into.
“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.”
Okereke’s statement mentioned that it wasn’t the physical assault that got to him, it was Lydon’s readiness to bring race into the equation.
According to the Guardian, Foals' singer Yannis Philippakis and Kaiser Chiefs singer Ricky Wilson were allegedly witnesses and intervened on behalf of the Bloc Party singer, although no comment has been issued by either of them.
