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IN 1978, the Sex Pistols were notorious as the most hated band in Britain, out to destroy the establishment and rockers such as The Rolling Stones.

(Image: London Features)

But frontman John Lydon’s attitude to the Stones changed when Mick Jagger paid Sid Vicious’ legal fees over the death of bassist Sid’s groupie girlfriend Nancy Spungen.

Spungen was found dead from a stab wound in the room at New York’s Chelsea Hotel she and Vicious had shared during several days of drug abuse.

Vicious was charged with murder but then died four months later from a heroin overdose.

Now Lydon has revealed Jagger secretly stepped in to help Vicious while he and ex-Sex Pistols manager Malcolm McLaren watched on.

Lydon said: “Nancy Spungen was a hideous, awful person who killed herself because of the lifestyle and led to the destruction and subsequent death of Sid and the whole fiasco.

“I tried to help Sid through all of that and feel a certain responsibility because I brought him into the Pistols thinking he could handle the pressure.

“He couldn’t. The reason people take heroin is because they can’t handle pressure. Poor old Sid.

“Her death is all entangled in mystery. It’s no real mystery, though. If you are going to get yourself involved in drugs and narcotics in that way accidents are going to happen.

“Sid was a lost case. He was wrapped firmly in Malcolm’s shenanigans.

“It became ludicrous trying to talk to him through the drug haze because all you would hear was, ‘I’m the real star around here’. Great. Carry on. We all know how that’s going to end. Unfortunately, that is where it ended. I miss him very much.

“He was a great friend but when you are messing with heroin you’re not a human being. You change and you lose respect for yourself and everybody else.

“The only good news is that I heard Mick Jagger got in there and brought lawyers into it on Sid’s behalf because I don’t think Malcolm lifted a finger. He just didn’t know what to do. For that, I have a good liking of Mick Jagger.

“There was activity behind the scenes from Mick Jagger so I applaud him. He never used it to advance himself publicity-wise.”

Lydon was forming Public Image Ltd (PiL) after his time as Johnny Rotten in the Sex Pistols – with Vicious, guitarist Steve Jones and drummer Paul Cook – had drawn to a close.

(Image: PR)

While Sid’s death in 1979 ended a huge chapter in punk history, Lydon has continued with his new outfit with singles such as Death Disco and the album Public Image: First Issue.

Having just completed PiL’s UK tour dates, the band have also played a special show to celebrate the 40th anniversary of Virgin Records, the label that took in the Sex Pistols in 1977.

“Virgin offered to financially support a PiL gig. Yipee. Why not,” Lydon said. “They owe me more than that.

“Quite frankly, how are they going to explain 40 years of their alleged success without giving a nod and a wink to John- boy here?”

Back in the present, relaxing at the home he shares with wife Nora Forster in LA, the punk icon was in great form as he recalled his early Scottish visits.

He was with the Sex Pistols, who played a show at Dundee Technical College in October 1976, although gigs in Dundee and Glasgow that December were cancelled.

Lydon said: “It was unfortunate.

“I never understood why the Lord Provost in Scotland banned us with the famous line, ‘We have enough hooligans of our own in Glasgow without importing them from south of the border’.

“To this day I think of that as a real sense of achievement. It felt like he was giving us an award really.”

Recalling another trip to Glasgow in 1976, John said: “Celtic were playing Rangers so I had quite a lot to deal with on the train.

“I never made it to a radio station we were due at because some lads on the train had recommended a bar underneath a flyover. It was somewhere they said did great electric soup.

“That was basically the slops of alcohol all mixed together in a big barrel and that was how it was.

PiL eventually played the legendary Glasgow Apollo in 1983.

“I have done practically every venue Glasgow has had to offer,” Lydon said. “You would think almost that we had a residency there. I miss the Glasgow Apollo, though. That one was special.

“The height of the stage and the narrowness and length of the stage was all very bizarre, odd and dangerous to be on.

“I’m half blind really so falling off that stage was always on the agenda.

“But the absolute enthusiasm that the venue seemed to inspire meant it was always incredibly mad.

“The way the balcony would vibrate with people jumping up and down was such an incredible atmosphere, one I’ve hardly seen anywhere else in the world able to compete with.

“It was quite brilliant. Other venues don’t seem to be able to generate that bond that band and audience can have. I’ve never forgotten the Apollo.

“You would think a 12ft-high stage would be a stumbling block between audience band and communication. But no.

“It used to be hilarious watching people make human pyramids to get up on the stage and in a friendly way.”

John – who had meningitis as a child – said the LA weather has improved his health after finding the British climate an endurance test. The police harassment in England drove me nuts,” he added.

“It became unbearable. In LA, people tend to leave you alone.

“For the first time in my life, I wasn’t ill all year long.

“It never gets to be freezing so you don’t need to bother with the flus or viruses or bronchitis I would get every year in England.”

But despite enjoying the States, he’ll never become a Vegas act and said he can’t fathom Calvin Harris’s residency at the Hakkasan club.

“I’ve been to a lot of these DJ shows as my curiosity level has been piqued,” he said.

“I won’t turn my nose up at anything but I am utterly amazed that DJs are such major league celebrities to so many people when all they are doing is spinning other people’s music.

“It’s odd how the ownership has been transferred from people who make music to those who turn the on button.

“It’s a curiosity to watch crowds going apes**t to watching someone just pressing on and off.

“I’m very far removed from a Las Vegas production, which seems to be the way most acts seem to adopt.

“A Vegas show would be the kiss of death. That would be like a knighthood, something that absolutely terrifies me for sheer ugliness.

“I’m not going to let the Queen near me with a sword. What’s that old expression? Off with their heads.”

His attitude towards royalty hasn’t really changed since the Sex Pistols released God Save The Queen in 1977.

“I have nothing against them as human beings – just the institutions they are born into,” he said. “

“I view them as victims rather than abusers. I’ve got a place in my heart for them because I know what it is like to be trapped.

“If you are born into a council house you know you’re trapped. Theirs is a gilded cage and they’re led by the nose.”

So does he still consider himself a Punk of the British Empire even after those Country Life butter ads?

“As if that was a negative,” Lydon snorted. “They are the only people who offered me any financial support.

“You think I’m a fool? I’m a working class lad. “Any opportunity should be taken seriously.

“As long as I’m not selling my soul. I’m most definitely not.

“Look at the shape of me.

“I’ve eaten an awful lot of Dairy Crest.”