Paul Cook : The John Robb interview

[@muzzymuzzmuzz1]

One of the most under-rated and modest drummers in the history of rock n roll. This bloke was rock solid foundation, laid down a deceptively tricky mid-tempo groove which pinned down Jones and Matlock. We salute you Cookie

[@andchat6241]

Absolutely , I've seen Paul as a 'stand in drummer' ' & he gets on with it...if u watch any of the old Pistols footage Steve & Rotten may go out of tune but Paul was always solid & on the 'groove'... a bit like Ringo ?

[@muzzymuzzmuzz1]

@@andchat6241 Cookie has got what very few drummers have and only the great ones get - they know "their place". It's a sixth sense that you can't teach. They just sit in. Ringo has it. Charlie had it. So does Cookie...

[@mojorisen7812]

The word "underrated" is over rated.

[@andchat6241]

@@mojorisen7812 .....maybe a bit overused nowadays ? A bit like 'Iconic '. I prefer using the words 'relatively unsung' in Regards to someone like Paul Cook..... as his 'peers' know what he can do e.g. when Edwyn Collins had his mid 90s comeback ('never met a girl like you' ) he got Cookie on drums...

[@mojorisen7812]

@@andchat6241 Don't get me started on "genuis". All someone needs to do is fart these days and they're declared a "genius"

[@VincentRE79]

Paul has always remained grounded and looks like he held the band together.

[@paulkitchen1846]

What a genuine down to earth geezer, who never became pretentious with the fame.

[@koont666]

He's a Hammersmith boy that's why 😜🍀🇬🇧👍🏼

[@leahflower9924]

he is what i think of when i think of a british dude the hair the accent the sweater etc. lol

[@royferguson3909]

I am prentemptious, without the fame , and I can't be arsed to watch this video, after reading your firsed comment. You put me right off. thanks for sharing.. ta

[@paulkitchen1846]

@@royferguson3909 is pretenpmtious a word

[@BrianMarcus-nz7cs]

No Comments guv, ✍️ ,

[@davidwaterhouse2552]

I Love Paul Cook, I have since I was 13, that's 46 years ago! dx

[@TheVideoLounge]

Great interview John with a lovely bloke, my heart always lifts when I see Paul Cook, I'm 15 again and the fireworks of punk are lighting the skies.

[@johnbarry1965]

Cooky and Jonesy are diamond geezers xxxx

[@johnbarry1965]

Cooky and Jonesy are diamond geezers xxxx

[@andygardiner4485]

Kudos to both Cook & Robb - both patently obviously lovely guys and both bloody talented in their respective activities - loved this !

[@johnk6312]

I love Paul cooks drumming it's got a motorik feel I'd say, very bouncy.

[@worldofwordswales]

I have been lucky enough to have seen Paul 3 times in 3 different line ups - The Sex Pistols, Chiefs of Relief and The Professionals. Always memorable!

[@hopprfy-shopsellsendecosys1155]

Hey John, did an interview with you nearly 20 years ago now, glad to see you doing so well!

[@franksmusic2880]

Paul, you look great, so cool to see you have a record collection. I hope to hear new music from you guys.

[@tpe1511]

My third ever live gig was at Chiefs of Relief at ULU circa 1983/4...16-17yo, I had had a few pints and Paul was in the audience (of course this was a band who he briefly joined later)...I just had to say something having been a massive Pistols fan .. It was a brief exchange (no, I didnt mention the Pistols, I asked about The Professionals Mk 1), he could not have been kinder. A tipsy 17yo new to gigs, but he was kind and patient. Thanks Paul, a truly decent bloke.

[@andchat6241]

But I felt 'the Professionals ' were over really in '83/'84...After a number of excellent singles they released a good LP 'I didn't see it coming' in ' 81 & as far as I can remember, that's where it all ended really

[@tpe1511]

Not sure what point you are making. Perhaps you didn't mean to post it as a response to me?

