And while he acknowledges the Pistols are a big part of his life it’s worth remembering that the majority of his career has been spent separate to the Sex Pistols. John enjoyed playing with the Pistols so much he returned several times. However, after meeting on their own terms in 1995 the original Sex Pistols – Lydon, Jones, Cook and Matlock – decided to return for the hugely successful ‘Filthy Lucre World Tour’ in 1996. Since 1978 – despite countless offers – John always said he would never reunite with the Sex Pistols. The autobiography would help prompt a change of heart.
The book featured contributions from Paul Cook and Steve Jones together with various friends, family and associates. He went on to publish his best-selling autobiography ‘Rotten: No Irish, No Blacks, No Dogs’ in 1994. And hosted his own radio series’ ‘Rotten Day’ and ‘Rotten Radio’.Īfter a drawn-out legal case against Malcolm McLaren, 1986 rightfully saw John reclaim the name “Rotten” and win a deal which gave control of the Sex Pistols assets back to the band themselves. He has also appeared in films such as ‘Order of Death’ with Harvey Keitel. Over the years he has made various travel, nature, music and documentary shows for networks in the UK, Europe and USA. He fronted the series ‘John Lydon’s Megabugs’ for Discovery Channel and two nature specials for Channel 5 in the UK: ‘John Lydon’s Shark Attack’ and ‘John Lydon Goes Ape’. He launched his own ‘Rotten TV’ for VH1, and made a show-stealing appearance on the ITV reality show ‘I’m a Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here’. John has also brought quality TV to the masses. He played, wrote and produced his first solo album ‘Psycho’s Path’ in 1997. With PiL on temporary hiatus from 1992-2009 John continued to make his own records.
Outside of PiL John has released several solo collaborations most notably the groundbreaking rock/rap crossover ‘World Destruction’ with Africa Bambaataa in 1984, and the pioneering ‘Open Up’ with dance duo Leftfield in 1993. With a shifting line-up and unique sound John Lydon guided the band from their debut album ‘First Issue’ in 1978 through to 1992’s ‘That What Is Not’, before a 17 year hiatus. Widely regarded as one of the most innovative and influential bands of all time PiL’s music and vision earned them 5 UK Top 20 Singles and 5 UK Top 20 Albums.
Lydon’s unique vocal delivery and perceptive lyrics remained, however, PiL were nothing like the Sex Pistols. McLaren tried to legally prevent him using the name “Rotten” – but regardless – this was a new beginning. When the Sex Pistols split in January 1978 John quickly moved onto Public Image Limited (PiL). If John hadn’t joined the band that would later become the Sex Pistols back in 1975 they would have been a very, very different band. It is a well-worn story that John was spotted wearing a “I Hate Pink Floyd” t-shirt and invited to audition as singer for a fledgling band that had been pestering Malcolm McLaren to manage them.
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