Sex Pistols drama saved after ex-singer Johnny Rotten loses bitter legal fight

A SEX Pistols drama has been saved after ex-singer Johnny Rotten lost a bitter legal fight over the music.

Rotten, whose real name is John Lydon, tried to block the use of the punk group’s songs in the upcoming series.

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Rotten, whose real name is John Lydon, tried to block the use of the punk group’s songs in the upcoming seriesCredit: PA

Former guitarist Steve Jones and drummer Paul Cook, both 65, sued and yesterday a High Court judge ruled in their favour.

Disney drama Pistol, directed by Oscar-winner Danny Boyle, can now feature hits Anarchy in the UK and God Save the Queen.

Cook and Jones said: “It has not been a pleasant experience, but we believe it was necessary to allow us to hopefully work together in the future with better relations.”

They had argued the group, which split in 1978, agreed that music licensing decisions were made on a “majority rule basis”.

In court Lydon, 65 — also sued for breach of contract — said he rejected the deal, likening it to “slave labour”. He also slammed Pistol, based on Jones’s 2017 memoir Lonely Boy, as “disrespectful sh*t”.

Lawyers will now discuss financial aspects of the case — such as whether Lydon will pay damages and how legal bills are split — before a hearing on Friday.

The group, which split in 1978, agreed that music licensing decisions were made on a majority rule basis

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The group, which split in 1978, agreed that music licensing decisions were made on a majority rule basisCredit: PA
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