Gruff Rhys Backs Kele Okereke's Sex Pistols 'Racial Attack' Story

Gruff Rhys has endorsed a statement by Bloc Party singer Kele Okereke, in which he claimed he had been the victim of an “unprovoked racial attack” by a group of individuals associated to Sex Pistols frontman John Lydon.

Okereke said he was left with facial injuries, including severe bruising, following a scuffle at the Summercase festival in Spain last weekend.

He said the attack had happened after he asked Lydon if he would consider reforming Public Image Ltd.

Lydon, responding to the claims, appeared to accuse Okereke of “jealousy” and said he felt “very sorry for a man who needs to lie about what was a perfect evening.”

Okereke Claims 'Absolutely True'

Talking about the incident, Rhys, who fronts the Super Furry Animals and more recently Neon Neon, backed Okereke and called the altercation “horrific”.

“Kele is a very brave man and what he said is exactly what happened,” he told MTV. “The statements Kele has said are absolutely true. It did happen.”

It's understood that members of Foals and Kaiser Chiefs helped break up the altercation, which Okereke apparently reported to police in Spain and the United Kingdom.

In a statement on Monday, the Bloc Party singer Okereke said he was “disappointed” that Lydon, a person he “held with such high regard”, had turned “out to be such a bigot.”

But Lydon, who is currently touring to mark the Sex Pistols 30th anniversary, responded by saying that the band have attracted an audience that is “multi-varied, all ages, all races, creeds and colours.”

"When you are at a festival with bands who are jealous fools, lies and confusion usually follow. If they need publicity so badly this is the allegation universe they run into,” he said.