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Daily Maverick
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Maverick
'Where there's no future, how can there be sin?'- the rise of the age of Brutalism
Post-colonialism has given way to Brutalism; social contract to social assault; human rights to human wronging. The world is undergoing a change of age where the future, even the question of whether there is any future, has become extremely uncertain. In June 1977, Malcolm McLaren, the manager of punk rock band the Sex Pistols, stage-managed an enormous ambush. On the late Queen Elizabeth's Silver Jubilee, the Sex Pistols' anthem God Save the Queen made it to number one. In those days, for young people, Top of the Pops was like Sunday church. We waited anxiously to see which group and song would reach No 1 each week. When it was God Save the Queen, the BBC promptly banned the song. In response, the Sex Pistols hired a barge and played it on the River Thames opposite the Houses of Parliament. The police were sent out to commandeer the boat and they were promptly arrested. Prompt was the operative word in the heady days when punk rockers fought the monarchy with music. Cauterise the infection quickly. Or so the establishment thought. What had this motley crew done wrong? In God Save the Queen, an anthem powered by an opening riff to beat all riffs, the Sex Pistols called the Queen's 'a fascist regime'. It wasn't. It was sclerotic and pampered by taxpayers. But the words rhymed, so why not? It was shocking. Believe me. But there was much more to punk rock than exaggeration. One of the lines in the song had much darker implications: 'Where there's no future, how can there be sin?' rasped lead singer Johnny Rotten before adding poetically: 'We're the flowers in your dustbin We're the poison in the human machine We're the future, your future' 'We' were the doomed, thrown-away working-class youth. At a time of rising unemployment, they were in rebellion by making a fashion of torn clothes, Mohican hair cuts and safety pins through their ears and noses. 'Foul-mouthed yobs' the establishment media called them. They made their point and changed the direction of popular music as well as of society. But it didn't end there. Almost 50 years later, the line 'where there's no future, how can there be sin?' reveals a surprising prescience. Looked at carefully, it's an existential statement that may offer a key to understanding the industrial cruelty being inflicted in Gaza and other places that ordinary people are unwilling bystanders to in the world at this moment. For 'sin', not coming from the dispossessed youth, but from the over-possessed elites, is now the name of the game. Post-colonialism has given way to Brutalism; social contract to social assault; human rights to human wronging. The sin pandemic There's a whole lot of sin in the world at the moment. Genocide is sin. Ecocide is sin. Femicide is sin. Infanticide is sin. Democide is sin. What's different is that the sinners have become oblivious to their sinning. They are certainly not sinned against. They don't sugar coat it; they think they are beyond sin. Why? I have been trying to comprehend such a quantum leap in loss of humanity, to work out how elected political leaders and oligarchs have become so brutalised. An epiphany that came to me while walking around Oxford recently. I think I have the answer. The world is undergoing a change of age where the future, even the question of whether there is any future, has become extremely uncertain. As climate chaos explodes, as the sixth mass extinction accelerates and now extends even to human beings, a largely uninhabitable earth may be a real prospect within several generations. The evidence is mounting: Nasa data reveals dramatic rise in intensity of weather events | Extreme weather | The Guardian; WMO confirms 2024 as warmest year on record at about 1.55°C above pre-industrial level; Climate change: World's oceans suffer from record-breaking year of heat – BBC News As the Indian writer Amitav Ghosh pointed out in a lecture he gave at Wits University in September 2024, the ultra-rich, while financing Trump and his climate denialism, are simultaneously preparing for the social breakdown that may be one consequence of the climate crisis. Ghosh writes: 'It is well known now that several billionaire tech entrepreneurs like Mark Zuckerberg, Larry Page and Peter Thiel are preparing for an impending apocalypse by building enormously expensive and heavily fortified retreats on remote islands, or in sparsely populated stretches of the United States and Canada. Not to be left behind, a bevy of America's most popular stars, such as Taylor Swift and Tom Cruise, have also acquired cutting-edge apocalypse shelters. Nor are the ultra-rich the only Americans who are investing in doomsday retreats: so great is the demand that a new and rapidly growing industry has emerged to cater to it.' This is the time of survival of the richest. Democratic restraints and rules that took several centuries to establish are being broken with manic abandon. 