"Johnny Rotten. He's a big fan of mine. I used to see him out in the audience in England and he'd stand up and holler. He's funny. Smart too, and a nice guy. Don't think he's a jerk because he isn't"

Don Van Vliet is expressing his admiration for Johnny Rotten, the lead singer of the punk rock band the Sex Pistols. He speaks extremely of Rotten, noting that he is funny, smart, and a good person. He also acknowledges that Rotten's punk rock persona may provide the impression that he is a jerk, but Van Vliet insists that this is not the case. This quote speaks to the respect that Van Vliet has for Rotten, and his desire to look beyond the surface area and recognize the individual underneath the hard rock image. It also talks to the power of music to bring people together, as Van Vliet and Rotten had the ability to form a bond despite their various musical styles. Eventually, this quote is a testimony to the power of music to bring individuals together and to the respect that Van Vliet has for Rotten.