Sex Pistol airs his views at game launch

Punk legend John Lydon ranted about everything from British politicians to life in California as he launched a new computer game tonight.

The Sex Pistol, also known as Johnny Rotten, gave assembled media an earbashing at the event, throwing his microphone at one who particularly incensed him.

Lydon, 51, was speaking at a bar in London at the launch of Guitar Hero III as the band prepares for a five-date tour to mark the 30th anniversary of their album Never Mind The B******s.

He said of life in California, where he now lives: “It’s f****** great. A fire every week, an earthquake and then an earthslide. Yeah, cosy.”

But he reserved his strongest criticism for the UK.

Lighting up a cigarette, he said: “I’ve been away a few years and it gets more and more mediocre here. It’s now f****** coffee shops and wine bars and you can’t smoke anywhere.”

At one point Lydon hurled his microphone at a reporter who accused the singer of interrupting him as he said: “It’s easy to moan about this country when you don’t live here.”

Lydon replied: “I’m not moaning. I’m telling you you w****** have settled for f*** all. I’m out of here.”

He continued: “You, you fool, you think cos I come from here I’ve got no right to comment cos I’ve gone elsewhere. You are still here and you ain’t changed s***.”

He said the band agreed to do one concert for the upcoming tour “but the reception was so huge it just led into five”.

He said of his bandmates: “I do love them, I really do – heartfelt.”