Lydon savages 'dead carcass' Sting

The punk legend John Lydon has lashed out at Sting, calling the Police frontman and his fellow band members "soggy old dead carcasses".

Lydon, formerly known as Johnny Rotten, poured scorn on the Eighties band's recent comeback. Lydon, 51, was speaking as the Sex Pistols prepare for a one-off gig to mark the 30th anniversary of their album Never Mind The Bollocks.

The former punk rebel added: "That really is a reformation isn't it? But honestly that's like soggy old dead carcasses. You know listening to Stink [sic] trying to squeak through 'Roxanne' one more time that's not fun."

Lydon also said, in an interview on Virgin Radio, that Amy Winehouse and Pete Doherty's problems were a cry for help. He said of Doherty: "Banging about your drug habits is a bit old fart isn't it? You know you can use drugs for entertainment but you should be quiet about it.

"That shouldn't be your centre showpiece. There's not much going on in their head with them. They obviously don't enjoy what they're doing and that's why you turn to drugs. That's what happened with Sid [Vicious]. It's a slow suicide and it's a cry for help because they're in mental pain. And this is a disgusting industry because people just cut you dead.

Lydon, who lives in LA, also condemned modern British music for "lacking originality".