Still on the PIL after 40 years

John Lydon reflects on teenage rebellion as he embarks on band’s anniversary tour

Though it was as Johnny Rotten in the Sex Pistols that punk icon John Lydon made his name, it is with his band PIL that he built a career and influenced his peers musically.

Public Image Ltd celebrate their 40th anniversary this year – a slow burn to the Pistols’ white-hot flash in the pan. And for any young musicians who fancy emulating the cultural impact teenage

Johnny had in the Pistols, Mr Lydon, 62, has advice.

“To be a voice of rebellion in the youth of today, they have to learn to get away from Facebook and Twitter. I find them to be anti-social,” he declares.

“I’d much rather meet real people than put up a Facebook presentation to other Facebook presentations. It’s really twofacebook. That’s what it should be called. Because most of the people on it are lying.”

Lydon may put great store in honesty but he’s also developed publicity minded wind-ups into a fine art. In recent years he has backed Nigel Farage and Donald Trump in interviews, going against his earlier opinions.

This year, interviewers are told he’s not keen on discussing either of his unlikely new faves.

“No, no, listen. I hope they’re very good friends. They belong to each other. The end. And there it is,” he says. “And people trying to squeak a sort of sarky comment out of me, on an issue that I’m not in control of, doesn’t interest me.”

What he really wants to talk about is PIL, as their continuing health is a source of pride.

“We’ve survived all manner of corporate harassments, and we are still able to hold our shoulders up high. Loud and proud, we are.

“Financial, artistic – those are the two major threats that large record companies throw at you – and they can be soul destroying.

“But I have more patience than a hospital. So I outplay them.”

PIL are certainly a great band and their classic tracks rate with the best. Their forthcoming tour should be a knockout, so what can audiences expect from them?

“Sometimes even for us, it’s overwhelming with the emotions we deal with,” Lydon reflects.

“We’re not shy of fully investing ourselves into a project of each particular song. What we do is we explore not only ourselves, but everybody else’s emotions.

“And it’s vital we do that. And that’s where the songs lay.

“And if you want to run the full gauntlet of joy, anger, pain, everything that you can mention – including the seven deadly sins – here it is.”

Pil’s The Public Image Is Rotten Tour continues tonight at Bournemouth O2 and runs until August 31.

‘To be a voice of rebellion today you have to get away from Twitter and Facebook’