BBC ‘banned Johnny Rotten for Jimmy Savile remark’

FORMER Sex Pistols frontman John Lydon is still bitter about “being banned” from BBC Radio after speaking out against Jimmy Savile.
Former Sex Pistols frontman John Lydon. Picture: PAFormer Sex Pistols frontman John Lydon. Picture: PA
Former Sex Pistols frontman John Lydon. Picture: PA

Lydon, better known as Johnny Rotten, has referred to an interview he did in 1978, in which he said Savile was “into all sorts of seediness. We all know about it but we’re not allowed to talk about it”.

He told Piers Morgan on tomorrow’s edition of his ITV chat show “I did my bit, I said what I had to but they didn’t air that. I found myself banned from BBC Radio for quite a while, for my contentious behaviour.

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“They wouldn’t state this ­directly, there’d be other excuses.” Formed in 1975, the Sex Pistols went on to become one of the most well-known and notorious British bands of all time. Pundits credit them with inspiring the punk rock movement, and charismatic front man Lydon became known for his raucous behaviour.

“We became so big so quick that it was too earth shattering to really deal with sensibly. We had no prospects of fame and all of that and I think that shows. That’s why the quality of the Sex Pistols is still there,” he says.

His former bandmate, Steve Jones, gave him his “Johnny Rotten” moniker, after commenting on the state of his teeth.

Lydon said: “Bad teeth. In my childhood, the only time I saw a toothbrush used was my dad cleaning boots. There was bits missing, all cracked up, I’d avoid the dentist.”

• Piers Morgan’s Life Stories is on STV, tomorrow, 9pm.