Archived news
from the OLD John-Lydon.Com site
Please note this part of the news archive comes from the previous
John-Lydon.Com site. Therefore it will have a different appearance
and style to the current site.
Although all images should load fine, given the age of the features and info, maybe not all external links will work. If you spot anything that you think can be fixed just let us know...
September 8th, 1998
Sorry for the interruption of service
folks! I had to switch to a different web-hosting service since the last
guy just couldn't seem to keep his equipment running. All of the links
should be working now too. If not, let me know so I can fix 'em. Finally,
the search page and message board will be down for a bit until I can reconfigure
some of the coding to work with this new server. But it will be back soon,
along with the comfort of a stable server. Now onto a bit of news... (I
believe the first two bits are referring to the same program and the third
bit is sort of a recap of some older news. Also, someone had posted some
news on the message board about Rotten Television but of course, that
message is gone too - unless whoever posted it would like to e-mail it
to me!)
BBC TV has announced a second series of ROCK FAMILY TREES, based on rock
historian Pete Frame's impeccably researched band genealogies. Among those
recounting their tantrums, sackings and glory moments are metal muthas
Black Sabbath, pomp rockers Yes, US folk-rockers the Mamas and Papas and
the Lovin' Spoonful, and an episode featuring home grown punk disobedients
Siouxsie and the Banshees, Adam and the Ants and PUBLIC IMAGE LTD. ...shows
beginning in September 1998...
- Thanks to Richard
On the 25th of September, BBC2 are showing, as part of the Rock Family
Tree series, "Banshees and Other Creatures". The film contains an interview
with John Lydon as well as Siouxsie Sioux, Steven Severin, John McGeoch
and many others.
So remember, BBC2, 11.15pm, Friday 25th September.
- Thanks to Keith
NEON (British) Aug. 98 - out there in production, p.27- "musical chores--The
latest parade of singers attempting that tricky movie crossover"
To paraphrase the song, music may be their first love but it certainly
won't be their last. The latest rock star to seek cinematic self promotion
is John Lydon, aka one-time Sex Pistols frontman Johnny Rotten. Panacea
Entertainment and Rhino Films are linking up for a film based on his early
life at the punk frontline, with Lydon involved in script development
and choice of director and cast.
Currently budgeted at $5 million, the as-yet untitled film is based on
Lydon's rancorous 1994 autobiography No Irish, No Blacks, No Dogs, and
is reportedly as much concerned with the socio-political climate that
spawned punk as Lydon himself. "Sure, the Pistols take part in the film,
but it's more about the tone of the music. It was the rebelliousness
of that time," says Lydon's manager Eric Gardner, who is co-producing
the film. "It will truly be a Rotten film."
In which case, it will be the third 'Rotten' film to date, following Julien
Temple's satirical Sex Pistols faux-documentary The Great Rock'N'Roll
Swindle (1979) and Alex Cox's Sid and Nancy (1986), based on the lives
- and deaths - of Pistols bassist Sid Vicious and the lover he is widely
believed to have murdered, Nancy Spungen.
(pic of Lydon w/ caption "Spitting image Lydon to give a Rotten big-screen
performance")
Article by Martin Aston also has tidbits on Usher and David Bowie
- Thanks to Jenni
August 28th, 1998
There is some news, which will come a
little later today. But first, this site has been down for about a day
due to a major crash. I've had to re-upload the entire site! I'm still
in the process of uploading the multimedia and reinstalling the message
board and search page, so in the mean time, only the basics are available.
Lucky me!
August 12th, 1998
An anonymous source reported that John
began the taping for his upcoming VH1 show "Rotten Television" this week.
August 6th, 1998
The message board died the other day,
but I just got done putting it back up (minus about 20 lost messages).
Look for clips from the now famous Fantasy Football show... coming soon.
Other than that - not much else to report!
July 26th, 1998
TEN DAYS AND NO NEWS UPDATE?! What's going
on with Mr. Lydon you ask? Well let's see...
He's currently still working on the upcoming VH1 show, tentatively titled
"The Johnny Rotten Show". (More on that as news develops.)
Also, here's the full article regarding
the "rumored" Pistols re-reunion:
The Calgary Sun
PISTOLS RELOAD?
By Dave Veitch
07/17/98
Will there be anarchy in the U.K. again? Glen Matlock thinks so. The Sex
Pistols' bassist tells Britain's MOJO magazine that he believes the legendary
punk band will probably get together for another reunion tour soon.
