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Summary: Johnny Was a Punk Rock Hero
Review: Today, well over 20 years after the Sex Pistols lit the fire that was punk rock, Johnny Rotten (né John Joseph Lydon) is still a (minor?) rock celebrity, with his own show on VH1, a radio program, and an autobiography. I'm sure many people who've seen his (actually, quite cutting and hilarious) show--Rotten Television-- on cable think he's just another pop culture character with a funny name without much to back it up. However, the truth is that Johnny Rotten presided over one of the single most exciting and influential moments in rock culture history. This "Rotten" persona is one of integrity and humor, and deep, biting sarcasm that, in the mid-70s, threatened to destroy the entire community of popular music. It was not a joke, and many, many people were frightened of him in a way that seems almost naive and quaint at this turn of the century.Published originally in hardcover in 1994, Rotten: No Irish, No Blacks, No Dogs (the sub-title is a reference to signs that hung in some public places in Britain in the 50s) is easily one of the best books on punk rock. I only recently acquired a copy of it, having read parts of it throughout the years but never from start to finish until now. I remember when it came out: I worked in a bookstore and only myself and another employee cared, and since we were in charge of displays were shoved aside the Clancys and the Steels and the Kings and put "Rotten" front and center. For several days Rots glared out at in-coming customers. We thought this was a good laugh. What makes "Rotten" so great is its rich, insightful, witty style. Whether describing his Dickensian childhood, the outrageous perversions of public schools, his misadventures with a young Sid Vicious, or the Great Rock'n'Roll Swindle itself, Lydon comes off as honest to a fault, with a sharp tongue (of course you knew that) and a sharp eye. His prickly Irish background is evident in his mania for the odd, gruesome little details that bring these stories to life. You really get a first-hand, in-depth look at the original punk movement. Lydon recalls the heady excitements, the furious disappointments, and the beatings with captivating style. There is no nostalgia here, for Lydon's persona will allow no such niceties, and the scene at the time was too intense for that to suffice nowadays. "Pop culture assassins" was how Malcolm McLaren saw the Sex Pistols, and it's quite apt. Despite the notorious conflicts between Lydon and McLaren, they did see (sort of) eye-to-eye on the ridiculous nature of music and celebrity as it was in the mid-70s. Diatribes against Elvis, Paul McCartney and the record company establishment itself abound. Story after story is recounted about the attempt by savvy teens at the time to create their own youth culture for themselves. Lydon describes perfectly the individuality, the fashion, the attitudes of early punks that he came to personify. I can't imagine the stamina and self-possession it must have taken for a 19-year-old to become one of the most lauded and vilified people of the day. To quote Rotten himself, "We mean it, maaan!" And he did: he meant every word. He knew he had the truth on his side. There is much fun to be had reading Rotten and lots to be learned. It reads at once as a sociological piece about youth cultures in Great Britain, and as a hilarious, sometimes scary, sometimes sad, yet always exciting and inspiring rock'n'roll autobiography. With sometimes slightly contradictory contributions from Steve Jones, Paul Cook, Chrissie Hynde, Billy Idol, Bob Gruen and others, it's not nearly as self-serving as you may think, for Lydon--as always--cuts out all ... and gives you a completely un-romanticized picture of true Punk Rock.
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Summary: Terrific autobio by one of the founding fathers of punk
Review: Unfortunately, with all of the hype concerning the infamous Sex Pistols, their rapid rise and just as rapid decline and break-up, people have a tendency to forgot about the people involved in the band. Although Johnny Rotten is probably the most well-known member of the Pistols (I say probably because Sid Vicious is, quite possibly, more well-known), he is often seen as little more than a "punk rock" icon. In this book, he sets it straight, as he sees it. It is an incredibly good read, and Lydon (his real last name) is brutally honest about his home life, his childhood, his inclusion into the Pistols and the breakup and demise of the Pistols. The book is, at times, depressing, touching and upsetting, but it is always entertaining and, surprisingly, incredibly funny. Lydon is a very witty guy, and he holds nothing back in this autobio. Definately recommend for anyone interested in the man, the Pistols or punk in general.
