Atlantic City Weekly

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Provocative humorists are in short supply in pop music. Vocalist-songwriter John Lydon has always been one of the best at stirring the pot in an amusing manner, whether he was fronting the seminal punk band the Sex Pistols (as Johnny Rotten) or the irreverent Public Image Ltd. (PiL), which recently reunited after a 17-year hiatus.

PiL will make a rare appearance Saturday, May 15, at the Borgata. The charismatic Lydon phoned from Boston to talk to Atlantic City Weekly about the waning art of live performance in rock, the effect of American Idol and if there really is no future for you.

There is such a dearth of recording artists who connect with the audience these days. Have you noticed?

I know exactly what you’re saying and I couldn’t agree more. I feel 54-years young because of these performers, if you want to call them that, who are killing live music.

A generation ago there were a number of bands that would exude a palpable sense of danger and unpredictability during shows. Now, when you go to some shows you can’t help but wonder if you’ve been cheated.

[Laughs] Those good old days when the fan would take a risk and see a band, which could be good or bad; I miss those days. Today there is no risk. It’s all predictable. Can we blame it all on eight years of George W. Bush? I don’t think so. I think it’s the modern world. Nobody expects anything from anybody in this age.

We live in an age in which Simon Cowell of American Idol is edgy.

[Sinister laughter] Well, what a tradition that [American Idol] is. It’s a shame.

Does your old Sex Pistols refrain ‘there’s no future’ apply to pop music?

What was implied was that if you don’t take [over] your own future, you might not have a future. That’s what is happening. People are just sitting back and they don’t realize if they don’t contribute they get nothing in return. Fame seems to be the only driving force for everyone today in this so-called revolution. What makes me laugh is that this is the safest form of revolution. I like the idea of Rage Against the Machine, but it seems as if they have strategies.

Didn’t the Sex Pistols have strategies?

The Sex Pistols were organized chaos. The difference between me and all of these bands is that I’m for real. You can’t manufacture what I’m about. Sooner or later all of these revolutionary acts following the Black Flag manifesto will accept their Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction. Nobody is going to induct me into anything. Inducting someone into something sounds like some sort of anal abuse. I don’t want to go into the industry’s mausoleum.

You’re an unlikely success story since you weren’t looking to be a singer. Opportunity knocked and you seized it with the Pistols.

It’s true. I jumped at the opportunity to sing even though I didn’t consider the prospect an hour before the offer was made. I knew I was fully-loaded because I’m a thinker. I knew I could do it. I had a contempt for all things political. All that I had was within me. It’s instinctive. You can’t teach smarts.

Could you accomplish what you did a generation ago today?

I see no difficulties with that. I think it’s easier than ever to be a free thinker. I could do it all over again. I could show people that you don’t have to be on American Idol to be a star. Speaking of which, did you see that David Arquette [Archuleta], that sweet little boy from American Idol, who sang “Imagine” really well, was found in a gay club? Oh, shock [and] horror! Oh, give it a break. When I was young, the one place you could go and not be attacked was a gay club and they played the best music. This country is a mess.

What was it like playing Coachaella?

I didn’t like the fact that Jay-Z was playing at the same time as PiL on another stage. Why can’t we play in front of his audience? But I did hear that Beyonce was wearing a Sex Pistols shirt. I think Beyonce is fine. I love her voice.

What other contemporary artists do you love?

I think Lady Gaga is very funny. She’s one of the few amusing artists around today. Her song “Paparazzi” is very clever.

She’s often compared to Madonna, who has yet to craft anything funny.

Madonna completely lacks humor. It’s a bad comparison.

You’ve reunited with the Pistols and PiL. Will either band ever release a new album?

There will be definitely be a PiL album.

What about the Sex Pistols?

I don’t feel like writing for that band.

Why?

There are some personality issues with [the Sex Pistols] and there is some laziness with some of the members that annoys me. I love that band. It’s my inheritance. But when I write a song I [do so for] PiL. That band is my greatest love. I could write for the Sex Pistols. There’s certainly enough political stuff going on. But I prefer the personal stuff I have with PiL. I don’t want to sound big-headed, but I [fronted] two bands that changed the world. I’m spoiled for choice.

Watch PiL on American Bandstand from 1980:

PiL (Public Image Ltd.)

Where: The Borgata, Atlantic City

When: Saturday, May 15, 9pm

How Much: $55