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July 24th 2011
Watch John's speech from Thursday's Mojo Honours List 2011 where PiL were awarded the "Outstanding Contribution to Music".
After the awards John revealed details of a serious house fire at his London home. Thankfully no one was hurt. John was on tour with PiL when Nora called to tell him. A faulty spin dryer is thought to be the cause of the blaze! “It started when the spin dryer caught on fire and all the clothes went up in flames. The first time I actually get clean look what happens. I’ve had a rotten time of it."
An interview with John was published yesterday at Mail online.
Mail online, July 23rd 2011
By Ben Todd
He has long been renowned as a hell-raiser. However, punk legend John Lydon, 55, has now become very much the victim after a fire - which he and his wife believe was caused by their tumble-drier - destroyed his kitchen.
The former Sex Pistols frontman – aka Johnny Rotten - has told how the kitchen of his west London home was ruined by the fire.
There was also smoke damage throughout the four-bedroomed property.
Lydon and his wife Nora Forster believe the fire occurred because of a fault in their tumble drier as, they claim, it was the only device on when the incident took place.
The incident happened at the end of last month and the whole house has been damaged.
Since, then the couple – who split their time between their houses in Los Angeles and London - have been living without an electricity or water supply.
Yesterday, workmen were in the process of rebuilding the house in Fulham.
Lydon was in Russia with his band PiL at the time. However, Miss Forster – who he has been married to for 33 years – was at home.
And he yesterday told the Mail that finding out his wife, 69, was safe and well was the ‘best news’ of his life.
Lydon told the Mail: ‘We were gutted and so was the kitchen. Nora was rushing around back in London while I was rushing around in Russia with PiL’
‘Learning Nora was not harmed was the best news I have ever had in my life.
‘The fire was caused by the spin drier, which had my underwear in it at the time, it obviously wasn't fire retardant.’
He told how Nora rang him to break the news. He explained: ‘[She] said 'Oh John, I don't want to disturb you. The house has burnt down.'
The star also told how he lost some song he had written for PiL’s forthcoming album in the house fire.
‘I lost some PiL songs I had written for the upcoming new PiL album in the fire. Luckily I have them all stored in my head,’ he added.
They are currently working on a studio album, their first in 20 years, leading to Lydon and Miss Forster to use their London home as their main base this summer.
July 21st 2011
Stop Press: PiL WIN OUSTANDING CONTRIBUTION TO MUSIC AWARD AT MOJO MAGAZINE AWARDS
PiL won the "Outstanding Contribution to Music" Award at today's Mojo Awards in London. John Lydon was there to collect the award. More info to follow.
July 17th 2011
RAMBO COMING TO THE RESCUE
Colours of Ostrava Festival, Ostrava, Czech Republic, July 14th 2011
Brilliant show, brilliant participation. PS: The stage is for PiL. Thank you Ostrava you did us proud.
July 2nd 2011
Yes, we can confirm PiL are "in the outskirts of knowhere".
Word reaches the Quietus this Friday afternoon (from an official source) that John Lydon and PiL are currently working on new songs together. We've seen some terrific gigs from the reunited Public Image Limited over the past year or so, most recently at Primavera. But we are anti-nostalgists, and generally hope that returning groups either vanish again, or knuckle down to writing new material. Glad tidings, then, that PiL's John Lydon, Lu Edmonds (guitarist), Bruce Smith (drummer), and Scott Firth (bass) are in a studio in a location that Lydon describes as being "in the outskirts of knowhere". Lydon has previously written with Edmonds and Smith for later PiL albums Happy and 9' so both have played and worked John throughout the late 80s.
Lydon has long insisted that the PiL reunion was not solely about nostalgia, saying that the gigs were being done in part to fund studio time: "We've got no backing - no record company, no sponsors, nothing like that. The only way we can make money is the touring, and then we can make a new album," he told Billboard in 2010. "It's sort of like the old days of PiL, when the Pistols went kaput; I had to scrimp and scrape out of my own pocket. Not much has changed."