As you may remember, Matlock, Johnny Rotten, Paul Cook and Steve Jones
stayed away from each other's throats long enough to embark on their Filthy
Lucre tour of 1996. And Sid Vicious continues to spin in his grave.
- Many thanks to Brian for that update
And I have recently received a copy of
the Fantasy Football video - clips and a bunch of other goodies will be
available soon! Speaking of FF... "The Sun" printed a short article on
6-23 about the show, which appears to be an over-dramatization of the
truth. Judge for yourself soon...
July 16th, 1998
No news lately, except that this site
and the message board went down for a couple days over the last week.
Sorry about that. I've fixed the message board as best I could (minus
the last 50 or so messages). I'm considering cleaning it again anyway...
what do you think?
June 25th, 1998
Some recent news clippings regarding last
Saturday's Fantasy Football incident and the upcoming VH1 talk show...
First of all, the previously reported (June 21st) Entertainment Weekly
article on John's VH1 show had a picture with it. The funny little caricature
of John coming out of a TV can be seen here. Now, on to the news...
The Scotsman
Scotsman Diary
Ruled offside
THE wheels fell off the laddish, loudish, loutish Fantasy Football League
on Saturday night when the antics of a pornography actress and then Johnny
Rotten - singer? - who was escorted off as the show went out live, reminded
A Reader of the Glasgow Empire when unfortunate performers walked off
to the sound of their own footsteps. Baddiel and Skinner, stunned as much
by lack of laughter from the audience as the antics of the guests had
to close the show early when they ran out of things to say. One result
-the world chess champion, Gary Kasparov, due to appear last night , didn't.
Lucky chap.
The Seattle Times
NEW PROGRAMS IN THE WORKS FOR MUSIC-VIDEO CHANNEL VH1
06/23/98
Cable's VH1 has revealed an aggressive slate of shows it is developing
for the coming months as it commits itself to more long-form, music-based
programs. Among the concepts on the drawing board are a talk show, animated
fare, newsmagazines and video clip shows.
"Music is a common theme," said Jeff Gaspin, senior vice president
of programming and production. "We're trying to build on the success we're
having with `Storytellers,' `Pop-Up Video' and `Behind the Music.' "
Gaspin said some of the shows could debut as early as late August.
Exactly how many of the shows in development will make it to series is
unknown.
"Our track record has been pretty strong," Gaspin said. "We usually
get one of two on. I suspect 40 percent to 50 percent will make it."
Here's a sampling of some of what VH1 has in the works:
-- "The Johnny Rotten Show," a weekly half-hour magazine mixing music,
comedy, commentary and anarchy from the former Sex Pistols frontman.
-- "Viva Le Rock," a satirical newsmagazine exploring the absurdities
of the music world.
-- "VH1's Rock & Roll Confidential," a weekly half-hour magazine
show investigating rock's myths, mysteries and tall tales.
-- "Animal Tracks," an animated series about the record business.
-- "Six Degrees," a half-hour video-clip show that mixes music and
entertainment facts. It's from the creators of the trivia game "Six Degrees
of Kevin Bacon."
Sun Herald
Compiled By Robert Ashton (uk) And Alleen Barber
06/21/98
Was it Ross and Rachel's first kiss in Friends? Peter O'Toole making
his David Letterman show entrance on a camel? Or any snip from The Simpsons?
No question, these clips were landmarks in TV's rich history, but not
contenders for the greatest TV moment of all time. According to the magazine,
which celebrates television culture, this is reserved for the five short
minutes in 1977 when The Sex Pistols met and savaged news presenter Bill
Grundy. They shocked the nation with the filthiest language ever heard
on British TV and Cult TV puts Johnny Rotten's barbs at the top of its
list "because they were a cultural hand grenade sending shrapnel into
every aspect of British life".
- Thanks to Brian and Cara for the news info.
Also, USA Today (June 23rd) had a small piece about the new show as it
mentioned VH1's upcoming planned shows. It offered the same info that
we have already read.
June 23rd, 1998
MTV Online has the following report about
the Fantasy Football show (I believe it was originally reported in The
Daily Mirror)...
John Lydon Bounced From TV Show For World Cup Fever
John Lydon apparently lived up to his Sex Pistols' pseudonym of Johnny
Rotten last weekend, as the punk legend's typically outrageous behavior
caused a scene on a live British TV show.