[@studig]

Skunk Annansie also played Finsbury Park. I’d got to Coventry when I realised I’d left my tickets at home in Blackpool ! Super-Dad drove to meet me near Stoke with them . Keele services I think. It was great day in the end .

[@waynesilverman3048]

I nearly did with the libertines tour after he came out of jail 1st gig at Birmingham came on the coach where's the tickets? "Where not going"then I pulled em out much to our pleasure

[@richardsaunders520]

Great gig that. Does he mention it in this interview?

[@jamiefors5062]

"just one more from us then we'll fuck off" I think is what she said lol, great day

[@andywells397]

Great interview.

[@Muirton66]

Paul Cook, a more genuine guy you will struggle to meet, as you can hear in this interview he is pretty pissed off about the whole court case and what led up to it but unfortunately it was unavoidable due to Lydon digging his heels in for the simple reason the series wasn't about him. Sad really but John is John and he will never change.

[@Boilingfrogg]

So true. Rottens a narcissist

[@fasthracing]

Noone can play the start of Pretty Vacant like Steve. Shout out to the Greedies too.(Just in time for Christmas!)

[@chrisbrockgeezer5511]

Straight onto the watch later list ... Nice one 🌞

[@pattycifra6904]

I'm glad Jones and Cook won the court case, and it was nasty of Lydon to publicly trash talk them and call them liars. Paul has the decency to rise above it here in this John Robb interview. As a Pistols fan, I look forward to seeing "Pistol". I wish Lydon would realize the series will introduce the younger generation to the Pistols music, and bring the band new fans and new revenue. Despite all the Disney jokes, "Pistol" will air on the FX Channel which produces some great programs. Lydon owns several properties in L.A., he's nowhere near bankrupt. He's playing the victim for public sympathy. He should have agreed to let Steve Jones use the Pistols music for Danny Boyle's "Pistol" series, since he signed the band agreement, but he had to be a jealous brat about it and object, since it was Steve's story and not his. Lydon's worried about the Pistols "integrity"? Yeah, right! Awhile back, Lydon was in talks to have his autobio made into a movie starring....Justin Timberlake!

[@roybennett9284]

On the record all songs mentioned all band members as writers of the songs....even Sid!!

[@roybennett9284]

The t.v series is about Steve,anyway..I haven't seen any of it and won't..does it show him as a kid and early teen??

[@southsidesmitty1962]

there are flashes of Jones' childhood

[@rollacoastaride1937]

great drummer, GOD bless his cotton sox

[@BABYCHAOS26]

Interesting interview, the ever changing lineup is a who’s who of 90’s British bands, The Yo-Yo’s, 3 Colours Red, The Wildhearts / Ginger. It’s good to see people popping up here and there.

[@WalterSobchak1000]

I love Cookie, always such a positive bloke and very funny when he catches up with Steve

[@stepheng8779]

Excellent, thank you. Loved Paul's work with Edwyn Collins 👍

[@gazriley624]

the Pistols played Eric's in Liverpool as well i was too young at the time as well

[@dixgun]

Interesting about the speed of Paul’s style of playing and grooves. 👍 Lydon doesn’t like dramatic interpretations of himself. He never has. Even if it’s someone unique like Boyle doing it’s not the point. He thinks it’s a stupid thing to do. I listened to Steve reading the book in audiobook form. Thought Paul and Steve talking on Steve’s radio show should continue on in podcast form. Steve and Paul walking around London in 2007 was great as well. Thank you, Mr. Robb. 💥✨

[@freelyfarmexploits8854]

I was at the front at Finsbury park, right in front of Jonesy, remember that surge on 'Bodies', all the beer being thrown, the place erupted, bloody mental! I can't believe it was 96, where did all that time go. My thanks to the girls from Fluffy who got me my ticket. I even had their vibrator t shirt on! Great interview, nice down to earth chap is Cookie.

