He’s the punk icon who once sang of “Anarchy in the UK”. But could John Lydon — né Johnny Rotten — be about to cause a ruckus at Eurovision for Ireland? An Irish radio DJ asked the punk provocateur if rumours of Eurovision participation were true… and he didn’t deny it.

John Lydon was a guest on The Paul McLoone Show on Irish radio station Today FM. McLoone took the opportunity to ask the former Sex Pistols’ frontman about a supposed rumour of Eurovision involvement.

He asked, “There’s rumours floating around that you’re in line to step in and provide Ireland with its next Eurovision winner. That can’t be true, right?”

Lydon gave a hearty chuckle and replied, “As rumours go, that’s a beaut!” But curiously enough, he didn’t deny it.

The punk legend elaborated. “Nothing’s been signed. Just like the Bible, Jesus has yet to put His signature to it. So it’s a rumour. But as rumours go, I’m fully qualified, aren’t I, as an American-English-Irishman. Perfect! Well travelled, well seasoned, up and at it, ready.”

Under the nom de punk Johnny Rotten, Lydon was the snarling frontman of the iconic punk group Sex Pistols in the mid 1970s. Even though the band initially only lasted two and a half years before self-destructing, they forged a path that changed popular music.

Lydon went on to form the post-punk group Public Image Ltd (PiL), and has since played with the reformed Sex Pistols. He is widely regarded for his musical legacy.

Eurovision has not seen a lot of punk music. The most high-profile punk entry came in 2015 when crusty punk band Pertti Kurikan Nimipäivät won Finland’s national selection UMK with the 86-second noisy punk explosion “Aina mun pitää”.

At Eurovision, it placed last in its semi-final with a very punk 13 points.

Irish broadcaster RTÉ is using internal selection to pick its entry for Lisbon. The broadcaster earlier held an open song submission process.

At the time, Ireland’s head of delegation Michael Kealy told media, “We’re looking for a killer song performed by an act with vast experience of playing live to big crowds.”

And as it happens, John Lydon has over 40 years experience doing just that.

What do you think? Should Ireland send John Lydon to Eurovision? Can the song contest handle a punk legend? Share your thoughts below!

FOLLOW ALL OUR IRELAND EUROVISION 2018 NEWS

 

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Hovannes Boratyan
Hovannes Boratyan
6 years ago

Écume britannique

Frederic
Frederic
6 years ago

Hard to tell what he would come up with – which ain’t a bad thing to me.
But the last great Song of his i noticed was PIL’s Rise some thirty years ago …

Lewis Griffiths
6 years ago

Let me be the first to say YAAAAAAAAAAAAAS

Benito Bonito
Benito Bonito
6 years ago

”John Lydon — né Johnny Rotten”

I guess he was born John Lydon, stage name-Johnny Rotten

I hope he will be in Lisbon. Whatever he will do, I’m sure he will not be there to make a fool of himself, it will be a great act, whatever he has to say in his song.

Igranka
Igranka
6 years ago

I respect that he’s done a lot for punk music and is a music icon, but from a Eurovision perspective this sounds like Ireland has given up and is just looking for an attention-grabbing novelty act. You can almost guarantee he’d wind up making some disrespectful/offensive comment about the contest or particular contestants or countries, if he does end up going to Eurovision. Ugh. And I was hoping we’d see Ireland lift its game in 2018, but clearly they’re still living in the past…the anodyne pop wasn’t working, so it’s time to send the troll act…

beccaboo1212
6 years ago

Nah. I was hoping Ireland can send Samantha Mumba. 🙂

However, I do like pink in general, but I think it’d be weird to have a punk entry for Ireland. :/

beccaboo1212
6 years ago
Reply to  beccaboo1212

* punk

TheStellarSeacow
TheStellarSeacow
6 years ago

But do bored dad’s watch the semis?

Daniel
Daniel
6 years ago

It’s a no from Ireland ??

Pablo
Pablo
6 years ago

I’m not even mad…

Pablo
Pablo
6 years ago

There’s A little substance?
Or little substance as in nada?

