John Lydon

John Lydon loves watching old Sex Pistols footage

Music Gossip

30 Apr 2012

Watching old footage of the Sex Pistols sends a shiver up John Lydon's spine. The former frontman of the punk rock band - who quit in 1978 to found a new group, Public Image Ltd - is still proud of the work they did and sometimes likes to reminisce…

John Lydon slams Simon Cowell

Music Gossip

28 Apr 2012

John Lydon thinks Simon Cowell is "really bad news" for music. The Sex Pistols frontman finds the music mogul "hilarious to watch" while judging on TV talent shows, but he believes the 'X Factor' boss is "very destructive". He said: "He's really…

John Lydon wants 'no part' in Sex Pistols reissue

Music Gossip

18 Apr 2012

John Lydon has distanced himself from the reissue of The Sex Pistols' anti-monarchist song 'God Save the Queen'. The group's frontman believes rereleasing the track in time for Britain's Queen Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee "undermines" what they…

Sex Pistols turned down Olympics

Music Gossip

11 Apr 2012

The Sex Pistols turned down the chance to play at the Olympics. The legendary punk band were asked to reform and perform at the huge summer sporting event in London, but singer John Lydon turned the opportunity down as it doesn't fit with his punk…

John Lydon announces new PiL album

Music Gossip

15 Feb 2012

John Lydon has completed the new Public Image Limited (PiL) album. The group, fronted by the punk legend have recorded their first record since 1992's 'That What Is Not' - partly funded by John's fee for appearing in a commercial promoting butter…

Nicky Wire loves God Save the Queen

Music Gossip

11 Feb 2012

Nicky Wire is a huge fan of John Lydon's lyrics. The Manic Street Preachers bass player counts the lyrics of the Sex Pistols 'God Save the Queen' as his favourite, and loves the venom and message the young singer - then called Johnny Rotten - put…

John Lydon a 'mad barker'

Music Gossip

26 May 2011

Sex Pistols singer John Lydon was a "mad barker" until he found "humanity and love". The frontman feels his second band, Public Image Limited (PiL), brought out qualities in him which audiences hadn't previously seen when he was in his original…

John Lydon still waiting to record masterpiece

Music Gossip

11 Apr 2011

John Lydon doesn't think he's made his best record yet. The former Sex Pistols and Public Image Limited (PiL) frontman has been behind albums including 'Never Mind The B******s, Here's the Sex Pistols' and 'Metal Box', but insists he is still waiting…

John Lydon wishes Sid Vicious had controlled drug abuse

Music Gossip

7 Mar 2011

John Lydon wishes Sid Vicious hadn't been turned into a "nasty, egotistical monster" by drugs. The singer appeared alongside Sid in punk band Sex Pistols - which imploded in 1978, a few months before the bass player died of a heroin overdose - and…

John Lydon not a punk

Music Gossip

5 Mar 2011

John Lydon doesn't like being called a punk. The singer - also known as Johnny Rotten - was leader of the notorious band Sex Pistols, figureheads of the rebellious 70s movement, but despite being dubbed the "King of Punk", the 'Pretty Vacant' rocker…

John Lydon blasts British prime minister

Music Gossip

25 Feb 2011

John Lydon has called UK's Prime Minster and his deputy "****s". The controversial Sex Pistols frontman - who lives in the US - blasted the current coalition government made up between the Conservative and Liberal Democrat parties, headed by David…

John Lydon blasts Jay-Z

Music Gossip

30 Jan 2011

John Lydon has branded Jay-Z a "parody". The former Sex Pistols rocker - who is also known as Johnny Rotten - admitted he isn't a fan of the hip hop superstar and is pleased to have drawn crowds away from him when they have performed on the same…

John Lydon to pen new Sex Pistols tracks

Music Gossip

6 Jan 2011

John Lydon is set to write new songs for the Sex Pistols. The 54-year-old punk legend - who performed in the group as Johnny Rotten - says the time could be right to reunite with his former band after touring with his other group, Public Image Ltd.

John Lydon postones PiL recordings

Music Gossip

23 Nov 2010

John Lydon has postponed recording a new Public Image Ltd (PiL) album to mourn the loss of his stepdaughter. The punk legend and founding member of The Sex Pistols has been left distraught by the death of Arianna Forster - who was also a punk singer…

John Lydon bemoans Pistols name

Music Gossip

18 Jul 2010

John Lydon "never liked" the Sex Pistols' name. The punk legend says his former group - also comprising Steve Jones, Paul Cook and Glen Matlock, who was later replaced by Sid Vicious - tried out several different monikers before making their final…

John Lydon's peaceful performance

Music Gossip

16 Jul 2010

John Lydon uses live performances to cope with the death of his father. The British rocker - who shot to fame with the Sex Pistols and then formed Public Image Ltd (PiL) in 1978 after the group split - was devastated when his dad John Christopher…

Public Image Limited

7 Jan 2010

‘Ever get the feeling you’ve been cheated?’ Those were John Lydon’s last words as Johnny Rotten at the close of The Sex Pistols’ chaotic 1978 San Francisco swansong. It was a sentiment echoed this September when the first live dates in 17 years by…

Jah Wobble - Memoirs of a Geezer: The Autobiography

3 Sep 2009

Within the first paragraph of this look-back over a particularly distinctive life and musical career, John Wardle has been born in Stepney, E1. And within the first page-and-a-half, his mum has had their house exorcised (but not a ‘full-on pukka…

Live at Loch Lomond - The Sex Pistols

31 Jul 2008

‘No future, no future, no future for me.’ Those words, penned by John Lydon (aka Johnny Rotten) back in 1976, expressed not only Lydon’s feelings, not only his band The Sex Pistols’ attitude to life, not only the stance of the fearsome punk movement…

John Lydon denies racist attack

Celebrity Gossip

22 Jul 2008

John Lydon has hit back over claims he was involved in a racial attack on Kele Okereke. Bloc Party frontman Kele alleged the Sex Pistols star and three of his entourage had verbally abused him, before he was punched in the face and head. The 'Like…

Britney Spears' Rotten song

Celebrity Gossip

28 May 2008

Sex Pistols singer John Lydon wants to write a song for Britney Spears. The outrageous rocker - better known as Johnny Rotten - believes he and the troubled pop princess could pen a great track together, despite their vastly different musical…