I was in Lebanon in 1979 and I remember reading an article about Johnny Rotten hanging in a club when two fans in the balcony noticed him and began singing “Anarchy In The UK” as if they “expected him to join them>” Lydon turned away in disgust.
And I remember thinking, that’s the end of that,. That’s the end of punk.
Of all the unsustainable concepts known to popular music, one came, went, and never returned: punk: Do It Yourself. Anyone Can Do It. All you needed was to learn three chords and have the desire. Lift aguitar, hijack some drums, form a band. You are no longer a consumer, you’re a superstar.
It was all a form of social communism and it never stood a chance in hell of coming true.That anybody bought it for a moment, that a generation bought into Strummer’s “The truth is only known by guttersnipes” still feels like a miracle.
Those two kids in the club? Still drunk on a dream.
Lydon, Lydon said “Ever get the feeling you’ve been had?” and it was over.