Johnny Rotten loses legal battle against his bandmates

Everyone’s favorite frontman John Lydon of Sex Pistols has recently lost his legal battle against his former bandmates including Steve Jones (the group’s guitarist) and Paul Cook (drummer). John Lydon is more famous with his alter ego Johnny Rotten. This legal battle was initiated over a contract where the 1970s punk band agrees to license its music and on what terms and conditions.

The decision came out allowing Jones and Cook to license the band’s music for Danny Boyle’s FX adaptation of Jones’s memoir, “Lonely Boy: Tales from a Sex Pistol” and snatching Lydon’s veto power from now onwards.

Lydonearlier also objected to his characterization in Jones’ book. He also claimed, “I had no idea a show was in the works until very late into proceedings. I intended to veto use of the band’s music being licensed to FX for the series.”

The whole legal proceeding was revolved around a contract which was signed by Lydon, Jones, and Cook in the year 1988. The contract said that all licenses for the music could be granted by agreement from the majority of the band members. However, a lawsuit was brought by Jones and Cook with the sole aim of enforcing the contract. Lydon argued, “The contract had never been adhered to and any request for licenses are therefore subject to members’ individual vetoes.”

Jones and Cook took this dispute to London’s High Court last month where a judge finally ruled in their favor. The court declared the contract as valid and in force. This means that the majority of the band can overrule any individual member’s power to veto.

It came out during the trial that Lydon had also previously vetoed the use of the band’s music in Netflix drama titled the Crown’. His main concern behind his objection was that producers planned to ‘distort history.’

“We welcome the court’s ruling in this case,” Jones and Cook said in a statement. “It brings clarity to our decision making and upholds the band members’ agreement on collective decision making. It has not been a pleasant experience, but we believe it was necessary to allow us to move forward and hopefully work together in the future with better relations.” So now we can expect the band’s music in several series, shows, movies and more.