Asked back then if he had songs ready, Lydon said, "Yeah, I've got piles. I never stop writing. Most of my influences have never really come from a musical act. It tends to be things like the poetic beat of a newscast. There's a rhythm to the way it's laid out. Movies can do that. Shakespeare and good poetry does that, and a bloody good book does that, or just a long walk." More on new material from PiL on The Quietus later this summer.
250,000 people watched Public Image Ltd at the 'Creation of the World' festival in Kazan, Russia on Saturday night; with festival insiders proclaiming they had stole the show! An absolutely brilliant gig that even the President of the Russian Federation was there to witness; amid very tight security.
The previous day John attended the press conference for the show. Promptly taking over proceedings with his own blend of intelligence and wit. And sharing some good natured banter with the Mayor of Kazan asking him to fix a leak above the table. The Mayor joked it was "British air-conditioning" – to which John pointed out "we don't need air-conditioning in Britain". John even gave a journalist one of his earring's for singing him a song. Safe to say the Russian journalists had never saw anything like John before. Or never will...
Brilliant gig, brilliant press conference, brilliant city, brilliant people.
Cпасибо Kazan от Public Image Ltd - "Пусть дороги приветствуют тебя"
June 17th 2011
We are pleased to announce that PiL will play the Tokyo Studio Coast venue on Monday, August 15th 2011. This special club show will follow their Summer Sonic Festival appearances. Tickets for Studio Coast go on sale June 26th, more info soon...
The live CD from Sunday's victorious Isle of Wight performance is now available to order via the www.concertlive.co.uk website. After a brief technical problem caused by rain the band returned to deliver a storming set to packed festival crowd. 18 months on from the December 2009 ALiFE live discs you will witness a band who fans and critics alike have called "the best PiL ever". Enjoy the show in the comfort of your own home, safe away from the torrential British summer rain.
Public Image
Home
Albatross
This Is Not A Love Song
Flowers of Romance
Death Disco
Warrior
Bags
Chant
Religion
Memories
Rise
Open Up
Sky Arts broadcast 'Bags', 'Chant' and 'Rise' from Isle of Wight and also interviewed John live after the show. Interviews with Absolute Radio and Daily Star are also available. See our Interviews page for more...
June 9th 2011 (updated)
A reminder that Sunday's Isle of Wight festival performance will be recorded as an instant live CD. The strictly limited edition live CD’s will be produced straight from the festival site. Those lucky enough to be attending the festival will be able to take home the live recording, those who are not can order online for home delivery via Concert Live. www.concertlive.co.uk
We are delighted to announce that the forthcoming PiL Isle of Wight festival performance will be recorded for posterity. PiL will once again be teaming up with Concert Live to bring you an instant live CD of the show.
Strictly limited edition live CD’s will be produced straight from the festival site. Those lucky enough to be attending the festival will be able to take home the live recording, those who are not can order online for home delivery. www.concertlive.co.uk
May 26th 2011
PiL begin their 2011 tour today at the Primavera Sound Festival in Barcelona, Spain. John Lydon, Lu Edmonds, Scott Firth and Bruce Smith will then return to the UK for a short tour starting next Tuesday, May 31st in Coventry; before continuing through Europe. See Shows for latest confirmed PiL Tour Dates.
Due to exceptional ticket sales and major building work the PiL show on the 2nd June is being moved to Cardiff Coal Exchange, all original tickets remain valid for the new venue.
We are delighted to announce that Mr Rotten's Scrapbook has completely sold-out. Thanks to everyone who bought the book. It truly was a special publication. We hope you enjoyed it. Congradulations.
April 20th 2011
We are delighted to announce PiL will return to Estonia for the first time since 1988 – where they played to over 120,000 people at the first Rock Summer Festival when Estonia was still part of USSR – when they headline the Rabarock Festival in Tallinn on Saturday, June 18th 2011. Tickets on sale now via Rabarock website.
Summer Sonic Festival Japan Update! As well as the previously mentioned Summer Sonic Tokyo appearance PiL will also play Summer Sonic Osaka. See Summer Sonic website for more info.
Download or listen to the latest podcast from It Came From Japan featuring a new John Lydon interview. Full download info etc from It Came From Japan website.
