John Lydon was born, in England, on or about Jan. 31 1956. In his Autobiography he says that no one is really sure because his birth certificate was destroyed.
In 1975 He was spotted on the Kings Road, sporting a pink Floyd t-shirt with the words "I hate" painted on it and green hair. He was asked to audition for a new band the Sex Pistols. Not having much hope for a meaningful existence in 70's English oppression he accepted. Perhaps he realized instantly what he was capable of achieving with a forceful lyric combined with a raw sound that shook the foundations of traditional Dinosaur Rock that dominated the scene of the time. Even the painful first audition and the snubbing by the already established band members at the first rehearsal did not thwart his ambition. The time was right.
The Sex Pistols became the seminal "punk" band, breaking new ground, causing chaos and generally making a stink wherever they went, both physically and figuratively!
In their short career the Sex Pistols created music that still stands out today with songs such as "God Save the Queen", " Anarchy in the UK", "Pretty Vacant", "Holidays in The Sun" and " 17/Lazy Sod" These songs defied convention, accused and pointed fingers at the British social class system as well as modern youth apathy and conformity.
In 1978 at the end of their first American tour, the Sex Pistols found their ending. Ultimately the power struggles in the band and the exact energy and public outrage that gave it such great notoriety destroyed it. However, Lydon's forceful lyrics and the bands flagrant disregard for social conventions and restrictions have stained rock n' roll forever. After the demise of the Sex Pistols, Lydon lost no time in putting into action ideas he had been forming. A new kind of music venture, something that went beyond the typical band format. So began Public Image Limited. Sometime after John married long time girlfriend Nora. The couple are still married today. A feet not accomplished by many "rock-stars" but then as he has proved thus far John Lydon fits no preconceived mold.
With the self titled song "Public Image" which seemingly chides earlier fans, "You never listened to a word that I said you only see me by the clothes that I wear". Lydon wags his finger at those still pining for the Sex Pistols and never really getting "it" at least lyrically. In the end "punk" had a become everything it protested just another fad, this seasons star child. "The Public Image belongs to me, my entrance, my own creation, my grand finale, my good-bye" sings John Lydon who is no-ones fashion victim and no slave to popularity contests. At first the sound was not exceptionally different but the seeds were being sown for something new, something unique and experimental.
One inkling is in Fodderstompf, a strangely edited, dubbed disco dance beat with the voices of members of the band as if sucking on helium discussing how they want to make the album with as little effort as possible and chiding the hippie engineer. The first time ever a fire extinguisher has been used as musical instrument, possibly. There is the hard hitting, unmistakable rant of "Religion I & II" which continues Lydon's pursuit of dealing with topics most pop singers shy away from but laying his gritty gripes over a pulsating groove. Do you dance or do you listen? Perhaps you can actually do both.
Subsequent albums show Lydon reflecting on the past perhaps with some bitterness but with a profound and insightful vision of the world and people around him. PIL's sound changes from one album to the next some times relying on heavy ethnic influences from the Far East, haunting medieval like dirges, and deconstructionist disco rhythms. There is flux in the original formation of PiL with changing drummers and a disenchanted Jah Wobble leaving to pursue other projects after a couple of years. Perseverance is the key however, there is something to PiL something undefineable, raging but melodic, exciting and invigorating. Its not any one thing, it doesn't belong, it doesn't fit in but it will probably last forever.
At least for anyone interested in not being force fed but top 40 radio and the latest trends. Metal Box/Second Edition is a cacophony of thought provoking cynicism and social commentary mixed deep into bizarre disco, dub and early electronica. The seething, grating sounds of "Poptones" conjuring up visions of a little girl being dragged into the woods to be murdered while a pop song plays delightfully in the back ground.
Lydon does not leave the public without antics to relish and regale against but one must not confuse these for well planned and timed media hype opportunities. In fact it is the proverbial Don Quixote charging at the windmill that is the Rock establishment. There is the infamous Riot Show where a club crowd are driven mad by the attempts by PIL to create a show that is anything but your typical club performance. People don't like change apparently. Then heralded as two of the greatest moments in Rock N' Roll television there are the Tomorrow Show interview with Tom Snyder, where Lydon declares that PIL is not a band but a company but Tom is unsure what these means in the entertainment scheme of things, and then probably the best moment ever on American Bandstand when PIL "mime" Poptones.
Lydon attempts to engage the somewhat skittish and frightened crowd into dancing, it is a dance show after all! Always a busy beaver he also makes his film debut in a psycho-thriller who's name changes with the seasons. The film has been called "Cop Killer", "Psycho Jogger", "Corrupt" and "The order of death" also the name of a track that appears on This is what you want...this is what you get also to be known as the slab on the bootleg/not bootleg Commercial Zone. Which is released by Levene afer his departure from PiL.
In 1985 after the departure of several members of the band, Lydon continues PIL in his own way. During the next 7 years the sound of PIL progresses with the times. The sound is less experimental but still all together unique even for the styles it is associated with. The album, aptly titled "Album" or "Cassette" or "Compact Disc" depending on the format you prefer shows Lydon's ability to work with other artists and create music for the ages. There is the obviously melodic "Rise" which is a departure from Lydons previous singing style. It shows his constant struggle against what is true and what is touted as truth and conformity " They put a hotwire to my head because of the things I did and said, they made these feelings go away, a more dull citizen in every way" Lydon sings.
