Brit Music Scene

John Lydon Racially Attacks Kele Okereke? | Sex Pistols Singer Denies Bloc Party Fight

by Dave Parrack on July 21st, 2008

John Lydon of the Sex Pistols has allegedly been involved in a racial attack on Bloc Party front man Kele Okereke at the Summercase festival in Spain. Reports first emerged of a scuffle between Foals front man Yannis Philippakis, but the details have since been filled in by the lead singer of British indie rockers Bloc Party.

The incident apparently happened as Lydon socialised with a bunch of British acts backstage at the festival. Kele then claims to have approached Lydon to ask him if there was any chance of him reforming Public Image Ltd., one of his favourite bands.

Bloc Party then claim, in an official statement, that Lydon “became intimidating and aggressive while his entourage responded with a racist tirade including the statement ‘Your problem is your black attitude’.” Okereke then had a scuffle with Lydon’s associates, until Philippakis, and Kaiser Chiefs front man Ricky Wilson, stepped in to calm everything down.

Okereke told NME:

“It’s not an issue of the physical assault, even though it was an unprovoked attack, it is the fact that race was brought into the matter so readily,”

“Someone as respected and as intelligent as Lydon should know better than to bring race into the equation, or socialise with and encourage those who hold such narrow-minded attitudes.”

“I am disappointed that someone I held with such high regard turns out to be such a bigot.”

Lydon has since responded to the claims, and denied the fight ever took place. He has accused Okereke of lying, and put the false allegations down to jealousy. A statement from the band read:

“I feel very sorry for a man who needs to lie about what was a perfect evening. After the show John Rotten and management remained behind to sign autographs, which we did for four solid hours without incident and had a great time talking to other Spanish bands. This seems to have sparked jealousy in certain bands.”

“We are in the middle of a wonderful tour, after 30 years we are achieving a true unity in our audience. They are multi-varied, all ages, all races, creeds and colours.”

“When you are at a festival with bands who are jealous fools, lies and confusion usually follow. If they need publicity so badly this is the allegation universe they run into.”

“When you have achieved as much as I have, come back and talk to me. It’s a shame that the wonderful world of the media is riddled with nonsense like this.”

This is obviously a mess, with both sides claiming a totally different side of the story. I really don’t see why Kele Okereke would lie about something like this though, as any fan of Bloc Party will attest to the fact that they are one of the quietest, and least publicity-seeking bands around at the moment. They tend to keep themselves to themselves, and don’t even do much press.

On the other hand, Lydon is known for inciting press coverage and saying controversial things purely to get his name and face in the newspapers. So, with all that in mind, judge for yourself who is telling the truth.

[Photo Source: Dubomatik at Flickr]

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POSTED IN: Artists, Bloc Party, Gossip, News, Op Ed, Rumours, Sex Pistols