It’s not unexpected for artists, especially industry leaders, to drag each other through the mud. When a headline ripples through platforms revolving around two artists commenting on each other, there’s something to be gained from that media attention. Even if the information provided is objectively true, it still offers an opinion and encourages people to reach conclusions about the artist’s true purpose behind this drama.
In this case, the feud between John Lydon and Ozzy Osbourne was unnecessary as it offered no new insight into Osbourne’s struggles and the life he led. Still, Lydon chose to comment on Osbourne’s drug addiction and the rumors of him biting pigeon heads. There was no denying that these incidents had occurred as they had already become public information, but the timeline of bringing it up again made fans assume that Lydon had a different agenda.
Why Did John Lydon Slam Ozzy Osbourne?
The two musicians with similar backgrounds have managed to acquire a comfortable place in their careers, but sometimes the press they do to promote their new work can get a bit out of hand. In this instance, there wasn’t an apparent reason for Johnny Rotten’s aim to drag Osbourne’s name through the mud, but some assumed it was to draw more attention to his latest project.
The vocalist gave an interview to the Sunday Mercury newspaper in 2011 to promote his photo project titled ‘Mr. Rotten’s Scrap Book.’ During the interview, he didn’t shy away from slamming Osbourne for several controversial things he has done. The former Sex Pistols’ lead vocalist went on a rant about his built-up feelings for the former Black Sabbath frontman. The singer first shared his love for the 1970 classic ‘Paranoid’ and even called it one of the world’s greatest singles; however, the interview took a turn when Lydon started giving his opinions about several controversial topics from Osbourne’s past.
After his initial praises for ‘Paranoid,’ Lydon gave his two cents about Osbourne biting pigeon heads, which was a big scandal for the singer. Apparently, it also made Lydon wary of the frontman. In addition, he mentioned that acting senile for the public and promoting drug abuse only damages the relationships Ozzy has built with his fans and fellow musicians throughout the years.
Lydon added that he is not against drugs but considers Osbourne their victim. The English musician claimed that by ‘selling that loser lifestyle,’ Ozzy encourages everyone who looks up to him to also victimize themselves. Finally, he shared that he and Ozzy Osbourne have a similar upbringing, so his actions have stained not only his reputation but everyone that belongs to the working-class population in Britain.
John Lydon’s words about Ozzy Osbourne:
“‘Paranoid’ was one of the world’s greatest-ever singles, but the rumors of biting pigeon heads haven’t impressed me since then. Ozzy, now acting like a senile delinquent, is equally unimpressive. The sly innuendo of promoting drug abuse and catatonic stupidity offends me.
I’m not one for banning drugs, quite the opposite. But I understand how to use them, and they don’t use me. Ozzy is clearly a victim, and selling that loser lifestyle s**t to other people equally victimizes them.
That’s a shame. Ozzy’s a working-class man, just like me, yet he allows that to happen. By acting as he does, he implies that we’re all stupid, the working class. But we’re not, you know. We’re not! We’re proper Britain, us lot.”
You can watch the official music video of ‘Paranoid’ below.
