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John Lydon's return to Public Image Limited is certainly family affair
Louise Jury, Chief Arts Correspondent05.11.09
The first UK tour of Public Image Limited for 17 years will conclude with an emotional family Christmas for frontman and founder John Lydon.
Lydon, 53, will return to his home borough of Islington, north London, to support his brother, Jimmy, in a battle against throat cancer after performing the first gigs with PiL since the band - the successor to the Sex Pistols - was put on hold in 1992.
The controversial performer revealed his family angst after flying into London this week from his home in Los Angeles to begin rehearsals with former bandmates Lu Edmonds and Bruce Smith and new recruit Scott Firth.
His brother's ill health follows the death of their father, also called John, last year. “It's been a tough old year or two. It affects you mentally,” he said.
But he is thrilled to be back performing nearly 31 years after PiL's debut gigs. “Public Image Limited is the band I loved being in and around the most, which is not to be in any way derogatory about the Sex Pistols but I can let rip emotionally with PiL,” he said.
With no current recording deal or record company support, the PiL comeback has been possible only because of the financial cushion provided by the adverts Lydon made for Country Life butter. Some fans regarded them as a sell-out - but which raised sales by 85 per cent.
“Here I am re-forming PiL or continuing PiL, but quite frankly I'm using Country Life money to get this up and running. With any music, you find it's always about the money. Touring requires such initial outlay,” he said.
Lydon, who was known as Johnny Rotten in the Sex Pistols, continues to make headlines with a shortlived appearance on I'm A Celebrity - Get Me Out of Here and a number of assault allegations which he angrily denies.
A softer side emerges when he admits he would like to make more wildlife documentaries like his series on insects, Mega Bugs, on the Discovery Channel.
Public Image Limited play the Brixton 02 Academy on 21 December and The Electric Ballroom on 22 and 23 December.
