Lydon: 'Pistols don't need publicity'

John Lydon has claimed that the Sex Pistols have never used a publicity campaign during their career.

The punk singer said that he is pleased that record companies are struggling financially because his band never enjoyed working with them

"My advice to young musicians is: You can do it for yourself, you really can," he told the Daily Star.

"During the whole of my career I've never orchestrated a record with a tour and a publicity campaign. It's never happened."

He continued: "So what if we released our last album 31 years ago? We make records when we want not when we're told. We’re not a shuttle bus service... Or The Rolling Stones.

"It's more natural to create new material this way because there's a different kind of energy when you’re out there. That's what the Sex Pistols are all about. We spend bugger all on publicity."

Lydon criticised other musicians such as Madonna for spending large budgets on marketing campaigns.

"What is it [Madonna] spends?" said Lydon. "About £250,000 a year to keep her pony-a**e face in the paper?"