John Lydon actually tried to tell the world about Jimmy Savile in 1978 (Picture: Piers Morgan’s Life Stories/ITV)
A video has resurfaced online of Sex Pistols frontman John Lydon claiming he was banned from the BBC for comments he made about Jimmy Savile in 1978.
Lydon, better known as Johnny Rotten from his days as lead singer of punk band the Sex Pistols, was talking to Piers Morgan in 2015 when he reflected on the moment.
Chatting to Lydon nine years ago on Piers Morgan’s Life Stories in a clip that has gone viral in recent days, the TalkTV presenter introduced the historic audio clip – which he said had never been played on TV before – as an ‘unbroadcast section of a BBC radio interview’ from 1978.
Morgan then played the clip, explaining how it was recorded during a conversation about Lydon’s idea of making a film where he kills famous people, and the BBC interviewer can be heard asking: ‘Who else is on the gonner list?’
Lydon responds: ‘Oh it’s endless. Believe me. I’d like to make a film of it. I’d like to kill Jimmy Savile. I think he’s a hypocrite.’
However the section of an interview in which he made the claims about Savile was never aired by the BBC (Picture: Piers Morgan’s Life Stories/ITV)
Lydon recalled the moment in 2015 on Piers Morgan’s Life Stories(Picture: Piers Morgan’s Life Stories/ITV)
The Sex Pistols’ John Lydon (Johnny Rotten), was banned by the BBC after outing Jimmy Savile in a 1978 interview. pic.twitter.com/R578IdDLJZ
— Lewis Brackpool (@Lewis_Brackpool) September 17, 2024
Commenting on the historic recording to Morgan, Lydon reflected, ‘Weren’t I right?’ as the audience clapped.
The recording continued, with Lydon saying: ‘And that he’s into all kinds of seediness that we all know about but we’re not allowed to talk about. I know some rumours. I bet none of this will be allowed out.’
The BBC interviewer responded, ‘I should imagine libellous stuff wouldn’t be allowed out,’ to which Lydon said: ‘Nothing I’ve said is libel.’
Returning to the 2015 studio, the audience applauded Lydon for the 1978 interview, and the frontman reflected that his kill list was a ‘bit harsh’ and admitted at that time, he had heard the kinds of things we know to be true about Saville now.
‘I think most kids did too,’ he added. ‘Most kids wanted to go on Top of the Pops but we all knew what that cigar muncher was up to. But I’m very very bitter that the likes of Saville and the rest of them were allowed to continue.’
Savile sexually abused hundreds of adults and children during his 50-year career (Picture: Michael Putland/Getty Images)
Asked if he ever tried to do anything about Savile, Lydon gestured to the recording with his hand and said: ‘I did my bit and said what I had to.’
When Morgan asked if they aired that part of the interview, Lydon shook his head and added: ‘I found myself being banned from BBC radio for quite a while for my …read more
Source:: Metro
