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!
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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 …
Let me be the first to say YAAAAAAAAAAAAAS
”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.
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…
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. :/
* punk
But do bored dad’s watch the semis?
It’s a no from Ireland ??
I’m not even mad…
There’s A little substance?
Or little substance as in nada?
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 »
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.
Yes please! We want punk! We want legends! No name pop female will have 50% of other countries…
I have always liked the punkinfluenced songs in ESC too
Why all the complains? We have seen far worse every year.
Yeah yeah. Yeah yeah. Yeah yeah
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.
I’m on their side, if you didn’t notice.
Please elaborate?
I’ve never liked his voice or songs. So i hope this isn’t gonna happen
P.E.O.P.L.E. this is not Bonnie Taylor or Engelbert Humperdinck. He is JOHN LYDON.
That’s a possibility; however that could easily be dash is another Poland 2014 happens.
I’m not too sure about this, but I am all for diversity of music genre at Eurovision.
Oh good lord. Padraig must have choked on his corn flakes when he read this…
Not sure this is a great idea tbh.
I think at this stage, Ireland is just trying to get viewership up rather than actually trying to win.
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)
*Tyler
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?
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!
My mom voted for Georgia in 2016 (and Croatia in 2017), so I can see her voting for something nostalgic like this!
I’m totally here for this.
Imagine someone telling John Lydon in the 1970s he’d be joining the Eurovision Song Contest xD
I thought Eurovision had more cred back in the day. I mean Eurovision songs use to chart.
You know, do it Ireland. Love me some rock
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.