The evolutionary trail is evident, even though the Sex Pistols and many of their fellow punk revolutionaries would like to deny some of their influences in mainstream music. The Ramones took their name from Paul McCartney’s pseudonym, but John Lydon accused The Beatles of having a big influence on the Sex Pistols, which he claimed led to Beatlemaniac Glen Matlock’s expulsion from the band.
Regardless of the veracity of the rumours regarding Matlock’s termination, the Sex Pistols frequently declined to support because gushing was unhip and unfit for the anarchistic face. Notwithstanding these inclinations, Lydon and his bandmates cautiously acknowledged David Bowie as an indisputable punk wave influencer and an idol who was always in style.
In a 1977 radio interview with Tommy Vance, Lydon named David Bowie’s energetic lead single, “Rebel Rebel,” from his 1973 album Diamond Dogs as one of his 25 all-time favourite songs. Still, Lydon, ever the detached cynic, took care not to give the Starman too much credit.
Lydon stated in the interview that he was unable to identify a single instance in his early years that got him interested in music. Nevertheless, he recalled how much he used to like the pop music TV series Ready Steady Go! when he was “really small.” Lydon “felt part of it” and wore a small Beatles wig in the 1960s. But he grew more and more disenchanted with pop music.
The frontman of Sex Pistols spoke about his conflicted emotions towards Bowie. He acknowledged, “I haven’t felt a part of anything in particular in recent years, over the ’70s.” For a while, Bowie was good. However, it was difficult to connect with him because you didn’t think he truly believed in his work. I have no idea what he was doing.
Bowie had just released two of his most highly regarded albums to date, Station to Station and Low, at the time. It was obvious that Lydon wasn’t impressed with these releases or thought Bowie’s erratic inventiveness showed a lack of conviction and direction. Targeting Bowie’s androgynous stage personas, Lydon evaluated Bowie once more before deciding to play “Rebel Rebel.” “Some drag queens are really good, but he was like a real bad one,” the person said. Not good stuff,” he claimed. “I believe ‘Rebel Rebel’ is about the New York Dolls; it was a good single.”
Lydon selected Peter Hammill’s “Nobody’s Business” and “The Institute of Mental Health, Burning” later in the interview. Lydon declared Hammill to be the more inventive of the two, taking yet another subtle jab at Bowie’s calibre of work. “I love Peter Hammill. A real pioneer. He remarked, “I’ve just liked him for years.” “If you listen to him and his solo albums, Bowie definitely stole a lot from that dude. He simply hasn’t received the recognition he merits. Everything he does, I adore.
Lydon’s perspective on David Bowie’s status as a rock innovator has changed a little over the years. In 2023, Lydon criticised American influence on British punk wave in an interview with Far Out. “A shockingly large portion of American journalism claims that New York punk is the origin of it all,” he lamented. “Well, screw yourselves; it’s just talking garbage. My upbringing took place in Britain.
The Public Image Ltd. singer called Bowie and modern glam stars unchangeable influences. He enumerated, “a vast extending universe of music, including Mud, Sweet, T. Rex, Mott the Hoople, Dave Bowie, Led Zeppelin, Alex Harvey Band, Status Quo, and Traffic.” “I was influenced by that.” Lydon then acknowledged that one of his favourite albums of all time was Hunky Dory.