Lydon became upset during the taping of an ITV program, "World Cup Fantasy
Football," then cursed at the audience and allegedly assaulted a female
producer, the British Press Association reports.
The singer then threw a lit-cigarette into the studio audience and was
subsequently bounced from the "Football" broadcast after he began berating
the play of the U.K.'s World Cup soccer team.
As we previously reported (see "Lydon To Bring Anarchy To TV On New Show"),
Lydon, who has developed as much a reputation for his snotty, aggravated
temperament as for his vocals, is working on a pilot program for VH1 and
two films based upon his life and experiences with the Sex Pistols.
- Thanks to Jason
June 21st, 1998 - MAJOR NEWS UPDATE!!
MP3's HAVE ARRIVED!! With it comes a brand
new look for the 'Sounds' section. I've combined all of the WAV, RealAudio
and new MP3 files into one easy to use page. If anyone has any problems,
please tell me. I tried to test everything as best I could, but there
still may be one or two glitches.
As it turns out, John was on Fantasy Football
yesterday... not Thursday, for some reason. If anybody happened to tape
this, please let me know. So far, unfortunately no one has been able to
come forward with a copy. Here's a couple of 'eyewitness' reports from
the Arsenal mailing list:
The ex-Pistol was on Fantasy Football and came on pronouncing he only
cares about international football when an Arsenal player is in the team
[Editor's Note: This is quite typical of Arsenal fans, in fact I myself
have only been watching the World Cup when there are Arsenal players competing,
i.e. matches played by England, Holland and France] and was giving it
loads to the audience and was "slightly" out of control, so much so that
he was missing in the second half of the show which is Live. Obviously
they had to tie him up in the green room. He had a real go at Mellor and
Tories in general and basically wouldn't shut up. Quite amusing.
After the match last night I watched Fantasy WC Football on ITV. Those
twats Skinner and Baddiel [Editor's Note hosts of the show, football
"comics" and pundits, co-wrote the "Three Lions" song which was the official
theme song for the England team in the Euro 96 tournament...] met their
match in John Lydon (or Mr. Rotten as Sylvia Kristel called him). He came
on shouting "Arsenal" and "Gooner" [Editor's Note: a "Gooner" is an Arsenal
fan] and straight away went on about Bergy and Overmars [Ed. Note 2 Dutch
Arsenal players] 'doing well tonight'. [Ed. Note: they each scored a goal
for Holland.] When asked if he was patriotic, he said he thought the WC
was shit unless there was a lot of ARSENAL [shouted] involved.He then
got quite political [Tories are shit, Labour are even more shit etc.,]
and after the advert break he was no longer on the sofa... to cheers from
the audience. A Gooner through and through...but I wouldn't like to meet
him on a dark night!
- Thanks to Liz
This was also sent in to me regarding
the upcoming VH1 show:
The June 26/July 3, 1998 issue of Entertainment Weekly has a small article
regarding the VH1 show
p. 124 in "Hear and Now This week on the music beat" (caricature of John
Lydon coming out of a TV screen; caption "HEEERE'S...JOHNNY God save the
screen")
ANARCHY ON THE TV? Back when he fronted the Sex Pistols, the caustic-tongued
Johnny Rotten railed against cathode-ray-damaged zombies "living for the
screen." Now the aging punk pioneer is gearing up to helm his own TV
show thanks to VH1, which has tapped him to host a half-hour, late-night
program tentatively called The Johnny Rotten Show (the suddenly hot Pistol
also recently entered into an agreement with Rhino Films to turn his autobiography,
Rotten No Irish, No Blacks, No Dogs into a movie). Producer Rob Barnett
promises that Rotten's won't be a conventional talk show but rather a
platform for the rocker to explore his "unique perspective on pop culture....We're
counting on it to stir up strong feelings that we think will make for
great television." But will Rotten's notoriously polarizing personality
prove too much for the network's Paula Cole-ish demographic? Lauren Zalaznick,
VH1's vice president of programming and development, admits that the station
may consider running a disclaimer with the show. "But we're going to
wait until we see the pilot," she says. "We haven't pressed the panic
button--yet."
--Tom Sinclair
Also--in the June 19 issue of EW, there was a review of The Great Rock
'n' Roll Swindle and a small pic.
