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“I love all his stuff”: the 1967 prog-rock frontman John Lydon hailed as a “true original”
An article revisits John Lydon's 1977 appearance on Capital Radio's Tommy Vance Show, where the Sex Pistols frontman was given control of the playlist for two hours, revealing musical tastes far removed from his punk persona. Among his selections were tracks by Peter Hammill, former frontman of progressive rock band Van der Graaf Generator, whom Lydon later praised as a "true original" and credited as an unacknowledged influence on David Bowie. The piece highlights the contradiction between Lydon's on-stage image as punk's chief provocateur and his genuine, wide-ranging appreciation for music history.
Lydon's playlist featured Tim Buckley, David Bowie, Nico and The Creation, alongside two tracks from Hammill's 1975 album Nadir's Big Chance, a record often seen as a bridge between progressive rock and punk. Hammill's theatrical vocal style is said to have shaped Lydon's own delivery, and the two later met backstage at London's Marquee club in June 1978. The broadcast also came amid growing friction between Lydon and Sex Pistols manager Malcolm McLaren, with Lydon using the interview to publicly reject the idea that McLaren controlled him, framing his choice of music as an assertion of independence.
In short
- Lydon curated a 1977 radio show revealing unexpected prog-rock influences
- He called Peter Hammill of Van der Graaf Generator a "true original"
- The broadcast also signalled Lydon's growing independence from Malcolm McLaren
Explained simply
John Lydon became known as the singer of the Sex Pistols, one of the bands at the centre of British punk in the late 1970s. His confrontational stage persona helped make him a symbol of punk, but his musical interests extended well beyond the genre.
Peter Hammill was the singer of Van der Graaf Generator, a progressive rock band known for dramatic, ambitious music. His 1975 album Nadir’s Big Chance is often seen as connecting progressive rock with punk, and Hammill’s theatrical singing has been cited as an influence on Lydon.
The Sex Pistols were managed by Malcolm McLaren, whose role in shaping the band and its image became a source of tension with Lydon. Lydon’s 1977 radio playlist offered a way to show his own musical choices and independence, as well as revealing some of the influences behind his public persona.