Lydon denies racially abusing Bloc Party singer
John Lydon denies the racial abuse and attack aimed at Kele Okereke
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Tuesday, 22, Jul 2008 10:45
Sex Pistols' lead singer John Lydon has denied that his entourage racially abused and attacked the leader singer of Bloc Party, Kele Okereke, at a festival in Spain.
A spokesman for Kele earlier claimed that the incident on Saturday evening, backstage at the Summercase festival in Barcelona, left the singer with severe facial bruising, cuts to his face and body, and a split lip.
The attack was apparently witnessed by a number of British bands, including Kaiser Chiefs, Foals and Mystery Jets, and occurred when Kele, a Sex Pistols fan, approached Lydon to ask if he would consider reforming his post-Sex Pistols band Public Image Ltd.
Reports suggest that Lydon - better known as Johnny Rotten - became aggressive and intimidating while his entourage replied to Kele's query with a racist tirade including the statement: "Your problem is your black attitude."
Three members of Lydon's crew are then alleged to have punched Kele in the face and head as well as attacking Kaiser Chiefs' Ricky Wilson and Foals' Yannis Philippakis when they came to Kele's aid.
A statement released from Lydon, however, denies the allegations.
"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," he said.
"After the show John Rotten and management remained behind to sign autographs ... 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.
"The trouble was brought to us, resulting in those causing the trouble being physically removed by festival security."
In a message to Kele he added: "Grow up and learn to be a true man. When you have achieved as much as I have, come back and talk to me. It's a shame the wonderful world of the media is riddled with nonsense like this."
In a previous statement Kele claimed: "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."