The former Sex Pistols frontman and founder of Public Image Ltd. was speaking as part of this week’s edition of Does Rock N Roll Kill Braincells?!, in which he reflected on his time in the music industry and his most memorable moments, NME repot.
He responded to a question about whether he keeps up with contemporary punk bands like IDLES, Fontaines D.C. or Bob Vylan, to which he said there is “not much point”, adding “I’m not responsible for having to check them all out”.
That prompted a further question about his previous championing of Lady Gaga, to which he said: “Lady Gaga was a massively layered and textured presentation – very Bowie era and pop music at its finest. But what she’s turned into is Bizarro World. She’s acting in films, and I don’t like her as a human being. I don’t think she projects anything healthy. I don’t feel any soul. I don’t feel her heart in it. It seems a shame. She should have another side to her.”
He went on to comment on the all-pervasive popularity of Taylor Swift. “She’s incredibly dull,” he said. “There’s a whole history of that kind of singer in America: the pop teenage trivia thing. What she’s grown into is too elaborate and she’s trapped by not meaning to annoy her fanbase – oh fuck off!”
“No really, it’s just daft. She’s got no place to go, so it’s gone into swishy ballroom-gown vibe. She’s going to be another one of those that ends up in Vegas, because that’s the only place left and that’s no future at all, is it?”
Elsewhere in the interview, Lydon branded the Sex Pistols’ reunion tour with Frank Carter as “karaoke”.
“The poor sausage!” he said, referring to Carter. “Does he know what he’s walked into? Good on him, what a great fucking opportunity, but there’s something darker going on behind it.”
“It’s almost malicious in its intent. And it’s karaoke – that’s all it will ever be. Bloody hell, The Three Stooges in that band have had how many years to write some new songs? That’s what I’d like to hear.”
