Former Sex Pistols frontman JOHNNY ROTTEN denies "hating" progressive rock band PINK FLOYD - despite having sported a T-shirt emblazoned with the words 'I Hate Pink Floyd' during his 1970s heyday.

The flame-haired rocker insists the inflammatory statement was merely a joke, as the WISH YOU WERE HERE stars are so brilliant, nobody could seriously hate them - not even punks.

Rotten, real name John Lydon says, "I never hated Pink Floyd. I was having a laugh.

"How could you hate Pink Floyd? It's like saying, 'Kill the fluffy bunnies.'

"If you're going to make me a monster, at least give me something worth really rebelling against.

"I've run into DAVID GILMOUR several times over the years, and he thinks it's hilarious. He's a great bloke."