Johnny Rotten slams Ozzy

Sex Pistols / Public Image Ltd frontman John Lydon (AKA Johnny Rotten) has turned his attentions away from slamming Green Day for five minutes to put the boot into metal legend Ozzy Osbourne.

Speaking to Birmingham's Sunday Mercury newspaper on Sunday (March 6), Lydon accused Ozzy of "selling that loser lifestyle".

"Black Sabbath's Paranoid was one of the world's greatest ever singles but since then, the rumours of biting pigeon heads really, really haven't impressed me," said Lydon. "Ozzy now acting like a senile delinquent is equally unimpressive. The sly innuendo of promoting drug abuse and catatonic stupidity offends me. I'm not one for banning drugs. Quite the opposite. But I understand how to use them, and they don't use me.

"Ozzy is clearly a victim, and selling that loser lifestyle shit to other people equally victimises them," he added. "That's a shame. Ozzy's a working-class man, like me, yet he allows that to happen. By acting like he does all the time, he implies that we're all stupid, the working classes. But we're not, you know. We're not! We're the proper Britain, us lot."

Tags: Black Sabbath, Ozzy Osbourne, Sex Pistols

Posted by Dan at 09:01AM | March 8, 2011

Get back to selling butter dick.

Posted by ROFLCOPTER INBOUND | March 8, 2011 9:06 AM | Reply to this

He needs to stop slagging off other musicians that write their own music and start praying that Malcolm McLaren is reborn and will help him write some songs.

Posted by PAULYD | March 8, 2011 9:11 AM | Reply to this

Wow. Because everyone knows the Sex Pistols weren't sell outs. He should stick to selling butter, forget about telling people what the should think.

Posted by OneByOneThePenguinsAreStealingMySanity | March 8, 2011 9:17 AM | Reply to this

wow he needs to pipe down in his cheap seats

Posted by Dan | March 8, 2011 9:20 AM | Reply to this

For someone with no musical talent or songwriting ability, Johnny Rotten hasn't done badly from the world of pop, has he.

Maybe he should just keep his mouth shut and stick to counting his blessings. Or his wodges of cash.

Posted by purplehelix | March 8, 2011 9:21 AM | Reply to this

I will not be adding Country life to my shopping list now ;)

Posted by AvR | March 8, 2011 9:44 AM | Reply to this

When the fuck will this stupid fucking prick shut his cake hole or at least say something sensible. I guess the answer will either be never or when he's dead. He is a fine one to talk about selling out... Never realised advertising butter was so punk rock and non comercialised... what a stain in lifes tapestry he is.

I remember a big punk bands guitarist telling me how at some big punk festival in the states one year Johnny Rotten was hanging out of his tour bus window and spitting at and cursing at other members of various punk bands telling them to fuck off and to stay further away from his tour bus than they were etc etc etc.... Who the fuck does he think he is. I always thought the Sex Pistols were fucking shit anyway and in no way recognise them as institutional to the punk movement at all what so ever. I look at Ramones and New York Dolls etc for that which is where Malcolm Mclaren nicked all his ideas from anyway.

in words of said guitarist above... Long live Sid Vicious and Johnny Rotten is a dick!!!

Posted by Peter Williams | March 8, 2011 9:49 AM | Reply to this

in words of said guitarist above... Long live Sid Vicious and Johnny Rotten is a dick!!!

Posted by Peter Williams | March 8, 2011 9:50 AM | Reply to this

JOHNNY ROTTEN IS A LIVING LEGEND! OZZY IS JUST A DRUGGED-UP WANNABE PIECE OF SHIT. WHY CAN'T OZZY JUST FUCK OFF NOW? THAT PIECE OF LOSER SHIT HAS HIS OWN REALITY TV SHOW FOR FUCK SAKE! IF THAT'S NOT SELLOUT BOLLOCKS I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE FUCK IS.
JOHNNY ROTTEN IS FUCKING AWESOME. AT LEAST SOMEONE HAS THE GUTS TO STATE HIS OPINION. YOU CAN'T FACE THE FUCKING TRUTH!

Posted by Flin | March 8, 2011 10:22 AM | Reply to this

@flin Have you been buttered up?

