October 5, 2007 11:00

John Lydon sends warning to Pete Doherty

'Pete's got to realise Sid was a tragedy'

Sex Pistols frontman John Lydon has sent a message of warning to Pete Doherty, who is currently in drug rehab.

Speaking to The Sun, Lydon equated Doherty’s lifestyle to that of the late Sex Pistols bass player Sid Vicious, who died of a heroin overdose in 1979.

"Pete’s got to realise Sid was a tragedy, and that’s not an image to be wanting," Lydon said. "You can get trapped in the drugs thing. They are only something you should use for entertainment and recreation!

"It’s certainly not a way of life, and it is certainly not going to help him have any kind of future. He knows, but he’s trapped in this publicity hype that he can’t break out of."

Meanwhile, NME.COM is organising a campaign to get the band's classic single 'God Save The Queen' to Number One.

The song was denied the top spot by the powers that be when it was originally released in 1977 because they didn't want the band's punk attitude interfering with the Queen's Jubilee that year.

As the single is being reissued on seven-inch vinyl to celebrate its 30th anniversary, we are calling on all fans to buy or download it during the week beginning October 8 and hopefully we can send it back up the charts.