Arts & Entertainment

Sex Pistols clash in court over TV series song use

London, Jul 16 (EFE).- A legal battle between three former members of British band Sex Pistols has reached London’s High Court.

It seeks to determine whether the band’s songs can be used in a new television series by English filmmaker Danny Boyle about the famous punk group, and based on the 2018 memoir “Lonely Boy: Tales Of A Sex Pistol” by guitarist Steve Jones.

Jones and drummer Paul Cook are suing vocalist John Lydon (known as Johnny Rotten) for his opposition to the songs being used in “Pistol,” a six-part miniseries produced by the American TV channel and Disney subsidiary FX, which is tipped to be released next year.

Judge Anthony Mann will rule on whether, as Jones and Cook claim, Lydon is violating a 1998 agreement that decisions on song licensing would be made by a majority, or if he can block them unilaterally.

On Thursday, Edmund Cullen, the plaintiffs’ lawyer, said that they had tried to reach a consensus but it had not been possible due to the “bitter and fractious” relationship between the group’s former members.

Cullen added that Glen Matlock, the group’s original bassist, who was replaced by Sid Vicious in 1977, and representatives of Vicious, who died in 1979, support the use of the songs.

Lydon’s attorney Mark Cunningham said in written arguments that his client believes that Jones’ memoir “depicts him in a hostile and unflattering light.”

The production directed by Doyle – best director Oscar winner for “Slumdog Millionaire” – will tell the story of Jones and the iconic band that shook the 1970s music scene with debut album “Never Mind the Bollocks, Here’s the Sex Pistols” (1977) and anthems such as “God Save the Queen” and “Anarchy in the UK.”

The cast is headed by Toby Wallace, who will play Jones, with Anson Boon as Lydon, Louis Partridge as Vicious and Jacob Slater as Cook.

Maisie Williams, who became a global star as Arya Stark in “Game of Thrones,” will play punk muse Pamela Rooke (also known as Jordan). EFE

jm/tw

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