John Lydon has spoken about how he hopes that Sex Pistols’ famed anti-monarchy anthem ‘God Save The Queen’ won’t be used tastelessly in the event of Queen Elizabeth II’s death.
"That’s about a political situation and the demand for obedience to a monarchy I don’t believe in," Lydon said of ‘God Save The Queen’ on a special edition of The Quietus Hour.. "But she’s a human being and I will sorely miss her as a human being on planet Earth.
"It’s not her fault she was born into a gilded cage," he added, before clarifying his opposition to the monarchy, but concluding: "Long may she live."
During the interview, Lydon also spoke about the current situation at Arsenal Football Club, a team of which he has been a lifelong fan. "His time has come and gone," Lydon said of embittered manager Arsene Wenger. "It’s too much to expect any of us to pay and support that idiocy. Everyone has a losing streak, but 10 years of it – sorry, goodbye."
Other highlights of the interview included Lydon railing against music journalists who he says insist on making comparison between different artists, saying that he didn’t see parallels between Sex Pistols and Sleaford Mods, as some people have suggested, while he also stated his belief in a one-nation state, saying that borders created divisions and frequently created wars.
The full edition of this week’s The Quietus Hour podcast, featuring the interview with John Lydon in full, will be available from tomorrow.