- Thanks to Jenni
June 16th, 1998
Yes - the banner on the main page is correct
- MP3's are coming to this site SOON!!
A reminder to those in the UK - get your
VCR's ready for another round of John's commentary. According to Richard's
6/15 post, "John is due to appear on Fantasy Football on Thursday 18 June
at 2240 (UK time) on ITV."
I added the Sex Pistols Axion Beach Festival
video clip to the video section. It's a damn long download, but it's great
to watch John fight with the security. The clip is about 1:17 long.
June 13th, 1998
I received some very detailed info on
the film "The Independent", which John has a part in...
THE INDEPENDENT (United Lotus Group, 1900 W. Olive Ave., #100, Burbank,
CA 91506, 818-556-3466)
Jerry Stiller, Janeane Garofalo, Max Perlich, Billy Burke, Jonathan Katz,
John Lydon, Ginger Lynn Allen, Julie Strain, anne Meara, Andy Dick
EXP, Jerry Weintraub; PROD, Mike Wilkins; AP, Lesa Lakin; DIR, Stephen
Kessler; AD, Jack Ziga; SCR, Stephen Kessler, Mike Wilkins; CAM, Amir
Hamed; PD, Russell Christian; ART, Daniel Rucinski; SET, Halina Siwolp;
COS, Yoona Kwak; SND, Felix Andrew; UPM, Gary DePew; CAST, Joy Dickson,
Nicole Arbusto.
The following articles were sent in to
me regarding the upcoming VH1 show Lydon will be hosting. It includes
the Hollywood Reporter article which is the one I wanted to post, since
it had a lot more info than the others.
Rotten to the icon-smashing core - 06/11/98
South China Morning Post
Johnny Rotten, formerly of pioneering British punk rock band the Sex Pistols,
is getting a weekly television show on the American entertainment channel
VH1.
The half-hour show will be devoted to fashions in music, sport, the entertainment
industry, clothes, computers and other subjects dear to the youthful VH1
audience.
Rotten, 42, who now goes by his real name of John Lydon, says he will
take an overwhelmingly negative and critical stance.
"I'm going to tell it like it is - straight, barefaced, honest," he said.
"I'm going for anything and everything. I'm not out to make friends .
. . or enemies.
"If it takes off the way I'd like, each episode will be completely different.
Everything is possible except mediocrity."
The show is tentatively called Rotten Television.
LIZ HODGSON
Rotten TV 'Like nothing you've seen'
Marc Pollack - Hollywood Reporter - 06/11/98
LOS ANGELES - Punk rocker. Music pioneer. Political anarchist. TV host?
John Lydon, a.k.a. Johnny Rotten, founder and frontman of seminal punk
band the Sex Pistols, will star in his own weekly half-hour TV magazine
show for VH1.
Tentatively titled Rotten Television, the show will be the "antichrist
of magazine shows," says Mr. Lydon's manager, Eric Gardner, adding that
the show will have guests, recurring segments and editorials on music,
fashion, sports, movies, television, computer software and just about
anything else.
"It's a destructionist magazine show aimed at the VH1 audience," Mr. Gardner
says.
Mr. Lydon, who has worked in the music business for more than 20 years
and written a well-received autobiography, is now forging into film and
TV. Most recently, he and Mr. Gardner's Panacea Entertainment entered
into an agreement with Rhino Films to film his book, Rotten No Irish No
Blacks No Dogs.
As for the VH1 show, Mr. Lydon promises it will be "like nothing you've
seen before."
"I'm going to tell it like it is - straight, bare-faced, honest," Mr.
Lydon told The Hollywood Reporter. "I'm going for anything and everything.
I'm not out to make friends and I'm not out to make enemies, but there
is enough lies and {bull} out there that can make for good commentary.
I'm going to reach the millennium properly by deposing iconism. I intend
to burn and destroy many aspects that people hold so dear."
"One of the prevailing themes of the show will be the impending end of
the millennium," Mr. Gardner says. "It will provide a service to the viewers
that can best be described as vicariously cathartic."
"The show will be a weekly assault on pop senses," says Rob Barnett, VH1's
vice president for program planning. "We welcome anybody and everybody
that can and will be brave enough to face TV's newest anti-VJ."
Mr. Lydon says the show will have "no strict format."
"If it takes off the way I'd like, each episode will be completely different.
Everything is possible except mediocrity."
