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Johnny's Still Rotten, Says Foe

Fellow musician accuses John Lydon of Sex Pistols in racist attack

By Will McCahill,  Newser Staff

Posted Jul 22, 2008 6:21 PM CDT
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(Newser) – The lead singer of British band Bloc Party says he was the victim of a racist attack by the frontman of punk legends the Sex Pistols and his cronies. Kele Okereke, of Nigerian descent, was left with a split lip and bruises after the incident Saturday in Barcelona with John Lydon—aka Johnny Rotten—and an entourage one witness told the Guardian was “a gang of racist thugs.”

“Someone as respected and as intelligent as Lydon should know better than to bring race into the equation, or socialize with … those who hold such narrow-minded attitudes,” Okereke said of the confrontation, during which he was belittled for his "black attitude." He said he was "disappointed that someone I held with such high regard turns out to be such a bigot." Lydon today denied the incident.

John Lydon of British band the Sex Pistols performs during the Exit music festival in Novi Sad, Serbia, early Monday, July 14, 2008. The Exit music festival, held July 10-13 in the northern Serbian city at the historic Petrovaradin fortification, attracted an estimated crowd of over 120,000 people.
John Lydon of British band the Sex Pistols performs during the Exit music festival in Novi Sad, Serbia, early Monday, July 14, 2008. The Exit music festival, held July 10-13 in the northern Serbian city...   (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic)
Someone as respected and as intelligent as Lydon should know better than to bring race into the equation, or socialise with ... those who hold such narrow-minded attitudes, Kele Okereke said.
"Someone as respected and as intelligent as Lydon should know better than to bring race into the equation, or socialise with ... those who hold such narrow-minded attitudes," Kele Okereke said.   (Getty Images )
Kele Okereke, lead singer of Bloc Party, is said to have been left with a split lip and severe facial bruising after he was attacked by Sex Pistols frontman John Lydon and a gang of racist thugs.
Kele Okereke, lead singer of Bloc Party, is said to have been left with a split lip and severe facial bruising after he was attacked by Sex Pistols frontman John Lydon and "a gang of racist thugs."   (Getty Images)
John Lydon, also known as Johnny Rotten in his role as frontman of the Sex Pistols, is said to have attacked the black lead singer of the group Bloc Party in a racially motivated incident.
John Lydon, also known as Johnny Rotten in his role as frontman of the Sex Pistols, is said to have attacked the black lead singer of the group Bloc Party in a racially motivated incident.   (AP Photo)
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Lydon denies attack happened
Telegraph (UK)

 
racism • Sex Pistols • John Lydon • Johnny Rotten • Bloc Party • Kele Okereke

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