This is the story of Johnny Rotten – in Israel

July 13, 2010 - 5:47 PM by

Imagine throwing a notorious ex-punk rocker like John Lydon, better known perhaps as Johnny Rotten of 1970s punk shockers The Sex Pistols, into the volatile Israeli cultural mix.

Johnny Rotten in Mea She’arim, Johnny Rotten at the Kotel, or maybe Johnny Rotten shopping in the shuk. That deliciously juxtaposed scene may come to be next month, when Lydon, considerably older but still feisty, brings his revamped post-Pistols band Public Image Ltd. to Israel for the first time.

Lydon’s performance at the Heineken Music Conference 2010 Festival in Tel Aviv on August 31 is already causing waves, with the usual suspects calling on the rock provocateur to cancel, like earlier moves by Elvis Costello and the Pixies, among others.

But the protesters didn’t take into account Lydon’s contrary personality – after all he used to be a punk. Speaking this week to BBC’s Music 6 program, Lydon said that instead of boycotting Israel, he’s planning on creating his own brand of anarchy in the UK during his visit here.

“Of course, there are all sorts of terrible politics going on down there but there is just about all over the world,” Lydon said. “You cannot separate yourself from your audience because of the political powers-that-be. I mean, I’m anti-government—I have been all my life no matter where I go—and I shall be making that loud and clearly proud once I’m in Israel.”

Lydon dismissed calls for him to stay away, saying that his presence in Israel will be his own form of protest.

“We’ve received a lot of hate mail, as it happens, [That] going to Israel is some kind of political faux pas. 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.’”

So whether we see Lydon out setting garbage bins on fire with the haredim, or joining the anti-wall protesters at Bi’lin, his visit here will undoubtedly be memorable. That is, unless he decides to stay in his comfortable five-star hotel.

Tags: , , , , , • Category: A New Reality, General, Life, Music, Politics, Pop Culture 

Comments

4 Comments on This is the story of Johnny Rotten – in Israel

  1. The Day In Israel: Wednesday July 14th, 2010 : Israellycool on Wed, Jul 14th 2010 4:53 PM

    2. [...] Johnny’s not so Rotten after all. Imagine throwing a notorious ex-punk rocker like John Lydon, better known perhaps as [...]

  2. David-Joe on Thu, Jul 15th 2010 3:07 AM

    3. JR is strong and he is actually being true his music and the ethic of punk and Brtish alternative.

    Good to see. You see anyone that is true to the virtues of honesty, integrity, independence, justice. pride and productivity can never turn their backs on Israel.

  3. Johnny Rotten: Good for the Jews? | KarenWorldUSA — Politics, Pop Culture and Other Obsessions on Thu, Jul 15th 2010 6:47 AM

    4. [...] Johnny’s making it perfectly clear that his stance in favor of artistic and cultural freedom doesn’t mean he’s a hardcore Zionist or anything. Like many (most?) Israelis, [...]

  4. Bernard Elias on Sun, Jul 18th 2010 4:54 PM

    5. That ain’t Anarchy that is selling your soul Johnny.

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