[@barnabyhoofer8044]

I nearly got killed in the mosh, when I fell on my back, someone's shin went over my throat, and a pile of other bodies on top of that leg. Managed to move my face into the shin, and breathe. Eventually ppl pulled me up off the floor. Great day out.

[@freelyfarmexploits8854]

@@barnabyhoofer8044 I was rammed right up against the safety barrier, I didn't get anywhere near that Mosh pit, do you remember the surge and all the beer coming over? You were lucky there, it's lethal in that area, everyone goes mental. I much preferred 2006 in the Brixton academy, I was in the Mosh pit for that one, unfortunately it was the last time I wore my brothel creepers as the sole detached !

[@skinnygrave2487]

@@freelyfarmexploits8854 You lucky gits, i was sat at home taping it on the radio (remember taping). I recall loving Fluffy and made sure i got their album, and i also recall some kinda snide comments from Joe Strummer about the reunion like 'what are they gonna do, dig up Sid?' I love both the Pistols and the Clash but there was no need for that. Maybe he was gutted they beat them to the punch, as ever...

[@freelyfarmexploits8854]

@@skinnygrave2487 yes cassette tapes, still have hundreds! It was quite an occasion, I'm glad I was there it was a fantastic day out. I have to say the Pistols put in a bloody solid performance too.

[@skinnygrave2487]

@@freelyfarmexploits8854 Did you ever see the press conference where a journalist is trying to accuse them of selling out for playing stadiums, because a stadium band is something they said they'd never be? John replies 'Finsbury Park is not a stadium - it's a field' hahaha

[@andchat6241]

Its good to see Paul feeling comfortable being interviewed & having his say- compared to the increasing pile of nonsense that passes as 'The Truth' by Lydon...

[@theculturedthug6609]

Why did Rotten take the band to court over using the music in the forthcoming film about them? Wouldn't have rotten got a load of money out of it? Instead he now has to pay a laid of court costs... What a tit.

[@ellisbell7718]

@@theculturedthug6609Hmm... sell his soul to Disney corps... very punk! Lydon is so 'Last century'

[@18gregs]

Really interesting stuff ! He's a vey decent grounded man is Cooky !

[@martinjones8861]

The Sex pistols were a fantastic band .So much of what made them great was the sound of Cook and Jones .It was combination of that sound and the lyrics of Lydon that made them a special band .It's a shame that incredible combination was only heard on the one studio album

[@deadstar1641]

And glen Matlock.

[@martinjones8861]

@@deadstar1641 Yes Glen Matlock was very important to the song writing of the Pistols but not to the sound of Bollocks which was almost entirely created by Jones and Cook .Though Glen Matlock did play bass on Anarchy In The UK

[@iainholmes2735]

I think Glen, Paul and Steve are great musicians. Looking at the reunion footage, they are so thrilling as a band.

[@mjh5437]

Cookie.......good to hear from the resident Quiet One which most bands have......my kids went to school with his daughter in the 1990s so we`ve chatted at various times and he`s a great bloke.

[@dingdong6069]

Ok. I love all the Pistols. Find them all hugely entertaining, as well as very articulate and intelligent, characters. And I've listened to this and I've also just listened to a Lydon interview he just did for the BBC. My only conclusion is Mr Cook's appraisal of recent events leading to the court case (not to mention concurring with the Judge's own ruling) comes across as the accurate and believable one. Also I do see Paul's genuine regret over it coming to that and his wish there be no animosity all too real. Lydon has been the proverbial kid that's taken his ball home but then gets all grumpy when the other kids just stay in the park happily playing. Mr Cook is a genuine, honest humble geezer. As seen in Mr Robb's excellent interview.

[@aaronmadrigal4626]

Paul is a proper dude

[@neilmccormick2064]

Saw Cookie a couple of times in what was my local boozer at the time in the late 80s, a pub on lavender Hill called the Beaufoy Arms. I was dying to approach him for an autograph and hopefully a wee natter about the Pistols but I totally bottled it . Wish I'd summoned the nerve to try because he's such an affable likeable geezer , he'd probably have been OK about it .

