Johnny Rotten: Hate mail won't cause me to cancel Tel Aviv show
Legendary Sex Pistols and Public Image Limited front man tells BBC he would not separate himself from his audience because of the 'political powers-that-be.'
By Haaretz Service Tags: Israel news Israel artsI will not cancel my Tel Aviv show despite the hate mail I have been receiving, legendary Sex Pistols and Public Image Limited front John "Johnny Rotten" Lydon told BBC radio on Tuesday, assuaging fears that he would join the summer's other recent musical cancellations.
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John Lydon of Public Image Ltd. performs at the Coachella Music Festival in California April 16, 2010. |
| Photo by: Reuters |
Lydon old the BBC's "6 Music, that "of course, there are all sorts of terrible politics going on down there but there is just about all over the world," saying one could not "separate yourself from your audience because of the political powers-that-be."
"I'm anti-government... and I shall be making that loud and clearly proud once I'm in Israel," Lydon told the BBC, adding that PiL has been receiving "a lot of hate mail... [but] I say, 'Don't be so ignorant, it's John speaking here and I'm going there to cause trouble and I will do it musically.'"
Lydon's comments came after several recent major artists, such as Elvis Costello, the Pixies and Devendra Banhart, canceled their Israel shows, citing recent tensions in the region, heightened in the wake of Israel's raid of a Gaza-bound flotilla, which resulted in the death of 9 flotilla participants.
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I really don't class Elvis Costello as a "major star", neither are the Pixies or Devendra Banhart - who cares about them?
go Johnny go go go...... Stick to the so called bleeding heart liberal s
Seeing as I have had an opportunity to see the man do his thing live, better late than never! I will do my damnedest to be there! I hope he will be partying with the crowd, and not hold himself aloof. I would love to have a beer and a few whiskeys with Johnny!
... but it is doing butter adverts in the UK.
Here are lyrics written by Lydon: Belsen was a gas, I heard the other day In the open graves where the Jews all lay "Life is fun and I wish you were here" They wrote on postcards to those held dear. Is his forthcoming concert something that Israel should welcome -- or not? Will Lydon wear swastikas like he did in the 1970s?
I'm coming to Israel > this is great ! I'm all excited and stuff. Music coming back to me. I am an anarchist I am the anti-christ La la la lala la. yeah GREAT !
Corporate sellouts and "rock stars" like Elvis Costello can boycott Israel all they want...'cause Johnny Rotten is 100 times better anyway! Thank you Sex Pistols for staying true to the spirit of punk.
Finally an artist (that's another debate--but anyway) who hasd the cOJONES to stand up and not kow-tow to "Political Correctness" and the Leftist lemming-like stampede to join in the "fashionable" idea du jour and copy-cat the the predictably lazy and ignorant "IN-MOB"... Presumably his for FANS ONLY sake/shed the politics mantra means he might also perform for fans who say were in Nazi Germany if he lived then(in which case he would not be so lauded for his apolitical stance) -but I would hope even HE has a line he would not cross 9but who knows?). WELL at least he has stood up to the Leftist-Islamic -Pro-PAL Alliance ,suspecting that its agenda against Israel is as biased as the "Zionist Project" seems to them -but deep down he probably KNOWS that TRUTH in history is many degrees more on the side of the "ZP"...and that is certainly more laudible than the "join on the banwagon of fashionable PC " artists like the cancellationist Elvis Costellos et al.
actually sex pistols had a lot of jewish impact. their creator and manager maclaren was jewish ( sephardic mother). sid vicious' girl-friend ( she died with him) nancy spungen was jewish too.
The anti-Israel loonies have really come in full force and taken over the haaretz board. I see Natalie "What Facts?" Durson is here.
He understands that music transcends politics, and that fans should not be held accountable for the actions of their government. I find his Israel show a little odd, considering that the Sex Pistols used to wear swastikas.
his entire point was that his music does NOT transcend politics. his music in intensely political. he just thinks he can do a better job protesting government (in this case the israeli occupation) by playing in israel instead of boycotting the show.
cancelling a show makes Israelis feel the whole world is against them. Coming and telling them they are supported but have to change will have better chance of working.