We are pleased to announce PiL will play Sheffield and Preston, UK this summer. The band will play Sheffield, Corporation on Monday, June 6th. Tickets go on general sale this Thursday, March 24th at 9am. However, we have arranged a special 24 hour pre-sale link which is open now!
We are pleased to announce PiL will play the Colours of Ostrava Festival in Czech Republic on Thursday, July 14th 2011. Tickets on sale now via Colours of Ostrava web site.
John is interviewed in today's, Thursday March 10th, edition of the Daily Star newspaper. Read the online version via thislink.
You can also read Sunday's interview in Birmingham's Sunday Mercuryvia this link.
March 3rd 2011
"I Could Be Wrong, I Could Be Right" John is a columnist in the new men's magazine 'Jam'. Available this Sunday (March 6th) as part of the News of the World newspaper.
General sale for PiL Coventry, Middlesborough and Cardiff starts today, tomorrow, Friday March 4th.
Video interview with John on BBC Midlands from yesterday's Mr Rotten's Scrapbook exhibition in Birmingham. Also newspaper report from Birmingham Mail.
Also read this recent interview with Japan Times, translated in English.
March 2nd 2011
We are pleased to announce PiL will play Middlesborough, Empire on Wednesday, June 1st 2011. Tickets go on sale this Friday, March 4th. However, we have arranged a special 24 hour pre-sale - which opens tomorrow, Thursday, March 3rd. See link below.
We are pleased to announce PiL will play Coventry and Cardiff this year. The band will play Coventry, Kasbah, on Tuesday May 31st and Cardiff, Millennium Music Hall, Wales on Thursday, June 2nd.
Tickets go on sale this Friday, March 4th. However, we have arranged a special 24 hour pre-sale - which is now open! See links below.
We are pleased to announce PiL will play the Summer Sonic Festival in Tokyo, Japan in August. Their first Japanese appearance since 1989. Tickets on sale now.
You can watch John's ITN interview at the Covent Garden Hospital Club from ITN, London Tonight interview, February 25th, via ITN Source.
February 27th 2011
Mr Rotten's Scrapbook - Golden Ticket deadline ends tomorrow
If you were lucky enough to find a Golden Ticket inside your copy of Mr Rotten's Scrapbook, and you want to redeem your webcam chat with John, please remember to register your ticket with Concert Live no later than 12pm tomorrow, Monday, 28th February 2011, otherwise your Golden Ticket will become invalid.
Please also be aware, the scheduled date for your webcam chat with John has changed, and will now take place on Thursday 3rd March 2011. Those who register by 12pm on 28th will be sent their time slot and login details by email no later than 5pm on 28th February. Timeslots will be confirmed on a first response basis.
John Lydon aka Johnny Rotten is coming to The Hospital Club to launch his new book. Here's a word or two from Mr Rotten himself:
"When we toured as Public Image Limited in '09, we tied up with a group called Concert Live who put out live CDs of the performances and we got on really well with them. We came up with the idea to put out a book about the tour, that then changed into a joyous romp of a scrapbook, involving PiL, bits of the Pistols and bits of the TV work I've been doing over the years. I raided the Lydon pantry, started from childhood, and it's a proper book about my life so far, including all my alleged achievements! In the book I've laid off slamming people. I've done enough of that over the years! I'm not a bitter man, I don't hold personal resentments for very long. What I've tried to do in the scrapbook is to show the real side of me, the side the media don't want to know about; that I am a human being."
The scrapbook is 'an exciting and intimate journey through John Lydon’s life, from inception to now, in high quality pictures and hand written text commentary.'
Forthcoming press interviews to look out for: (today) Friday, February 25th
We are pleased to announce PiL will play the Vega Main Hall venue in Copenhagen, Denmark on Monday, June 20th 2011. Tickets go on sale next Monday, February 28th.
Look out for interviews with John on Ian Wright's Rock n Roll Football on Absolute Radio this Saturday, February 26th at approx 5pm, plus interviews on Sky Sports News the following day prior to the Arsenal v's Birmingham League Cup Final, Sunday 27th.
To mark the 25th anniversary of PiL's 'Album' album John Lydon will be speaking to DJ Ian Camfield on XFM for an hour-long special on the making of the album this Sunday, February 27th at 10pm.