'Death capitalism'; 'crack-up capitalism'. Call it what you like. The hypocrisies are worthy of Shakespeare. A political establishment that less than 30 years ago impeached a president for lying about having sex in the sacrosanct Oval Office, now enables a deranged president who blatantly abuses the office for private profit and has appropriated to himself the divine right to permit, stoke, arm or directly make wars that threatens millions of lives. For rulers who would be kings, who believe that the future is uncertain, indeed that for billions of human beings whose lives are extremely precarious, the very idea of a future is becoming untenable, moral rules fall away. Sin becomes permissible. Welcome to the new world disorder. Join the resistance. DM
Daily Mirror
12-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Prince Harry and Meghan's 'awkward exchange' at Trooping the Colour explained
The last time the Duke and Duchess of Sussex were included in the coveted royal balcony line up at the annual Trooping the Colour, fans spotted a seemingly tense moment between the two - but there's more than meets the eye The annual Trooping the Colour is set to kick off on Saturday, with members of the royal family and royal fans alike flocking to the Mall to celebrate King Charles ' birthday. After the Horse Guards Parade and during the RAF flypast, the royal family will appear on the Buckingham Palace balcony, which has famously been the setting for many iconic moments from the royals. From Prince William being scolded by the late Queen, to Prince Louis stealing the show with his cheeky antics, the balcony appearance is often the most anticipated part of the day. One such instance takes us back to the 2019 Trooping the Colour, which was the last time Prince Harry and Meghan Markle attended the annual event. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex were joined on the balcony by a host of royals, including the late Queen Elizabeth, the then Prince Charles and Camilla, as well as William, Kate and their three children among others. When all the royals were waving at adoring fans along the Mall and enjoying the RAF flypast, eagle-eyed fans believed they spotted an awkward exchange between Harry and Meghan, making for a tense environment on the balcony. Footage shared of the moment on X showed Harry looking inside the room next to the balcony before saying a few words to someone off-camera. Meghan turns her head slightly and mouths something, then faces her husband. The couple share a few words and Meghan faces forward. She then turns around once more to face Harry - and it's at this point it looks like he instructs her to "turn around" - which she then does. Harry keeps up his stern facial expression while Meghan awkwardly tries to compose herself in front of the camera, which caused fans to speculate they may have had cross words. However, when the video is played with full sound, the context becomes clear and shows that there was more than meets the eye during the awkward moment. With the sound playing, the footage shows the moment occurred just a second or so before the National Anthem starts playing, meaning there's a good chance that Harry was actually just giving Meghan a heads up that the music was about to start playing so she wasn't caught out looking the wrong way. Instead of standing awkwardly after an assumed tense exchange, they are actually just listening to the opening part of God Save the Queen. While most of the senior working royals are expected to appear on the Palace balcony on Saturday for King Charles' birthday celebrations, it comes to no surprise that Harry and Meghan will not be attending. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex only attended two Trooping the Colour celebrations before they quit royal life in 2020, making appearances in 2018 and 2019. At the time of the 2018 procession, Meghan and Harry had recently tied the knot at their stunning Windsor Castle wedding ceremony. When they stepped out for the Trooping in 2019, their first child Archie had been born just the month before. The annual event of Trooping the Colour has marked the official birthday of the King or Queen for more than 260 years. The ceremony involves hundreds of horses and soldiers carrying out complex battlefield drill manoeuvres to military music. More than 1,400 soldiers, 200 horses and 400 musicians come together for the impressive display. During the parade, the royals will travel from Buckingham Palace down The Mall to Horse Guards Parade in a procession - either on horseback or in carriages. At Horse Guards, they then watch the military display before joining the procession back to Buckingham Palace once it is over. After the parade, the royals then gather on the Palace balcony for a march-past and the fly-past by the RAF, which includes the Red Arrows, and will conclude the day's celebrations.