Posted by ROFLCOPTER INBOUND | March 8, 2011 10:30 AM | Reply to this

John L should take a careful look around him punk certainly sums this guy up "opinions are like arseholes everyones got one but we don't ALL want to hear them" ;-)

Posted by NASA_steve | March 8, 2011 10:54 AM | Reply to this

John L should take a careful look around him punk certainly sums this guy up "opinions are like arseholes everyones got one but we don't ALL want to hear them" ;-)

Posted by NASA_steve | March 8, 2011 10:55 AM | Reply to this

I dunno what i find funnier, the fact that everything that butter selling twat said was fundamentally flawed "pigeon biting" (was actually a bat. a toy one) or that ozzy "promotes drug use" yes john, as soon as i see Ozzy i think ohhh, id like some heroin. no mate i see a man that has done more for music than you ever could, stop slagging off other musicians because your own career has ended, leave while you still have a slight shred of dignity you twat.

Posted by Tim | March 8, 2011 12:10 PM | Reply to this

he loves gaga and slams ozzy...WTF???!!!!!

Posted by D33_horror | March 8, 2011 2:09 PM | Reply to this

How can he praise Lady GayGuy, diss Green Day and Ozzy who are actually still playing music not spouting shit everywhere out of his mouth :@

Posted by CalAllAngelsFall | March 8, 2011 2:16 PM | Reply to this

This coming from a guy who's been reduced to selling butter...

Posted by Jake | March 8, 2011 2:57 PM | Reply to this

He's still obviously a punk at heart, and thats what alot of punks do, slam people.

I can see reasons why he'd slam Ozzy and Green Day. But to be honest, it's kinda pointless doing so. Might aswell keep it all to yourself.

Posted by jackg101 | March 8, 2011 3:31 PM | Reply to this

i think some people have forgoton ozzys butter advert. but i think the differance is. ozzys advert was actully quite funny!
working class? doesnt he live in a huge house in LA? and whenever he's short of cash, he can either do "john lydons mega bugs" or take the pistols on the road. he just seems to be moaning for the sake of it.

Posted by ryan | March 8, 2011 3:33 PM | Reply to this

hes not a fuking punk at heart. he a prick trying to be a punk. thats all the pistols ever were.ozzys last album was absolutely amazing. what the fuck has lydon done since the pistols? sell butter. oh how very punk of you.asshat. stop giving this old wannabe fart attention and start putting ozzy in kerrang more.

Posted by soniskizz | March 8, 2011 3:40 PM | Reply to this

Oh yeah I mean he's a punk as far as it goes for him, not in comparison to Joe Strummer was or even now with Justin Sane or the activist guy from Dead Kennedys.

I'll admit, he's done nothing musically for a while, spose he needs the attention.

Posted by jackg101 | March 8, 2011 4:15 PM | Reply to this

I dont think Ozzy knowingly promotes drug abuse because he CLEARLY enjoys not knowing what the hell is going on.

Ozzys a great dude doing his own thing, he can rest on his acheivements because he created a body of work that is respected across the world.

John Lydon has one album, Im a celeb and butter.

Decide for yourself then go watch Henry Rollins, because a true punk rebels against the system then offer a logical alternative.

Posted by Sam | March 8, 2011 4:30 PM | Reply to this

Flin - And selling butter is so fucking punk rock man... Get a grip son. I'm not saying Ozzy is perfect but in comparison he's done more for rock and metal than Johnny Rotten has or will ever do for punk. He was Malcolm Mclarens puppet and that sadly is all he will ever be... oh and the face of Country fucking Life butter...

Please get over this iconic status that JR seems to have tagged with. There's more punk in one of Beyonces shits

Posted by Pete | March 8, 2011 4:40 PM | Reply to this

Please get over this iconic status that JR seems to have tagged with. There's more punk in one of Beyonces shits

Posted by Pete | March 8, 2011 4:41 PM | Reply to this

Please get over this iconic status that JR seems to have tagged with. There's more punk in one of Beyonces shits

Posted by Pete | March 8, 2011 4:42 PM | Reply to this

Flin - Your a fucking fag ozzy so much more popular and better than Lydon in any way shape or form than he is a piece of shit comparied to ozzy

Posted by Tyler w | March 8, 2011 5:29 PM | Reply to this

It's not about Great Britain it's about Great Ego's ain't that right Johnny ;D

Posted by Jack | March 8, 2011 5:42 PM | Reply to this

It's not about Great Britain it's about Great Ego's ain't that right Johnny ;D

Posted by Jack | March 8, 2011 5:43 PM | Reply to this

Bah ozzy > johnny .
stick to butter ads mate ahah

Posted by dave | March 8, 2011 5:58 PM | Reply to this

i need my country life

Posted by tim | March 8, 2011 6:25 PM | Reply to this

Why does he slag over musicians off like he's some sort of musical messiah... I love sex pistols but they have only written one album.