February 22nd 2011
John Lydon will be attending tomorrow's NME Awards in London - Wednesday, February 23rd - where Mr Rotten's Scrapbook has been nominated for Book of 2010.
Stay tuned in the coming days for a selection of TV, Radio and Press interviews; including Sky Sports News and Absolute Radio. Plus appearances next week on The One Show and Daybreak. More info soon...
We are pleased to announce PiL will play the Tradgarn venue in Gothenburg, Sweden, on Wednesday, June 22nd 2011. Tickets go on sale this Thursday, February 24th.
Mr Rotten's Scrapbook
Digital sample pages and Golden Ticket updates...
Mr Rotten’s Scrapbook is here!
John Lydon HQ and Concert Live are delighted with the results of the new photo scrapbook – a true work of art, by a true star!
We are so proud of it we have uploaded some digital spreads and exclusive photos so you can see it in all its glory.
We are also delighted to announce that the book has been nominated for the 2011 NME Awards (Best Book of 2010). If you want to vote for the Scrapbook you can do so via this link www.nme.com/awardsvote/offset/22
There are still a few books remaining, and still some Golden Tickets to be found! However, please be aware that 50% of total book quota sold out on pre-order. So if you want one, you better move fast, or you will miss out on owning this absolute gem.
If you have already got your book, we hope you are enjoying flicking through it’s gloriously rich content! Here’s to a Rotten pair of tits, wallet size!
We’d love to know what you think of the book, the vinyl, the pictures, everything. So please let us know your feedback.
If you were lucky enough to find a Golden Ticket, and you want to redeem your webcam chat with John, please remember to register your ticket no later than 12pm on 28th February 2011, otherwise your Golden Ticket will become invalid.
Please also be aware, the scheduled date for your webcam chat with John has changed, and will now take place on Thursday 3rd March 2011. Those who register by 12pm on 28th will be sent their time slot and login details by email no later than 5pm on 28th February. Timeslots will be confirmed on a first response basis.
John says: "Buy a garden shed, it's so much cheaper... and you will be too."
Please note, Golden Ticket Webcam will now take place on Thursday 3rd March 2011.
February 2nd 2011
PiL will play the Primavera Sound Festival, in Barcelona, Spain, on Thursday 26th May 2011. They will be headlining one of two main stages. See the Primavera Sound website for full festival info.
John is interviewed on the LA Times website talking about Mr Rotten's Scrapbook - including videos clips of some of the book's contents and their meaning. The paper will also carry an interview this Sunday, January 30th.
Tickets are now on general sale for Dublin, Tripod, June 10th show via Ticketmaster, City Discs, and usual outlets in Dublin.
January 25th 2011
We have arranged a special 24 hour pre-sale for the just announced Dublin, Tripod, June 10th show. Pre-sale opens this Thursday, January 27th at 9am via Ticketmaster.
Dublin, Tripod, Ireland, June 10th 2011 Pre-sale opens opens this Thursday, January 27th at 9am via Ticketmaster. General sale starts the following day.
Look out for an interview with John Lydon in this week's NME where 'Mr Rotten's Scrapbook' has been nominated as 'Best Book' in the NME Awards 2011.
January 24th 2011
We are excited to announce that PiL will play their FIRST EVER show in Dublin, Ireland on Friday, June 10th at the city's Tripod venue! Tickets go on general sale this Friday, January 28th via www.ticketmaster.ie. See Tripod website for venue info etc.
New 2011 live PiL date, PiL will play their first show in Italy since 1987 at the Fiera della Musica Festival in Azzano Decimo, Italy, on Friday, July 8th 2011. Tickets on sale now!
All Mr Rotten’s Scrapbooks to ship by 17th January 2011
We have now received final confirmation that all outstanding orders for Mr Rotten’s Scrapbook will be shipped out between 14th – 17th January.
Due to extremely bad weather across Europe, there has been a delay in getting all of the initial orders out but, don’t worry, everything is back on track and you will be receiving them very soon. Concert Live will be contacting everyone who’s bought one to confirm their delivery.
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1997
JohnLydon.Com
Watch John's speech from Thursday's 
