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Punk's not dead, as a timely reissue of John Lydon's autobiography proves only too well. Liz Jaynes has been reading it...

It's hard to imagine how shocking punk must have been when the Sex Pistols first launched themselves against the Establishment in 1976.

For punk today is a sanitised, diluted version of its former self, with photographs of Sid Vicious hanging in art galleries, Johnny Rotten's appearance earlier this year on I'm A Celebrity, and now a retrospective of Vivienne Westwood's work at the V&A.

Even Will Young was quoted on a recent cover of Time Out declaring he's going to "create anarchy".

Given punk's appropriation into the mainstream, it's a good time to reissue John Lydon's book, Rotten, a quarter of a century after the Sex Pistols were formed.

This is a warts and all account of the birth of punk and the Pistols, seen through the eyes of its chief protagonist.

Lydon's first-hand insights into the politics and personalities involved are fascinating.

He tells how Nancy stank of urine and how he and Vivienne Westwood hated each other.

deep-rooted anger

He also delves into his court case with Malcom McLaren and makes clear that his distaste and deep-rooted anger for the pop svengali shows no signs of abating.

Rotten: contradictory and annoying

Rotten himself comes across as intelligent, moody, charismatic and angry - and at times just contradictory and annoying.

But it's not just his voice that we hear. The book also contains contributions from fellow Pistols Paul Cook and Steve Jones, as well as Chrissie Hynde, Billy Idol, Don Letts, Zhandra Rhodes and Lydon's dad himself.

It's good to hear other points of view but, at times, this creates a tedious repetition of events. Nevertheless, Rotten remains a must-read, especially for anyone interested in music today.

Towards the end of the book, John's dad, John Christopher Lydon, says he proudly believes his son "changed the world".

It's a bold claim from a loving father but it's true.

The Pistols really did put a rocket up the backside of the Establishment and, however diluted it might be today, the fact that punk is still an energising reference point is a testament to the force of the movement.

Rotten by John Lydon with Keith and Kent Zimmerman is published by Plexus books @ £12.99

interested? hear The Sex Pistols and 'Anarchy In The UK' from Never Mind The Bollocks (listen in Windows Media Player - )

More recommended rock reading: Primal Scream>> Ian Dury>>

Take a Thames Tour of Rotherhithe including the home of London's whaling and timber trades

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