Posted by Michael | March 8, 2011 6:39 PM | Reply to this

johnny vs ozzy,both legends,both have made some great music,both cool dudes,get over it ,or F.U.C.K. O.F.F.

Posted by spyky | March 8, 2011 7:02 PM | Reply to this

Well done you Rotten. I get you have know right to tell him what to do, but someone needed to tell him, coz it's true. Hell, I don't even like Sex Pistols that much, but the guy has a point

Posted by Skye | March 8, 2011 8:02 PM | Reply to this

If you actually read, he dosen't say selling out, he says "Selling that loser lifestyle." That Is All.

Posted by seymour awesome | March 8, 2011 8:27 PM | Reply to this

get back to selling butter, you prick!

Posted by MasterofReality | March 8, 2011 8:37 PM | Reply to this

How can he criticise anyone for drug abuse? I don't give a shit what he says about being able to control taking drugs, not anyone else. And if he read Ozzy's book I think he'd wish he never said that.

Posted by LEB | March 8, 2011 8:42 PM | Reply to this

Really, who cares? He can have his opinions, I don't care what any band or singer thinks about someone else. I like bands for their music not what they think about another singer.
It's not really news is it? Someone giving an opinion. How about we just ignore it like you would with an angry child and get on with our lifes. If you like the Sex Pistols, great. If you like Ozzy great. Listen to their CDs rather than their opinions.
Better than arguing with eachother over something that doesn't even matter right?

But, whoever said Ozzy's last album was amazing, really? I mean, really?

Posted by Who Cares? | March 8, 2011 8:56 PM | Reply to this

whats up with this guy first green day now ozzy who will be next

Posted by neil donald | March 8, 2011 10:02 PM | Reply to this

Woo go Johnny !! All these people of accuse Mr Rotten of being a sell out for promoting butter, look at the facts first, yeah he advertised butter, but only so he could get some cash to reform his band (Public Image Ltd) and so he could record new materiel. Who says he doesnt write good songs ?? Who out of you bunch of shit heads has ever actually listened to PIL ?? They still convey the political messages that the Pistols songs did, just without the outright fury and anger. And anyone who says the Sex Pistols are shit can think twice. Without Johnny Rotten you wouldnt have any of the music you dicks listen to. I seen PIL live last summer, and damn it was the best gig ever, this man is such an iconic fugure, why else would he be in the rock and roll hall of fame ?? In all fairness I think Johnny knows what he is talking about. Anarchy For The U.K. !!!

Posted by Rhys Bebb | March 8, 2011 10:47 PM | Reply to this

agree with his green day comments, punks my arse....

"Many of the punk bands are cop-outs and imitators and have made it easy for the likes of Green Peace - Green Day, who I hate," he said. "I really . . . I can't stand them."

He added: "To me, they're like coat hangers, and haven't earned the right, they haven't earned the wings, to be wearing the mantle of punk. They haven't had to go through the violence, and the hate, and the animosity that us chaps way back when had to put up with. We had to fight for every single footstep."

as for ozzy, i just wish he'd die.

Posted by Andymark | March 9, 2011 12:06 AM | Reply to this

Yeah well go and charge £450 for your new book - sellout. Do some gigs and make some honest money! And don't charge another £45

Posted by Ryan | March 9, 2011 8:22 AM | Reply to this

I completely agree with Andymark and Rhys Bebb. Countrylife is for money, and to piss people off (and has that worked!). The Pistols and PiL are two of the greatest bands; like Rhys said, without Rotten you wouldn't have any of the 'music' you listen to today. And Greenday are shit!

Posted by Flin | March 9, 2011 8:55 AM | Reply to this

Couldn't care less.

Posted by Adi. | March 9, 2011 8:57 AM | Reply to this

Rhysbebb - I'm pretty sure you don't need money to reform a band... Record, hmm maybe but surely he has shitloads anyway from previous stuff. Odd thing is i do like PIL and have a record or two of them just think he's a dick.

Wouldn't have the music we listen to if it wasn't for him????? Sex Pistols ripped off everything from the likes of Ramones and New York Dolls thanks to malcolm McClaren so I would say if it wasn't for Ramones and NYD we wouldn't have the music we listen to today

Posted by Pete | March 9, 2011 10:02 AM | Reply to this

Posted by Pete | March 9, 2011 10:03 AM | Reply to this

The New York Dolls were managed by Malcolm before the Pistols were together - technically it's McLaren's fault, not Johnny's. So that wasn't something to point out.
Besides, if you are allowed an opinion on that, then I'm sure Johnny is allowed his opinion on whatever the fuck he likes.