[@leahflower9924]

he is very british i expect to see him on the Crown or something maybe call the midwife even lol

[@martinmcdonald9575]

Cookie is a great drummer..

[@kingcash48]

John , Steve, Paul , glen & sid , love u all 🤍 changed this 20 year olds life when I found out about y’all .

[@londoncalling1757]

Get the feeling John lydons a bit jealous of Steve Jones right now , and not being the centre of attention, he's probably thinking his autobiography should have been dramatised first .

[@grrr.9998]

Who? Honest John, never!

[@youjoker9647]

I know. He's made himself look a total prick and cost himself a few quid. I never know what to believe about Lydon and his fortune. I always thought Nora was not short of money before she met Lydon? I admire John for his obvious love for his wife but I don't buy into a lot of his bull. Music wise he's far more interesting I watched an interview with him appearing at some book store. He reckoned he'd started the careers of 40 + people who had played with him. People like McGeoch, Satriani etc. Utter bull

[@frankdiscussion2069]

@@youjoker9647 his wife's family is wealthy but i don't think she got any money from them

[@clausm2203]

Great interview

[@Horizon344]

That legal action by Cook & Co (+Disney) has almost bankrupted Lydon - who is not one to forgive & forget. Cook's hope here that a relationship with him isn't permanently broken is doubtful.

[@eckeynecker]

His wife is extremely wealthy though .

[@GriefTourist]

Absolute bollocks he wouldn't have gambled all his money on that he is a fucking liar

[@pattycifra6904]

Lydon owns several properties in L.A., he's nowhere near bankrupt. He's playing the victim for public sympathy. He should have agreed to let Steve Jones use the Pistols music for Danny Boyle's "Pistol" series, since he signed the band agreement, but he had to be a jealous brat about it and object, since it was Steve's story and not his. Lydon's worried about the Pistols "integrity"? Yeah, right! Awhile back, Lydon was in talks to have his autobio made into a movie starring....Justin Timberlake! I'm glad Jones and Cook won the court case, and it was nasty of Lydon to publicly trash talk them and call them liars. Paul has the decency to rise above it here in this John Robb interview. As a Pistols fan, I look forward to seeing "Pistol". I wish Lydon would realize the series will introduce the younger generation to the Pistols music, and bring the band new fans and new revenue. Despite all the Disney jokes, "Pistol" will air on the FX Channel which produces some great programs.

[@IanInChengdu]

@@pattycifra6904 Selling your soul to Disney is so punk.

[@Muirton66]

@@pattycifra6904 You are absolutely spot on

[@gangsom7123]

Great interview Love the pistols

[@klausrain111]

Thrre was a myth going around when they first started that the Pistols couldn't play. But not everybody agreed! I was one of those who thought they played great. Cookie and Steve were brilliant together, along with John. It was a sad sad day when they broke up.

[@dixgun]

Andy Allen never gets mentioned I’ve noticed. 😮 I’ve heard some of his post Professionals stuff. It’s good.

[@martininblack63]

Hey John…. Your copy of Dark Matters is front and centre!!! Respect👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

[@mjh5437]

Regarding his drumming style I`ve always heard a good bit of the classic chunky Glam beat of groups I loved as a boy like the Glitter Band and the Sweet and Slade,and Suzi Quatro too,all the great ChinniChap sort of stuff,then later on the best of the Adam Ant twin drum sound in his glory days.

[@8busby]

One from the best band ever.