The Herald Scotland
01-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Herald Scotland
Never mind the Horlicks, here's the punk rock pensioners Sex Pistols
The Sex Pistol were once simpatico with Roger Daltrey for heaven's sake, in that he hoped to be in Heaven before he got old. Now, this band of superannuated cap-sleeved rockers are set to rock up once again. Is it wrong? Sid Vicious is long dead and John Lydon is not coming to Bellahouston bash (Image: free) John Lydon thinks so. Indeed, Lydon is angry (no change there) that the Pistols have reformed. 'They've killed the content, or done their best to,' maintains the singer and songwriter, 'and turned the whole thing into a rubbish, childishness, and that's unacceptable.' The former Mr Rotten, who fought a high-profile court battle against the rest of the band in a bid to stop their songs being used in a Disney+ series, Pistol, adds: "I don't mean to be digging them out, it's not their fault that they're talentless and can't f****** move on, is it?' John Lydon is arguing that his former bandmates have sold out. Yet weren't the Sex Pistols a sell-out right from the start? The original band were never short of the sweary words your Auntie Cissie would find shocking, and to coincide with the Queen's Jubilee released God Save the Queen and sang of a fascist regime. But these skinny young guys were never really heavy weight anarchists. Pierre Joseph Proudhon most certainly won't be spinning in his plot right now. Read more And to quote Bernie Taupin, it's a little bit funny that the band were described as anti-establishment rebels, given that they were essentially a collection of Vivien Westwood models, a Malcolm McLaren-engineered prefabricated boy band in the same vein as Monkees - albeit without the songwriting skills of a Neil Diamond, or the willingness to use shampoo. The Sex Pistols too wore matching (of sorts) outfits. And when they first played live, they actually covered the Monkees' Steppin' Stone. Yet, there are real arguments for going along to see this latest version of the band. Although they sold pound-shop nihilism to young people (while being backed by a corporately astute management) and their politics were performative, nevertheless, they sold hope. There's no doubt the Sex Pistols were rockets (in every sense of the word) playing damp warehouse-dump-created music which they sent into the stratosphere. There is also no doubt they revealed the perfect energy antidote to the tired glam rock and disco of the day. The Sex Pistols' three chord and a sneer simplicity was so clever that the band proved the inspiration for a range of followers, such as the Clash, Buzzcocks, Green Day and Nirvana. John Lydon (Image: free) Sure, the Pistols made only one album, but in a very short time proved that you don't have to have the musical skills of Elton or Bowie to become a chart success. They may have lacked melody, structure and they were thrashers, producing anything as loud as you would hear on a farm. But that was all a positive, the perfect reaction to the crushing political reality of the mid Seventies. On a more prosaic level, is it wrong to take the sound of a generation and play it again 50 years on? Where is the relevance? What's wrong with wrinklies taking to the stage? Has anyone really demanded that Mick Jagger and co lie down in the showbiz retirement home in North London and take to watching reruns of the Old Grey Whistle Test on iPlayer? No. It's the same for other legacy bands such as The Who and the likes of Van Morrison and Dylan. And Peter Noone of Herman's Hermits, the pop daddy of them all. Who's to say there's an upper age limit on leather jackets? And who's to say that angry young men who grow to be angry old men are pointless? Isn't there even more to mump about today than in the Seventies, when hospital waiting times were measured in days rather than months, when Coronation Street was still half decent and you could buy a Hillman Avenger for about a grand. The Pistols, back in the day (Image: free) And wouldn't Dylan Thomas have had the Sex Pistols in mind if were he writing today, suggesting the Glasgow gig to be right and proper, and possibly lots of fun, that they should indeed 'rage, rage against the dying of the light.' Sure, the Pistols are now half-cocked, and their 60 and 70-something knees won't stand up too much pogo-ing. But they will surely bring a younger audience to the party. And even superannuated pseudo anarchists still need a reason to get out of bed in the morning. The Sex Pistols, Bellahouston Park, June 21, Glasgow, supported by The Stranglers, the Undertones, The Rezillos, The Undertones and The Skids
Edinburgh Live
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Edinburgh Live
Sex Pistols star John Lydon says 'the pain will never go away' after family death