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Summary: Johnny, We Hardly Knew Ye
Review: What a smart, intense, focused and self-serving piece of work John Lydon is, bless his heart! Malcolm McLaren may have opined that anyone he picked off the street could have been the kingpin of the Sex Pistols, but read this rambling narrative and there's no doubt it was Johnny Rotten Lydon's crude but specific 'gut' vision at the core of what the Pistols and Punk were and still are about, even after these many years. The depiction of Lydon's incredible hardships growing up--though not unusual for large numbers of young people in his time in the U.K.-- the touching accounts of his unconventional but loving and supportive family--the brawling street lifestyle--all reveal a vivid, tough-as-nails character who was both a product and an architect of his niche in history. Boy to man, John Lydon's life journey as told comes off as guided by a strong, instinctive and original view of the world. Such unconventional principles may be temporarily derailed and occasionally muddied, but will ultimately be served through his pure, steely intention. Some information in the autobiography -- Lydon's words interspersed (sometimes confusingly) with those of others -- has been hashed and rehashed in other works about Punk, the Pistols and the times. But a good 60 percent of "Rotten" is fascinating stuff only Lydon could speak to. A small but noteworthy example: Johnny Rotten's characteristic wide, unblinking stare was not an affectation of his punk persona, but the result of eye damage caused by his year-long bout with meningitis at the age of seven. Though Lydon goes to great lengths at every turn to discredit his archnemesis Malcolm McLaren - even reproducing deposition material from his ultimately successful lawsuit against the former manager -- the most persistent irritant in his craw remains the apochryphal legend of Sid. John's brief but telling recollections of Sid as being, well, Sid -- are still rife with jealousy. While Lydon is a fascinating, admirable, brilliant, surviving and functioning piece of sociological and musical history, he never was the 'Sex' in Sex Pistols. That role unmistakably belongs to Sid, and years and years later John Lydon still hasn't gotten over that one little bit.
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Summary: Reading it from the horses mouth
Review: When we look back to the time of the Punk Rock explosion, it came as a shock to many people because they were unprepared for what it represented. Punk Rock was a reaction by a segment of British society to the social status which was embraced by others of a similar social status elsewhere. Johnny Rotten and the other members of the Sex Pistols used their music as a vehicle to put forth their social comentary. This book was an attempt by Johnny Rotten to explain hmself as to why he embarked upon the path of the Sex Pistols. The anger of his social class also reflected the boredom they felt of an out-of-touch hippie generation that was aging and simply did not reflect their passions. The most profound complaint from Johnny Rotten was the lies and distortion of the news media. As he explains his point of view, he has other peers to support him at different parts of the narrative. For those who may have an interest in what happened at this time within the context of that time, this book is recommended.
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Summary: Empowerment for the masses?
Review: Whether or not you like the Sex Pistols is irrelevant. This book has more sociological impacts than you would believe! John is from a very poor background in an impoverish area of London. He is predominantly about gaining empowerment for the working class, standing your ground on things you believe and having a supreme sense of individuality. He also deals with being raised in the lowest of the lower class of society, religious persecution, and the backlash from lowerclass friends when you have finally "made it" and you try to help them escape poverty too. A must for any free thinkers or for people studying sociology!!!
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Summary: Surprisingly readable book from punk rock's lightning rod
Review: While he didn't create punk rock, he was present at the beginning, took it over, and then destroyed it. Populated and related by some of the most bizarre and self-destructive characters (read: Sid Vicious) of the 1970's, the book pretty much lays out the whole history. Though, at times you wonder where the truth begins/ends and the the press flaks take over. Hey, but who cares?! A great read. God Save the Queen
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Summary: FANTASTIC !!!!
Review: You don't have to be a SEX PISTOLS fan to enjoy this book. If you remember the 'uproar' punk rock caused in 1977-1979, this is for you ! John Rotten is such a breath of fresh air, compaired to all the other rock stars of the past. He is witty, downright RUDE at times, and a 'kid at heart'. Basically, this book talks about him growing up in the working class part of London and what started the whole punk rock scene. He takes us from Kings Row to the recording studio to Buckingham Palace to small club gigs and then to America, to wrap up the ENTIRE Sex Pistols' career. It's all here: Sid's battle with heroin, Johnny's feuding with manager Malcome McLaren, Steve Jones (guitarist) & Paul Cook (drummer) remeberences of what it was like to be a Pistol, the battles with Sid's girlfriend Nancy and the trouble she caused, Johnny's court battle with Pistols management after the breakup of the band, ect. ect.... If you EVER had an interest in the Pistols, you will LOVE this book. ALL questions are answered and put to rest. If you always HATED the Pistols, I suggest reading John's book ANYWAY because it will make you think again about the 'tallent' this band had. They changed the face of music...Without THEM, there would have been NO indie rock - NO alternative rock - and NO 'new wave' rock. They were WAY before their time. John's book is honest and down to earth...He admits his mistakes...He admits his faults...He admits the Pistols had little or no tallent as a touring band...This is a man everyone always thought of has having an EGO problem. Read this book ! He could very well be the most CARING person in the rock industry...You might not always agree with WHAT he says, but he will make you THINK....And THAT is a sign of a true artist !
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