Then there is the darker "Round" with its mushroom clouds on the horizon. The overall feel of the album is almost militaristic with its soldier like "Home" and aggressive "Bags". There is something unifying here, in an interview for Japanese television which was used in "Anarchy 85" Lydon is asked what he thinks about the future of the world he eludes that his next album is abou exactly that. This was the next album. Music that is easily categorizeable as modern rock yet at the same time struggles against its bonds to free itself from the box called labeling. On this album such rock and world music notables, as Steve Vai, Ginger Baker, L.Shankar, R Sakamoto join him for the sessions. This is also the height of the "no-frills" or "generic" packaging with simple pil logo no muss, no fuss, no confusion. It's about the content not the packaging.
Though the later PIL years seem to be more antic free John Lydon never gives into the excesses of rock n' roll life. He often speaks out in interviews about the mythology of rock stars and complacency and conformity of other artists. He maintains his beliefs and values uncompromising in his vision no matter how much earlier fans are disappointed by the more rock/pop sound of PIL. After all Sex Pistol fans felt the same way about early PIL. Lydon continues to break new ground and branch out with other artists such as Afrikaa Bambatta and Time Zone, The Golden Palominos, Edie Brikel, Nelee Hooper and Tower of Power. This period shows the popularity of PiL grow to its heights as the sound is more accepted by mass audiences but Lydon never changes his tune and never gives into the temptations of easy record sales and groveling media attention.
There is the infectious "Happy?" with its gripping sadness at the state of things in "Save Me" to its essentially angry "Angry" and regailing "Rules & Regulations". "9" is the height of PiL pop but again we are never disapointed to find Lydon has sold himself for fast return. The final album "That what is not" is not received as well but honest messages never die.
In 1993 Lydon disbands PIL, ostensibly to work on his solo career which at that point consists of a Single with techno guru Leftfield entitled "Open Up". The following year he releases his first Autobiography Rotten: No Irish, No Blacks, No Dogs. This intriguing insight into the man, the myths the misadventures deals mainly with Lydons early life and his years with the Sex Pistols. It is rumoured that he may write a follow-up dealing with the PIL years. A year or so later he also does a short daily radio clip show with his take on the history of rock n' roll called Rotten Day. No icons or sacred cows are spared.
In 1996 Lydon takes the Sex Pistols back on the road around the world declaring "We're fat, forty and back!". The reasoning behind this is one to put a "full stop" to it all as they never had a proper ending and two for the "filthy lucre" as the tour is aptly named. The tour is the longest in Sex Pistol history and fairly successfully but fraught with old aggravations and eventually it too ends not on a particularly happy note. But then he did predict that in the Press launch at the 100 club didn't he?!
In 1997 Lydon releases his long awaited solo album Psycho's Path. The album is not received well by critics and Lydon claims that his record company, Virgin, wasn't supporting him in his attempt at touring with it. It seems as if no one is sure what this record is. The album sports remixes by the likes of the Chemical bros. and Leftfield. Is it Techno? is it dance music is it rock? Again defying stereo types and ever expanding the limits of musical propriety Lydon rams home his own ideas and insights about the world we live in combined with sounds that are both synthesized and raw in nature.
Who else has toilet rolls and falling down-stair accordions as their instruments? Lydon is never left without something to do. He has been working on a new Sex Pistols Documentary full of never before seen footage released to him in his court battle with former Sex Pistols manager Malcolm Maclaren. He also managed to make several television appearances such as "Judge Judy" being sued by a former band member and a follow up with Tom Snyder. This time they played nice.
Though 1998 did not see the release of a second solo album or tour Lydon was reportedly hard at work on the Sex Pistols Documentary, a new Television show for VH1 tentatively titled "Rotten Television" a glorious half hour of Johnny telling it like it is and destroying rock n roll collectibles. He made other television appearances both in the states and the US, appears in the booklet for the Alice Cooper retrospective and perhaps is working on other super secret projects to be revealed in the future. Lydon also lent his retrospection to the booklet that accompanies the PIL compilation called Plastic Box which was released in March of 1999.
1999 saw John Lydon outside of the Grammy Awards deriding, terrifying and generally annoying the artists as they entered and left the event. There were ofcourse several classic moments such as John handing former Stray Cat Brian Setzer, now turned swing revivalist, a calendar so he would know what year it was. He commented woefully on the extent of the luggage needed by Aerosmith to carry their make up around and my favourite is when he said to Celine Dion that the night was not a total loss if she was retiring, which she has yet to do. Perhaps most interesting was his banter with John Tesh the only person, surprisingly, who seemed to be able to keep his ground with Lydons sharp wit. The year still promises the Rotten Television show on VH1, A new weekly radio program at eyada.com* to commence in December, the long awaited Sex Pistols documentary and perhaps news that Lydon hasn't forsaken the recording studio for stand up comedy.
Source: [http://www.mondoelectra.com/ fodderstompf/pil_biographies/john_lydon/](http://www.mondoelectra.com/ fodderstompf/pil_biographies/john_lydon/)
