Hey hey, my my. This is the story of Johnny Lydon–also known as Johnny Rotten of the seminal punk band The Sex Pistols–who thinks actor Russell Brand is an idiot and that people should vote. Especially young people. While Brand is encouraging youth to revolt and to sit out the election as a form of protest, Lydon says that’s idiotic. Young people who do that are just “demanding to be ignored,” Lydon tells Polly Toynbee in an engaging interview at The Guardian.
The young are already getting abused by the political system, Lydon and Toynbee agree–why make it permanent by not participating? “You have to vote, you have make a change,” Lydon says, dumbfounded. Despite the horrible choices, you have to vote. Brand’s advice is so “damn ignorant.” You have to remember, Lydon says, that a hundred years ago “who could vote here?” The answer goes unspoken. But it didn’t include women, like Polly Toynbee. Or poor people. So never mind the bollocks–vote. If anybody knows anything about not being ignored while you’re young, it’s Johnny Lydon.
