Every so often we like to begin with a question, and today's is: what's Johnny Lydon been blethering on about now?
This morning, Kim Dawson of Kim Dawson's Playlist duly replies: "John Lydon believes festivals have lost their edge," says she "despite his efforts to bring punk to the BT Isle of Wight extravaganza last month." A British Telecom-sponsored event not edgy? Unbelievable.
The Alf Garnett-style grumbling doesn't end there. "I was remembering festivals in the 70s and how crazy mad they used to be and what great fun. This lot were deckchairs, posh Butlins - what I was performing to was polite schoolteachers." No wonder Lydon is appalled with those tedious schoolteachers and their chairs - performing to the establishment is so bourgeoisie. By the way, Lydon said all this at the launch of the Sex Pistols' new DVD, There'll Always be An England, available from all reputable high street stores and internet retailers now.
Lily Allen has been talking deeply and intensely about her oft discussed difficult second album, which may be so long in completion it's taken on an almost mythical status (we said "almost"). It does, at least, have a name: Stuck on the Naughty Step. According to Bizarre's Smart Gordon, the origin of the title comes from Lily's admission that, "I feel like I'm stuck in a hole where people say: 'Lily, you're bad. Go think about what you've done.' I'm really scared about what people are going to say about it."
Don't worry, we're sure Smarto's on your side. For instance, he's already plotting Allen's post-music career. The Sun man reckons that a career in A&R, as mused over by Allen, is a strong possibility, but that, "she will need to improve her self-confidence before she can make and break pop careers." And if anyone can help Lily improve her sense of self-worth, it's Smarto. Just look at the great job he's done building up Amy Winehouse's sense of self-worth over the last year or so.
Meanwhile, a singer who we imagine rarely gives his next move too much thought is Pete Doherty. While Lily is busy pondering the merits of Artists and Repertoire, Pete is happy doodling away. Smart Gordon reports: "He stunned organisers of a kids' art exhibition by submitting a picture of his band drawn in his own blood. After getting over their shock, they decided to include it in the exhibition, saying: 'We can't think we will get many postcards painted in blood - not unless one of the children had a nosebleed while doing theirs.'" What would Tony Hart say?
