 Johnny Rotten had left the group shortly before filming started on  the movie. He had had his fill of the band and  Malcolm McLaren (qv), and wanted no part in the film. Therefore,  he only appears in archival clips of the Sex Pistols on stage. By  the time the film had premiered, Rotten was already touring under  his birth name John Lydon (I) (qv) with his new band Public Image,  Ltd.