Substance Magazine (Australia)
October, 1997

Never Mind The Bollocks

"I've always shied away from calling myself a musician because I don't like the way they limit themselves to categories" states John Lydon down the phone line. John Lydon, a.k.a Johnny Rotten, is best known as front man for the punk explosion in the mid Seventies with The Sex Pistols. Prior to doing this interview, the record company warned me that he may just snap at me. This sums up Lydon to a tea.

It's 1997 and Lydon has lost the safety pins and military boots and has just released his first solo album, "Psycho's Path". A collaboration with Leftfield for the powerful "Open Up" single has led to a new direction and sound. Although the Lydon sound is still very similar to his earlier Public Image Limited productions, the eclectic sound of anarchic Pop has adopted a high dance cred with the likes of the Chemical Brothers, Moby, Leftfield and Danny Saber submitting remixes for the album. Although Psycho's Path is not a typical dance album, you couldn't say it's Rock or Pop either. "I don't know if there's a category at all for me" says Lydon precariously.

Throughout the years, Lydon has always been one to speak his mind. "That's the thing you have to constantly avoid, being conceited. It's a shame when you're perceived as being arrogant when it's the very thing you're trying not to be. If you don't tow the line you're arrogant. If you do tow the line you're special. You're an individual and you're different" proclaims John. This attitude is evident in his lyrics with inspiration drawn from what he lives and sees. "I don't think you should release a song without having a meaning. There's no point in being just trivial like most of the top 30. That's all too easy to string words together just because they rhyme. There's no bonus points in fear".

The album is a variety of sounds fused electronically with original samples and unorthodox instruments. Although Lydon's music is predominantly electronic, created with samplers and synthesisers, he holds the classic ethics of musicianship and is strongly opposed to the laziness of today's producers and artists. "Things have become incredibly simple where you can just buy a drum machine a get your drum rolls rather than in the old days having to cut up your tapes. It's just so brilliant. But at the same time, these machines can only have come about because of people like myself doing all the initial stuff. The technology is imitating the art form. The trouble with a lot of these Techno bands is that they don't understand that. Any old twat can run out and buy a Roland keyboard and use all the factory programs. There's no genius in that and that's the difference with me and a lot of those outfits. I make my own sounds. I'll strip a keyboard bare and reprogram everything in it" resolves John.

As difficult as it is to pin point where Lydon stands in the infinite world of musical classification, it can be said that 'Psycho's Path' is a fusion of lunatic lyrics blended with electronic grooves to produce a series of political statements you can dance to. November sees Lydon touring Japan while an Australian tour is still unconfirmed for December.

Text - Demi Hopkins