John Lydon - also known as the Sex Pistols’ Johnny Rotten - has accused two hugely successful bands of lacking “heart and soul.”

“Coldplay and Radiohead bug the hell out of me because it’s so soulless. It just seems pointless. It’s nice but it’s tosh. They don’t care about you. They care about lining their coffers,” he fumed to BBC radio station 6 Music. “There’s nothing about heart and soul, they don’t know about heart and soul, they don’t know about people dying, living and aspiring.”

The punk singer’s offhand opinion may not be entirely founded, as Radiohead famously released their last album, In Rainbows, to fans on a pay-what-you-like basis - with many choosing to pay nothing.

Coldplay are currently holed up in a London church writing a “low-key” new album, as frontman Chris Martin is worried about alienating his fans with the band’s the epic sound of their last record Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends.

“Chris is determined not to be seen as a huge commercial rock juggernaut, filling stadiums and cashing in,” a source said. “The plan is to keep them as close to their fans as possible. The band is keen to make hay while the sun shines. They have hit a rich vein with their songwriting and feel more creative than ever.”