- by Jason Gregory
- Monday, July 21, 2008
- Photo by: Shirlaine Forrest
Bloc Party frontman Kele Okereke has claimed he was the victim of an “unprovoked racial attack” by a group of individuals associated to Sex Pistols frontman John Lydon.
The incident is said to have taken place at last weekend's Summercase Festival in Spain, which the Sex Pistols were performing at.
Okereke says he was left with facial injuries, including severe bruising, following a scuffle which began after he asked Lydon if he would consider reforming Public Image Ltd.
In a statement, he said Lydon responded in an “intimidating and aggressive” manner to his question, “while his entourage responded with a racist tirade including the statement, 'Your problem is your black attitude'."
It's understood that members of Foals and Kaiser Chiefs helped break up the altercation, which has been reported to police in Spain and the United Kingdom.
'Race'
Okereke went on to say that he was “disappointed” that Lydon, a person he “held with such high regard”, had turned “out to be such a bigot.”
"It's not an issue of the physical assault, even though it was an unprovoked attack, it is the fact that race was brought into the matter so readily," Okereke said.
"Someone as respected and as intelligent as Lydon should know better than to bring race into the equation, or socialise with and encourage those who hold such narrow-minded attitudes.”
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- Go on Kele! Absolutely appalling behaviour from Lydon et al.
- Yannis to the rescue haha.
- Someone as respected and as intelligent as Lydon "
A prat yes, but intelligent? respected? God no. Okereke needs to press charges against this thuggish has-been and the bully-boys he hangs around with.
- If you read what he says in the statement , all he says is that Lydon was aggressive and intimidating, the racist taunts came from his entourage. So the story is Lydon was aggressive and intimidating, which he has always been like , particularly if he doesn\'t want to talk to someone. Total non story. He has been the victim of anti Irish racism so it\'s unlikely he\'d be it himself. Bit disappointing that he has wanker mates tho.
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- im afraid that lydon has become as reactionary as the thugs that used to beat HIM up back in the 70s
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