Women, football and rock'n'roll
Women, football and rock'n'roll
6 years ago

Would be just amazingly freakingly wonderfully BRILLIANT if it happens 🙂 A real punk rock legend! Who is still legendary. And some of the songs by Sex Pistols were quite catchy / energetic (even if I prefer other old school punk rock bands to them). I am sure he still can come up with something great still 🙂 Of course ESC is ready for this. But is Ireland ready? I am afraid they are a bit too “concervative” when it comes to ESC / music for that. But hopefully wrong. But a rumour is a rumour, so time will show… Read more »

Matt
Matt
6 years ago

I don’t really think he would do very well at Eurovision necessarily, he would a involved in picking the act and mentoring them then this has potential. A Sexy guy singing a somewhat commercial punk song could do well. Based on the open submission though, I’m assuming if he is involved it’s not going to be that punk-y at all, as I doubt many of the submissions were for that sort of genre.

xoxox
xoxox
6 years ago

Yes please! We want punk! We want legends! No name pop female will have 50% of other countries…

Women, football and rock'n'roll
Women, football and rock'n'roll
6 years ago
Reply to  xoxox

I have always liked the punkinfluenced songs in ESC too

Jo
Jo
6 years ago

Why all the complains? We have seen far worse every year.
Yeah yeah. Yeah yeah. Yeah yeah

Benito Bonito
Benito Bonito
6 years ago
Reply to  Jo

Have you seen worse? Do you know what you are talking about?
The only reason they are not like Rolling Stones, is because they had the balls to sing against the Queen and she did everything to stop their career.

Jo
Jo
6 years ago
Reply to  Benito Bonito

I’m on their side, if you didn’t notice.

Cathal
Cathal
6 years ago

Please elaborate?

VALE
VALE
6 years ago

I’ve never liked his voice or songs. So i hope this isn’t gonna happen

Benito Bonito
Benito Bonito
6 years ago

P.E.O.P.L.E. this is not Bonnie Taylor or Engelbert Humperdinck. He is JOHN LYDON.

Mark
Mark
6 years ago

That’s a possibility; however that could easily be dash is another Poland 2014 happens.

Mark
Mark
6 years ago

I’m not too sure about this, but I am all for diversity of music genre at Eurovision.

Craig
Craig
6 years ago

Oh good lord. Padraig must have choked on his corn flakes when he read this…
Not sure this is a great idea tbh.

Mark
Mark
6 years ago
Reply to  Craig

I think at this stage, Ireland is just trying to get viewership up rather than actually trying to win.

L'oiseau
L'oiseau
6 years ago

Well… I don’t know what to think about it. Would it be the ultimate irony or yet again a desperate nostalgia number like Bonnie Taylor… Or both?… I guess I would support it. After all, he is a legend and would give Eurovision just another credibility pill it so badly needs, provided it would be good song. (NB: Punk is not at all my genre of music, but I do recognise its legacy and be would nice to have it in the contest)

L'oiseau
L'oiseau
6 years ago
Reply to  L'oiseau

*Tyler

Geo
Geo
6 years ago

For the love of God, what is this? The Mummy returns? Ireland should be doomed if will make that mistake… Engelbert Humperdinck, Bonnie Tyler, anyone?

Kjetil
Kjetil
6 years ago

Honestly, why not? Ireland have tried a lot in the last few years and nothing worked out. It’s time to send something really outstanding and surprising. And, as Robyn already pointed out, many people could vote for him due to nostalgia. With the right song it could work very well, with a bad song it could also fail though. Anyway, I’d love Ireland to start sending more “experimental” and unusual acts!

Polegend Godgarina
6 years ago

My mom voted for Georgia in 2016 (and Croatia in 2017), so I can see her voting for something nostalgic like this!

Polegend Godgarina
6 years ago

I’m totally here for this.

Napaw
Napaw
6 years ago

Imagine someone telling John Lydon in the 1970s he’d be joining the Eurovision Song Contest xD

Mark
Mark
6 years ago
Reply to  Napaw

I thought Eurovision had more cred back in the day. I mean Eurovision songs use to chart.

Nikki
Nikki
6 years ago

You know, do it Ireland. Love me some rock

Benito Bonito
Benito Bonito
6 years ago

Do it Ireland!!! That would be great for Ireland to be open minded, after Jedward, John Lydon would be the right choice to shake things up. Be brave Ireland, not like UK and Germany.