Posted by Flin | March 9, 2011 12:03 PM | Reply to this

He's like a grumpy old man past his prime slamming people who are actually still out there doing something. He's going the same way as Axl Rose.

Posted by Luke | March 9, 2011 12:42 PM | Reply to this

Yawn. This is a relatively small statement taken from an interview in a BIRMINGHAM-based newspaper. Is it not fair to assume that Rotten may have been asked his opinion on one of Birmingham's favourite sons? And if so, is it not fair to assume that as always he would give a totally honest, straightforward answer? And besides, he's right! Ozzy is a mumbling, stumbling, buffoon of a man. Rotten is right to target the "Yeah! Ozzy's off his head on drugs! He's so funny!" culture. Drugs ain't cute. They turn people into pathetic, stuttering fools like Ozzy.

Posted by Fudgey Clatcher | March 9, 2011 2:21 PM | Reply to this

Johnny Rotten needs to learn to shut his fucking mouth
Slamming greenday and now ozzy
What a dickhead

Posted by Hannah | March 9, 2011 2:44 PM | Reply to this

fudgey clatcher and Flin, you are right on the mark!! Completely agree.

Posted by Rottenforever | March 9, 2011 3:16 PM | Reply to this

Ozzy's butter advert was hilarious, addin the egg shell to the recipe instead of the egg, bostin. Oh as fer Johnny sellin out never mind Country Life what about that jungle cack he did, come on John stop been a criple dick and moanin all the time. 25 dobber points to Lydon.

Posted by Dave Antcliff | March 9, 2011 4:58 PM | Reply to this

what is he wafflin on about? he sounds like he's drunk... and has some grudge against osborne- maybe he wanted a guest spot on an album at some point and the oz turned him down? ozzy hasn't done drugs or alchohol or smoked a cigarette in years, and he volunteers for that charity (as does james hefield) that helps struggling musicians wih substance abuse problems get clean, so how is he promoting drug abuse? sure all those drugs made ozzy talk like he's still on them even whencompletely sober, but mentally i'm sure he's pretty sharp, so i wonder if johnny rotten (what a fitting name) has ever even met him. also when some one says things like "i clearly understand how to use drugs, they don't use me" it is often an indication of a brewing problem- an addict or potential addict who believes they are in control of the problem and "can stop whenever I want to"

Posted by me | March 9, 2011 6:39 PM | Reply to this

Posted by me | March 9, 2011 6:45 PM | Reply to this

has this guy got anything better do

Posted by cinnamon | March 9, 2011 7:01 PM | Reply to this

rotton isnt a good enough name 4 you shit would be better you sing shit talk shit and look like shit and you cant actually think any 1s interested in your scap book you imbeceal do us all a favour keep out of the news no 1s interested in you go and get a job cleaning toilets youl be in your eliment

Posted by bollocks | March 9, 2011 8:14 PM | Reply to this

FLIN - Didn't know that about Malcolm and the NYD.. Actually he worked with them and never managed them. The point I forgot to add in there was that he came back to the UK and said he had invented punk with the sex pistols when all he really did was copy their sound etc. anyway I digress.

Sadly your second point in where you say seeing as I am allowed an opinion about him he is surely allowed one on his rant... No sorry disagree with you there as his rants are lame and pointless to the extent where he makes himself look like a dick... Oh hang on he is. Ha ha ha

Posted by Pete | March 9, 2011 9:05 PM | Reply to this

jonny rotten is a cunt with no musical talent

Posted by IG | March 9, 2011 11:45 PM | Reply to this

I'm sure Ozzy will be wiping the tears from his eyes as we speak... with $100 bills.

Ozzy doesn't promote drug use, he's openly spoken about the damage that lifestyle has done to him. He's clean and sober now, just making a living like Lydon is.

Punk's not dead... the Sex Pistols legacy is being killed off with every ill-informed, pointless rant this douchebag is making, however.

Posted by Dr Hero van Wildebeest | March 10, 2011 12:23 PM | Reply to this

Wish he would learn to shut his mouth.

Posted by Rosieee | March 10, 2011 6:09 PM | Reply to this

jesus crist johnny rotten! i'm not a massive fan of ozzy but i don't go around slamming him. you need to get a hobby because all this slamming about band's you know nothing about is PISSING PEOPL OFF!!! and i'm sure if it's realy what you ozzy, green day and other peeps can start slamming you and hell you sell BUTTER!!!

Posted by whatsername | March 26, 2011 10:24 AM | Reply to this