The point is Israel accepts criticism even through music. Now try a little just a hint of criticism of hezbollah & hamas. They demand total conformity. What you've been on second for far too long.
Johnny lives on my street in LA. NExt time I see him I will give him a resounding Kol Ha Kavod for not playing into arab PR and holding an entire country hostage for the actions of a few. If those artists that choose to cancel there shows are so righteous then they should cancel there American shows, english shows, canadian shows and their shows in every other country that is engaged in a conflict they disagree in.
You are one Rotten Johnny ...
What a prank
Dance for them Johnny, dance before another dawn.
Or will he perhaps sing those famous lines "God save Martin Boorman and nazis on the run they wasn't being wicked god that was their idea of fun" . That would be a massive prank on Johnny's part, not quite as big as doing "God Save The Queen" on the silver jubilee, but still good for a laugh.
The symbolism is over powering. Have a nice concert you guys!
He was going to go see Hamas & Hezbollah but he doesn't support racists & fascists.
Both those bands are better than lydon is today.
Well, lets see if he brings his swastika Tshirt, and performs "Belsen", how do uou like that?
He is done anyway, cant sell any tickets here in the usa unless its 100-200 small venue. he must really need attention or the money for his meth to play in isreal. I remember when punk rock was about freedom, now he supports isreal? he is going to lose alot of fans!
John Lyden has never touched drugs. He is vehemently anti-drugs. He watched his best mate kill himself from drugs. The man loves his booze though...now that is one guy I would love a drinking session with! *Raises beer to Johnny!*
someone who believes in artistic freedom, and the separation of art/culture and political agenda!! my sincere support :)
Another old has-been who frankly shouldn't be singing at his age the songs that made him famous.
Poor little Simon.
sold out due to past reputation who back then would have called Lydon of today a boring money grabber...Can't sing but back then it didn't matter.
The real sellouts are Elvis Costello and the "boycott Israel" crowd...most of whom in any case have been corporate sellouts for decades now. Johnny Rotten is true to the spirit of punk- nonconformist and anti-fascist. Someone should be asking Elvis Costello his own famous queston: What's so funny 'bout peace, love and understanding? Not too mention Israel's right to exist
This man has already lowered himself by making marketing spots for the idiot Box. The sex pistols are over Johnny, this is not a love song, it is about money.
'Anything for a quid" is Brit diplomacy when dealing with Arab despots.
How many of the cancelled shows have any political impact. The impact can be made by coming and doing as Johnny said, make a stink here and let the world become more aware!
I fully support his decision not to boycott Israel, as cultural boycott is never justified. But he should go and playn in Ramallah and Gaza as well - has'nt Bibi lifted the blockade?
I appreciate the irony of claiming that paletinians are destitute, and then asking why big name concerts aren't shown there. Here in mtl, tickets for the sex pistols would start at 100$. Anyways, would the PLO really allow a band called the Sex Pistols to play?
The question is would they want him in Gaza and/or Ramallah? Would somebody put up the money for him to appear?
Don't know if noticed but at the moment Gaza is controlled by a gang theocrats called Hamas, who have already banned male hairdressers in women's salons and punished women for not wearing veils. So I don't think a punk concert- given punk's blatant anti-authoritarian nature- would go over too well with the Hamas. and Johnny Rotten probably doesn't want to end up murdered on his tour. so if you want to see a punk scene in Gaza, better support the IDF next time :D
Ramallah is full of American-Palestinians driving around in Mercedes cars and who earn more money in one month than most Israelis in one year. These people can definitely pay for any concert ticket, while Israeli youngsters can only fantasize about migrating to the USA. Your image of Palestine, my friend, is not very accurate.
Good to see you have guts, unlike the other cowards who have to cancel what they believe in, due to pressure from vile, abhorant low-life scum activists(terrorists).
His mind that is. Another old has been desperate to make a few extra bucks while he can,
sad but true
boring, boring.. your beginning to sound like an old record
don't you think.
Does not fit your slogans does it?
Hamas will let these bands perform in Gaza? My foot.