John Lydon Book order

Vztek je energie – otevřená, vtipná a svérázná autobiografie Johna Lydona, který pod přezdívkou Johnny Rotten změnil tvář popkultury nejprve jako frontman Sex Pistols, později jako zpěvák PiL. Bez jakéhokoli posměchu, ironizování a sentimentality Rotten vypráví o svém dětství v chudé čtvrti irských přistěhovalců v severním Londýně (s dickensovskou věcností popisuje, jak vynášel kbelík s mrtvolkami dětí, které nechtěně potratila jeho maminka), o své nemoci (v sedmi letech onemocněl zánětem mozkových blan – půl roku ležel v kómatu v nemocnici, a když se probudil, nepoznával své rodiče) a o dospívání mezi hrubozrnnými fanoušky Arsenalu, o hře na triangl ve školním orchestru a přátelství se Sidem Viciousem. Přestože se Lydon dlouhá léta pohyboval v podivuhodné společnosti, ať už to byli punkáči nebo manažeři ze šoubyznysu, dokázal si uchovat vnitřní integritu a zachovat jasnou hlavu a podat o tom přesvědčivé svědectví.

John Lydon stands as a prominent icon in music history. As Johnny Rotten, he led the Sex Pistols, the notorious band that rose to fame in the mid-1970s with hits like 'Anarchy in the UK' and 'God Save the Queen.' His influence was so profound that he was even discussed in Parliament under the Traitors and Treasons Act, which still carries the death penalty. Through his music and provocative persona, he galvanized a generation seeking change, embodying a unique figurehead for youth culture. With his next band, Public Image Ltd (PiL), Lydon showcased his relentless drive to reinvent himself and push boundaries, establishing a groundbreaking template that continues to thrive today. He also ventured into innovative dance music collaborations with artists like Afrika Bambaataa and Leftfield. After releasing a solo album in 1997, he took a break from music to explore other media, notably with his own VH1 show and as a memorable contestant on I'm a Celebrity ... Get Me Out of Here! He later hosted the Megabugs series and appeared in beloved TV ads for Country Life butter. Lydon remains a dynamic figure in music and culture, known for his candid and often controversial commentary. This book offers a fresh perspective on his life, tracing his journey from a sickly child of Irish immigrants in post-war London to a vibrant, alternative national hero.

John Lydon has remained a compelling and dynamic figure - both as a musician and as a cultural commentator. This is a fresh and mature look back on a life full of incident from his beginnings as a sickly child of immigrant Irish parents who grew up in post-war London, to his present status as a vibrant, alternative national hero

More than twenty of the UK’s finest musicians discuss the magic and reveal the secrets behind their art in a rare collection of conversations about fifty years of classic British songwriting.

"Much more than just a rock autobiography, this book is an oral history of punk : at once angry, witty, honest, poignant and crackling with energy. Malcolm McLaren, Sid Vicious, Chrissie Hynde, Billy Idol, Britain in the late seventies, the Pistol's explosion onto the moribund music scene and their implosion under the pressures of superstardom - all these and more are dissected with Lydon's scalpel-sharp pen, in perhaps the best book ever written about music and youth culture, by one of its notorious figures." - back cover.

The autobiography of the lead singer of the Sex Pistols, pioneers of punk rock in the 1970s. Johnny Rotten, born John Lydon, tells of his childhood and the early days of punk - through to the band's final days. It is his own story and that of friends, including Billy Idol and Chrissie Hynde.