Sex Pistols lead singer John Lydon will be competing for the chance to represent Ireland at Eurovision 2023.
The punk rocker, better known by his stage name Johnny Rotten, will be bidding for the job with his band Public Image Ltd.
Initially formed in 1978, but later went on hiatus; John, 66, will now be joined by his punk bandmates Lu Edmonds, Scott Firth and Bruce Smith.
Comeback: Sex Pistols lead singer John Lydon will compete for the chance to represent Ireland at Eurovision 2023 (pictured on stage in June 2022)
Announcing the news on Twitter, the band said they will compete with a never-before-heard song titled Hawaii, dedicated to John’s wife, Nora, who has Alzheimer’s.
Providing context to his song choice, John shared: “It’s dedicated to everyone who goes through a difficult time on life’s journey, with the person they love the most.
“It’s also a message of hope that ultimately love conquers all.”
John found fame with The Sex Pistols in the 1970s alongside guitarist Steve Jones, drummer Paul Cook and bassist Glen Matlock. Matlock was replaced by Sid Vicious in early 1977.
Tribute: Announcing the news on Twitter, the band said they will be competing with a never-before-heard song titled Hawaii, dedicated to John’s wife Nora, who has Alzheimer’s.
Former Glory: John found fame with The Sex Pistols in the 1970s alongside guitarist Steve Jones, drummer Paul Cook and bassist Glen Matlock. Matlock was replaced by Sid Vicious in early 1977.
Lydon was the lead singer from 1975 to 1978, later leading the band on several revivals during the 1990s and 2000s.
The Sex Pistols’ only album, Never Mind the B*****ks, Here’s the Sex Pistols (1977), a UK number one, is now a staple punk rock record.
But in 1978, John formed Public Image Ltd, with the band’s early line-up including bassist Jah Wobble and ex-Clash guitarist Keith Levene.
Now: The punk rocker, better known by his stage name Johnny Rotten, will bid for the Eurovision 2023 spot with his band Public Image Ltd.
In 1987, a new lineup was formed consisting of John, former Siouxsie and the Banshees guitarist John McGeoch, Allan Dias on bass, plus drummer Smith and Edmunds.
They were also joined by Curt Bisquera on drums and Gregg Arreguin on rhythm guitar for the album That What Is Not.
After the band wrote the song Criminal for the movie Point Break and released an album in 1993, John put Public Image Ltd on indefinite hiatus.
On and Off: Public Image Ltd was initially formed in 1978 but then went on hiatus by John, 66, who will now be joined by his punk bandmates Lu Edmonds, Scott Firth and Bruce Smith.
But now they are headed for their return as they could be seen at Eurovision in Liverpool, after Sam Ryder’s second place in the 2022 contest.
John, whose mother is from County Cork and his father from Galway, will see his band compete with the other entries, ADGY, CONNOLLY, Wild Youth, Leila Jane and K Muni + ND.
In recent years, the musician has distanced himself from The Sex Pistols, most recently last year following the death of Queen Elizabeth.
John accused his former band, the Sex Pistols, of trying “in taste” to “profit off” Queen’s death with their punk single God Save The Queen.
Punk Pioneers: (L-R) Johnny Rotten (John Lydon), Sid Vicious, Steve Jones and Paul Cook of The Sex Pistols during their last tour
The singer at the time said he was “distancing” from any activity by the band that aims to promote their 1977 song, claiming it is “disrespectful” to the Royal Family.
John wrote the lyrics for God Save The Queen and the famous anti-royalist song was released just before the Queen’s Silver Jubilee.
In a series of tweets, he alleged that the Sex Pistols had approved “a series of requests” against his wishes, as he accused the band of trying to “profit off” Her Majesty’s death.
But a spokesperson for the Sex Pistols called John’s comments “disconcerting” and said they did not understand what the singer meant in his tweets.
‘It’s in bad taste’: The singer, 66, said he is ‘distancing’ from any activities by the band that aim to promote their 1977 song, claiming it is ‘disrespectful’ to the royal family.
It’s not the first time John has come into conflict with his former band the Sex Pistols, having previously criticized the band’s biopic Pistol.
The punk rocker was highly critical in the lead up to the Disney+ miniseries, claiming he was intentionally left out of the show, which features his former bandmates Paul Cook and Steve Jones.
In May, just before its release, he doubled down on his comments while appearing on This Morning and accused Disney, director Danny Boyle and his former bandmates of “secreting” and “excluding” him from the show.
Addressing John, presenter Alison Hammond read a statement from the director, stating: “Danny Boyle has previously said, ‘I love Lydon for what he does and I don’t want him to like it. I think he has an absolute right. Why would you change the habit of your life?” That’s Danny Boyle.
Directed: The punk rocker has been highly critical of the upcoming Disney+ miniseries which has been directed by Danny Boyle (pictured in May)
John quickly chimed in, commenting, “You idiot,” prompting Alison and Dermot O’Leary to apologize for their colorful language.
John also said: ‘Danny Boyle… never made any effort to talk to me, so his behavior on this is really terrible.
‘It seems like a gigantic effort to deny that I really exist… Instead of dealing with me, they have entered into this farce.
‘Now, by not showing me the script that tells me, secret. And the secret to me involves lies.
Regardless, John said he would watch the show because he “has to.”
“It’s about me,” he said. But it excludes me.
Dermot included a right of reply from Disney, stating that Danny contacted John’s management about the series “but direct contact was declined.”
Last year, Steve Jones responded to John’s comments and urged him to “grow up and move on,” saying he doesn’t understand why the singer is so upset about the series.
The 66-year-old rock guitarist insisted the show is about him and not John, as it is based on his memoir Lonely Boy: Tales From A Sex Pistol.
“I don’t have time for all that shit anymore,” he said. Sun.
‘You just have to grow up and move on. The show is about me, not John, although he’s obviously a big part of it.
Hitting back: Steve Jones (pictured right with Paul Cook) urged his former bandmate John to ‘grow up and move on’ after expressing his annoyance with the new Pistol series.