“Records were really really vitally important to the development of music and of all music cultures,” says PiL frontman John Lydon in an interview with NME for Record Store Day. “And that being pushed by the wayside, I can’t really see an iPod really uniting us, in fact it separates us. The streets are full of people bumping into lampposts listening to their own little universe. And, there’s no sharing in it. It’s become a very selfish thing, and nobody wants to pay for anybody’s work. To me that’s absolutely ridiculous.”
Lydon, otherwise known as Sex Pistols’ Johnny Rotten, is far from shy. He’ll give his opinion and stand firmly behind it. That makes him a perfect candidate to explain the importance of Records and Record Store Day.
“For me, the greatest part was saving up the money to buy the record. I felt like I was doing that person an honor, because I was honored that they’d gone to the effort to make a record for me… and I felt part of it.”
“My mom and dad loved to throw parties on the weekend and my house was always full of people. It was great. Everybody would bring records. Records and booze.”
Lydon’s band Public Image Ltd’, will release its first new material in 20 years; an EP titled One Drop. The album will hit shelves on Record Store Day, April 21st. “One Drop is a reflection of where I grew up in Finsbury Park, London. The area that shaped me, and influenced me culturally and musically, a place I will forever feel connected to,” says Lydon.
Call your local record to store to find out if they’ll have a copy.
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