Quotes by John Lydon

“Its all a stunt and theyll get hurt.”

“It was a very shoddy and weak production. And there werent enough Black faces in the show for my liking. I dont think it achieved anything. Bob Geldof is too self-serving.”

“With two more guys on the court who might review Roe and put it back where it belongs, were seeing a light at the end of the tunnel.”

“You cant arrest me, Im a rockstar.”

“We constantly have to fight off allegations, when weve done nothing wrong. When frankly, its the rest of the world.”

“Were Sex Pistols, we aint fake.”

Within a year or two, however, a couple of the first things I wrote – ‘Anarchy In The UK’ and ‘God Save The Queen’ – really hit their target. I’d like to thank the British public library system: that was my training ground, that’s where I learned to throw those verbal grenades. I wasn’t just throwing bricks through shop windows as a voice of rebellion, I was throwing words where they really mattered. Words count.

These were early days for me in the American culture, and so I wasn’t aware that when people are showing you guns, they’re not threatening you, it’s like they’re showing you their art collection. For me, at that point, what he was presenting to me was very challenging.

If anyone asks for your autograph theyre showing you respect and give it back to them.

I love Stephen Colbert and Jon Stewart because theyre bringing irony back into American humor, which is a delicious treat. The entire Colbert persona of being extreme right-wing when hes not at all is highly amusing. He does it so well, but sometimes a little too well. My wife is convinced hes completely that way.

Occasionally, a re-enactment is a fine thing. I love Civil War re-enactments.

Having a birthday cake squashed into your face by young kids? Delicious. I always don a Santa suit at Christmas. Remaining childish is a tremendous state of innocence.

I hate death it takes people away from you. Youre left feeling rudderless.

I went to visit Alcatraz years ago when I was on tour with the Pistols, and I really liked the atmosphere of the place. I genuinely, really, thoroughly enjoyed the whole morning there. I just liked the quietness and stillness of what is basically a cruel prison complex. I still found some kind of joy in that. Thats how I am.

Being born into the Royal Family is like being born into a mental asylum. Marrying into it is not something to be taken lightly.

I always find the mirror in the dressing room is where the best artists are.

If you give me the chance, Ill destroy America for you.

My biggest fear is mindlessly and stupidly repeating myself.

Its no good being nice and young and naive. Theres no good in that at all. Youve got to do it all yourself, and youve gotta learn quick. And you cant look for sympathy either.

Sometimes the most positive thing you can be in a boring society is absolutely negative.