[@iamyourfuture808]

What a geezer

[@gordonthomson1584]

Great guy

[@rebelbhoy1888]

Brilliant mate

[@markgreet3543]

I may play greediness merry jingle every Christmas day.funnily enough the b side is the song played backwards a merry jangle love the footage of them on top of the pops playing the song Steve jones looks tall saw this first time 1997

[@markgreet3543]

Meet glen and John both in Leicester I know Paul was in loughborough Town in Leicestershire once I'm a big sex pistols fan 250 items in my collection seen them live 6 times on reunion tour

[@waynegates7180]

John tell let Paul Cook know I'll play Guitar with Iam doing nothing. I learnt to play from the pistols Steve was my influence I've played in punk bands in SYDNEY AUSTRALIA Thanks anyway I won't get a call from him I'll bet👍🤘🖤🖤🥵

[@markgreet3543]

Sorry merry jingle the greedys . Wally he mention wrote first two lyrics of did you no wrong then john changed most of the words.professionals are really good

[@infrasleep]

I remember reading books like "Manhattan Transfer" by Dos Passos and "Studs Lonigan ",all the Jazz age stuff and I looked again at the old grannies and grandad's and realized that we "enlightened" youth couldn't teach them a damn thing ! I wonder if todays trendy "enlightened" youth look at the likes of Paul Cook today and realize how square and boring they are by comparison :D

[@gmotionedc5412]

John said he will never play with the pistols again because of this court case. That sucks.

[@Boilingfrogg]

John Rob. Last time I spoke to you was the last supper Manchester. Steve ignorant.

[@Boilingfrogg]

Aww did you miss out? You seem to have habit of belittling old Punx.

[@davethecrow]

john robb .thats what this all came to.

[@davidheafield1436]

Love it when the man servant comes in offering Tiffin to his Lordship….

[@annwalker451]

Lydon was the lyrical catalyst, Lydon was the visual magnet, Cook , Jones and Matlock need to realise how mediocre they would have been without Rotten .

[@markwhite5465]

stuck to Lydon like velcro..so roll out all the hits these 'pistols' have had since..a very big zero and John Lydon..well its a no brainer who's being honest here. John Lydon has always been 100% honest and they shafted him while he was looking after Nora, they should be ashamed of their greedy selves.

[@Muirton66]

@@markwhite5465 What utter nonsense, read the facts behind this instead of basing your opinion on your man love for Lydon, you are not even close to the truth.

[@markwhite5465]

@@Muirton66 what music have they produced? i saw matlock in our village shop a few years back not emplyed, you do some research lol

[@Muirton66]

@@markwhite5465 You claim 'they' shafted him, when, where and how did they shaft him ? Lydon has shafted himself, this project has fuck all to do with John Lydon, it's a series based on the life of Steve Jones and if you think Cook, Jones and Matlock have done nothing since 1978 your a bit delusional

[@roybennett9284]

Paul and Steve seemed the most sane people in the band

[@deadstar1641]

And Glen.

[@roybennett9284]

@@deadstar1641 yes sorry,I don't know why he left...it was found latter all about Malcom McLaren...as Lydon said when the heroin and leather jackets came in ,it wasn't punk anyone.

[@shack7631]

Lydon threw a hissy fit because here was a project featuring the Sex Pistols and he wasn't the centre of attention. Instead, he brought a court case against a legal agreement which he had signed up to. Talk about a gift to lawyers. To quote Lydon himself 'classic stupidity'.

[@Horizon344]

He didn't sue them, they sued him, mate.

[@shack7631]

@@Horizon344 Fair point, but he walked into a court case that he was 100% certain to loose. He was a signature to the agreement that it was majority rules on Sex Pistols decisions and he tried to back put of it. I am not sure if Matlock is part of this. He once said he had a different legal agreement than the rest of the band. Some distant relative of Sid's is now benefiting from his share.

[@Horizon344]

@@shack7631 Agreed on the foolhardiness of Lydon, I wouldn't have gone to court against the others on this as he had no serious legal grounds to oppose that Agreement you mention. The outcome was almost inevitable, why he did it with the financial consequences involved is a bit of a mystery.

[@shack7631]

@@Horizon344 It's hard not suspect that Lydon was given some very poor legal advise on this case by lawyers who must have seen it as a blank cheque for themselves. Although his ego obviously clouded is judgement. I am a fan of Lydon, but there are times when he just can't help making a complete fool of himself. This court caseis one example and that time he was pissed at the movie launch not so long ago and had it out with the last remaining Ramone is another. Henry Rollings, who was sitting beside him, felt embarrassment for us all.

