Sex Pistols are the subject of an upcoming FX limited series, but Johnny Rotten is clearly not a fan.
Rotten, whose real name is John Lydon, said in a new interview with The Sunday Times (as transcribed by NME) of the series, “I think that’s the most disrespectful s— I’ve ever had to endure. I mean, they went to the point to hire an actor to play me but what’s the actor working on? Certainly not my character. It can’t go anywhere else [but court.]”
Rotten would add, “Sorry, you think you can do this, like walk all over me – it isn’t going to happen. Not without a huge, enormous f—ing fight. I’m Johnny, you know, and when you interfere with my business you’re going to get the bitter end of my business as a result. It’s a disgrace.”
As previously reported, the FX limited series will be called Pistol and will consist of six episodes based on guitarist Steve Jones’ 2018 memoir Loney Boy: Tales from a Sex Pistol. Danny Boyle, who’s best known for directing 2008’s Slumdog Millionaire, 2010’s 127 Hours and 2019’s Beatles-inspire film Yesterday, will helm the project as director and executive producer.
When the series was first announced, Boyle said in a statement, “Imagine breaking into the world of ‘The Crown’ and ‘Downton Abbey’ with your mates and screaming your songs and your fury at all they represent. This is the moment that British society and culture changed forever. It is the detonation point for British street culture…where ordinary young people had the stage and vented their fury and their fashion…and everyone had to watch & listen…and everyone feared them or followed them. The Sex Pistols. At its center was a young charming illiterate kleptomaniac – a hero for the times – Steve Jones, who became in his own words, the 94th greatest guitarist of all time. This is how he got there.”
A release date for Pistol is not currently known.