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info Sex Pistols legend John Lydon has opened up about the enduring pain following the loss of his wife Nora, confessing "the pain will never go away". The punk rock pioneer, who shot to fame in the 70s as the Sex Pistols' provocative lead singer. He met Nora, a German publishing heiress, shortly after the band's initial split. Despite their age difference, with Nora being fourteen years older, the pair formed an inseparable bond. In her final years, as she faced Alzheimer's disease, John devoted himself to caring for her full-time. Nora died, aged 80 in 2023. While caring for his wife, John was in a legal battle with the remaining members of the Sex Pistols - guitarist Steve Jones and drummer Paul Cook - after he attempted to veto the use of the band's songs in a Disney+ series. After losing the legal fight, John cut ties with his former bandmates. Steve and Paul however continued to perform with original bassist Glen Matlock and Gallows' Frank Carter stepping in for John, reports the Mirror US. (Image: 2017 Brian Killian) John has slammed the legal wrangle as "just disrespectful all round" and admits it's something he "won't forget". Despite his history of stirring controversy as Johnny Rotten, the passing of Nora saw fans rally around him with support. Speaking to The Telegraph, he says he has "done my moping" and is now "very much raring to go". He knows he needs to get out of the house and is currently on tour with his band PiL - Public Image Ltd. He is working on a new book and album and has rediscovered his passion for painting. But he still occasionally finds himself stopping to think about his much-loved wife. "The pain will never go away," he told the Telegraph. "She died painfully, suffocating. They call it the death rattle." (Image: Getty Images) He vividly remembers the heart-wrenching moment when doctors questioned whether they should cease life-prolonging efforts. He reflects: "I couldn't say 'yes, stop.' No. I fought for her life as hard as she fought for it. And now I'm on the other side." Despite experiencing a phase of anger, he believes this prevented him from becoming a "sympathetic doddering old idiot". The God Save the Queen singer confesses to having "no regrets" about how he's lived. Nora's passing has altered John's perspective on his own mortality at 69, stating that the thought of death "no longer terrifies" him. He does though say he "misses her like mad" and reveals he sleeps with Nora's ashes by his side. In recent times, John has surprisingly found favour with conservative media circles, puzzling many long-time Sex Pistols fans. He clarifies that his stance isn't black and white, expressing disdain for all politicians. Although he's shown support for former US President Donald Trump, he's critical of him too, labelling Trump as a "wrecking ball" and dubbing him "the Orange Bad Man".
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Sex Pistol's John Lyndon condemns Kneecap over ‘kill your MP' video
Sex Pistols frontman John Lydon has condemned Kneecap after a video of a member appearing to shout 'kill your local MP' resurfaced. The Irish rappers have become embroiled over their apparent on-stage shouts of 'up Hamas' and 'kill your local MP', which are now being investigated by the Metropolitan Police. The band has previously been compared to the Sex Pistols, whose provocative acts during their heyday included singing God Save the Queen on a Thames barge during Queen Elizabeth II's Silver Jubilee. Frontman Lydon, once known by the stage name Johnny Rotten, has dismissed the comparison. Speaking on ITV's This Morning, he said: 'If you advocate the death of another human being, you have no case whatsoever. You are my enemy from here on in, for the rest of your mediocre existence. 'You shouldn't be talking like that, you shouldn't be making enemies about your fellow human beings.' Johnny Lyndon has dismissed comparisons between Kneecap and the Sex Pistols - Michael Ochs Archives Kneecap faced calls to be removed from the US after a set at the Coachella festival in California which they used to project a message stating 'f--- Israel'. In response, Sharon Osbourne all for the 'revocation of Kneecap's work visas' in the US. Following the gig, footage emerged of a band member apparently shouting 'up Hamas, up Hezbollah' at a London show in 2024. Further footage surfaced from 2023 of a band member shouting: 'The only good Tory is a dead Tory. Kill your local MP.' Credit: X/@DannyMMorris The shouts were condemned by the families of murdered MPs Jo Cox and Sir David Amess. Kneecap later apologised to the families, but denied wrongdoing. Their gigs are still being investigated by a Metropolitan Police anti-terror unit. There have been high-profile calls for Kneecap gigs, including a planned set at Glastonbury, to be cancelled in light of this investigation. Dan Jarvis, a Home Office minister, warned Glastonbury organisers to 'think very carefully' about who performs at the festival amid calls for Kneecap to be removed from the line-up. Responding to an urgent question on the issue, Mr Jarvis described the group's remarks as 'dangerous and irresponsible'. There have been calls for high-profile Kneecap gigs, including a set at Glastonbury, to be cancelled - Luke Brennan/Redferns Amid the furore, Kneecap released a statement on their views, saying: 'Let us be unequivocal – we do not, and have never, supported Hamas or Hezbollah. We condemn all attacks on civilians, always. It is never okay. We know this more than anyone, given our nation's history. 'We also reject any suggestion that we would seek to incite violence against any MP or individual. Ever. An extract of footage, deliberately taken out of all context, is now being exploited and weaponised, as if it were a call to action.' Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