[@victorimmature]

now it all makes sense , i thought that boil fella was doing stuff on the pistols , trust cook the nice bloke to make it all sense ,. a great drummer , last time i saw him he was with the rotting hill mob , now i know all this shit is over a book about jonesy , john is a bit out of order , cookie needs to sort his boy out though , you have to have a cuppa tea with a sandwich . :)

[@stormy3307]

Off topic but, John is so eternally hot and stylish. Much appreciated.

[@angelicupstart1977]

Probably about the music and people really.

[@tadgerdavidson5377]

On yersel' Cookie!

[@ajc8119]

Steve Cook is a real dude

[@Boilingfrogg]

Paul

[@LeroyKinkade]

Cook Jones.

[@victorimmature]

as long as passports aint needed , i will come .

[@voxxclamantis9668]

I always wondered whether Sid would of continued with Steve and Paul? What does Paul think if Sid survived what he thinks Sid would of done, seeing that he could of gotten out of Nancy's murder and his addiction under control. What do you think?

[@Muirton66]

I honestly believe Sid could have went on to bigger and better things, he had the looks and to be honest wasn't a bad singer, unfortunately we will never know.

[@Muirton66]

@@torp7215 If you listen to McLaren on Joneseys Jukebox he actually tells the story that he auditioned the wrong John, Vivienne Westwood had told him about a guy called John who was a regular in the shop but McLaren got the wrong guy.

[@BrianMarcus-nz7cs]

Have a Nice Day m8 ✍️👍

[@DungeonStudio]

I think with John it's a bit of a marketing ploy. Much the same he did with Sid & Nancy - slag it, detest it, and knows he knows the REAL story. But then over time slightly gives in that the film makers only had so much time, money, and info to make the story with. And that some of it may have been a little accurate, but most was dramatic licence which he can laugh at now. So no doubt the same with this recent pic. The more he's against it, the more fans like me want to check it out. And John's pretty good at 'setting the record straight' on dramatic events and/or overblown rumours. But he still keeps that punk mystique. As if to say "Steve's a total cunt. But he's one of the best total cunts to know and work with..." So does John love Steve? Hate Steve? No, John just likes Steve - in his own way.

[@deadstar1641]

Sid & Nancy was terrible

[@fasthracing]

God save the Sex Pistols.

[@andywells397]

And god save ronald biggs

[@nasskhan4543]

Paul Cook seems like a nice guy but the guy they have got in to play him in the film looks nothing like him

[@666Eva]

Geezer

[@DanRodriguezMusic]

Thanks for sharing! If you have a second, I've been recording some original acoustic songs. As a fellow music fan, I'd love if you'd check it out. It's on my channel. Hope you like it.

[@-chris1965]

THe end of the Pistols then.

[@Horizon344]

Pretty much, Lydon even before the court hearing had already given notice on the band ever playing again, but after Cook & Co almost ruining him financially that's now set in stone. TSP's is over.

[@Muirton66]

@@Horizon344 Lydon brought it on himself, it was a case he was never going to win and he knew it

[@shanetreacy5996]

He reminds me of Charlie Watts,cool,calm and collected and articulate.Wonderful drummer.

[@realsinisterminister]

Steve Jones says he's a better drummer than Paul

[@youjoker9647]

Maybe he was joking?

[@realsinisterminister]

@@youjoker9647 read his book see for yrself I think it was said toungue in cheek but he believes it cause he goes on to explain why...

[@andywells397]

Jonesy made the pistols sound.

[@realsinisterminister]

@@andywells397 I agree and John gave it a voice and a look etc

[@deadstar1641]

@@andywells397 And Matlock.

[@stevemaclaine4547]

Ramones were and are crap,total rubbish .

[@jasonking6548]

Well said.. Could never work out why they were so big.. Boring after 5 mins..