John Lydon.Com | Interviews | Islington Gazette November 5th, 2009

Islington Gazette
November 5th, 2009

Coming home makes punk John's day

OUTSPOKEN punk legend John Lydon is going back to his roots - but says he doesn't need a blue plaque to mark his Islington credentials.

Lydon, 53, grew up on the Six Acres Estate, in Finsbury Park, before shooting to fame as Johnny Rotten, the frontman with the Sex Pistols, in 1976.

Now a resident of Los Angeles, Lydon is back home to reunite with his other band - post-punk pioneers Public Image Ltd (PiL) - 30 years since their debut Christmas Day gig at the former Finsbury Park Astoria, in Seven Sisters Road.

Lydon, who appeared on I'm A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here in 2004, said: "Someone suggested they put a plaque up on the old council flat on the Six Acres. I don't want no remembrance plaque. I'm not dead, am I?"

The Arsenal-mad singer flew back to the UK on Saturday in time to catch the north London derby with arch-rivals Spurs.

"Delicious," said Lydon. "What a rare treat - you come home and that's the first thing on the box. Yummy!

"I'm Arsenal through and through. The North Bank was great. There's something about that team, what Wenger's brought into it - that Zen Buddhism love of the sport for its own sake. Empty trophy room? I say more space for nice couches to have your friends over."

As a teenager Lydon was expelled from the former St William of York Secondary School, in Gifford Street, Islington, for arguing with teachers. He claims he "did not believe what they were teaching was accurate", and says today's youngsters could benefit from less booze and more discipline.

"Now all young people seem to have going for them is getting drunk," said Lydon. "Knives? Violence has always been there but if you were out of order the next door neighbour would clip you round the ear. There's none of that going on."

He added: "The Six Acres was a warzone. I don't suppose it's changed, although it's got a nice Muslim flavour of late - nothing wrong with that. Variety is the spice of north London life and we like it that way."

The singer insists he is unlikely to make any money from reforming PiL, who had eight top 40 hits before disbanding in 1992. The project will be paid for by his recent stints on reality TV and advertising butter - warning signs that the old punk rebel is selling out, perhaps?

"This is Johnny Rotten," Lydon snaps back. "He writes his own rule book. Manuals are for those who can't find their own way."

Public Image Ltd play the Electric Ballroom, Camden Town, on December 22 and 23 - see www.johnlydon.com for more details.