- Thanks to Brian for today's news
June 9th, 1998
Listen up all you UK locals... John will
be in the UK this week to guest on a Channel 4 show called Fantasy Football
commenting on the World Cup. I strongly urge anyone who has a VCR to videotape
this! ...Of course, I'll need a copy from one of you kind generous folks
out there who are willing to trade!
- Thanks to an anonymous source
June 8th, 1998 - EXTRA
If you've read the message board recently,
you'll see the news about Lydon's VH1 show getting the go-ahead. I'm still
busy trying to find out if it is indeed set to go and when it will start.
In the meantime, this is from Billboard Online. The Hollywood Reporter
basically has the same info, except you have to pay them to read it. Also,
after this news snippet is another one from All Star Mag News - it mentions
the pilot being filmed this summer.
Lydon To Host Weekly VH1 Show
John Lydon, aka Johnny Rotten, front man of seminal punk band the Sex
Pistols, will star in his own weekly half-hour TV magazine show for VH1.
Tentatively titled "Rotten Television," the program will be the "antichrist
of magazine shows," according to Lydon's manager, Eric Gardner. The program
will feature guests from and editorials about a cross-section of cultural
topics, including music, fashion, sports, movies, television, and computer
software.
Lydon, who has worked in the music business for more than 20 years, has
already made forays into film and TV. Most recently, he and Gardner's
Panacea Entertainment entered into an agreement with Rhino Films to film
his autobiography, "Rotten: No Irish &bull No Blacks &bull No Dogs."
As for the VH1 show, Lydon claims, "I'm going to tell it like it is --
straight, bare-faced, honest." In addition, he tells The Hollywood Reporter,
"I'm going for anything and everything. I'm not out to make friends and
I'm not out to make enemies, but there is enough lies and bullshit out
there that can make for good commentary. I'm going to reach the millennium
properly by deposing iconism. I intend to burn and destroy many aspects
that people hold so dear."
From Rocktropolis Allstar News:
JOHN LYDON TO LAUNCH MAGAZINE SHOW ON VH1
Ex-Sex Pistols and Public Image Ltd. frontman John Lydon, aka Johnny
Rotten, is expected to launch his own television magazine show, tentatively
titled Rotten Television, for VH1.
The program -- which will be a half-hour show that airs weekly on the
music video network -- will feature guests, recurring segments, and editorials
on music, fashion, sports, movies, television, computer software, and
more, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
"I'm going to tell it like it is -- straight, bare- faced, honest,"
Lydon tells The Hollywood Reporter. "I'm going for anything and everything.
I'm not out to make friends and I'm not out to make enemies, but there
is enough lies and bullshit out there that can make for good commentary.
I'm going to reach the millennium properly by disposing of iconism. I
intend to burn and destroy many aspects that people hold so dear."
The pilot for Rotten Television -- which will be directed by Kevin Kerslake,
whose credits include videos for Nirvana, Smashing Pumpkins, and Bush
-- is scheduled to be shot later this summer.
As previously reported in allstar, Lydon is also currently involved
with the making of a Sex Pistols movie based on his autobiography, called
Rotten No Irish, No Blacks, No Dogs. He will be supervising the development
of the script and will help to choose a screenwriter, director, and members
of the cast.
-Tina Johnson
June 8th, 1998
I cleared the message board. Unfortunately,
there was no real practical way to keep all of the messages. I'm sure
it'll be alive with postings again very soon.
Oh, this is amusing! Remember that idiot
Robert Williams from Judge Judy...
Robert Williams "Date with the Devil's Daughter"
Former Captain Beefheart drummer Robert Williams' solo CD is a largely
instrumental affair, featuring slick techno-oriented dance tunes, off
kilter Beefheartesque kitchen-sink reveries and swirling Arabic/Led Zep
soundscapes. Devo vocalist Mark Mothersbaugh makes a distinctive guest
appearance on "Barbara and Jay," but the track that will probably
receive the most attention is "John Liar," a scathing attack
on John Lydon featuring a letter perfect imitation of Mr. Rotten by Williams.
Not unlike PIL's anti-Malcolm McLaren rant "Lowlife," actually.
Why all this ill will, you might ask? Well interestingly enough, Williams
was the plaintiff in the infamous Johnny Rotten/Judge Judy showdown last
year. The Judge ruled in favor of the infamous punk rocker, so one can
only assume Williams has quite a bone to pick.
-Arthur Brennan
