THE EWAN HOOPER AUDITORIUM
THE EWAN HOOPER AUDITORIUM
John Lydon: I Could Be Wrong, I Could Be Right
He’s a legend and an icon, a revolutionary and an immortal. John Lydon – aka Johnny Rotten – changed the face of music and sparked a cultural revolution.
The frontman and lyricist of the Sex Pistols and Public Image Ltd (PiL) caused a political earthquake and transformed music for good.
In his spoken word show, I Could Be Wrong, I Could Be Right, Lydon will talk about how he sees life, along with his unique and extraordinary career, and take audience questions during a pyrotechnic, one-off tour.
He will be sharing his thoughts with audiences. He Could Be Wrong. He Could Be Right.
VIP meet and greet packages
Meet & Greet ticket holders get the best seats, a pre-show Meet & Greet with John and a goody bag.
Meet & Greet ticket holders must arrive at the venue no later than 5pm ready for the Meet & Greet to begin at 5.15pm.
VIP ticket holders get the next best seats and a goody bag.
Show Details
RUNNING TIME:
Approx 2 hours 30 mins (including interval)
SPACE: The Ewan Hooper Auditorium
AGE RECOMMENDATION: 18+
CONTENT ADVICE:
Possible (almost certain!) strong language and adult content
PERFORMANCE TIMES
Show time 7:30pm
TICKET PRICES
VIP Meet & Greet £96.50 (inc. £1.50 cmsn)
VIP £56.50 (inc. £1.50 cmsn)
Standard £36.50 (inc. £1.50 cmsn)
PRODUCER
A Way With Media
Cast and Creatives
John Lydon, the early years…
It is a well-worn story that John was spotted wearing a “I Hate Pink Floyd” t-shirt and invited to audition as singer for a fledgling band that had been pestering Malcolm McLaren to manage them. If John had not joined the band that would later become the Sex Pistols, back in 1975 they would have been a very, very different band. Things just wouldn’t be the same at all…
Although John had no previous musical experience, less than six months later the Sex Pistols made their live debut at St Martins College of Art, November 6th 1975.
On account of his decaying teeth John was re-christened “Johnny Rotten”. His scintillating vocal delivery and forthright lyrics – matched with the band’s power and energy – soon saw the Pistols build up a word-of-mouth following. Despite John vehemently rejecting the term, the Sex Pistols found themselves at the forefront of what would later become known as “Punk”.
While appearing on The ‘Today’ TV show in December 1976 John was goaded into swearing by presenter Bill Grundy. Not for the first or last time, John didn’t back down.
After signing to Virgin Records in 1977 (their third label in less than nine months) the Pistols released John’s alternative National Anthem God Save The Queen during the Queen’s Silver Jubilee celebrations. John was attacked in the street and slashed several times.
When the Sex Pistols split in January 1978 John quickly moved onto Public Image Limited (PiL). McLaren tried to legally prevent him using the name “Rotten” (which he later won back) – but regardless – this was a new beginning. Lydon’s unique vocal style and perceptive lyrics remained, however, PiL were nothing like the Sex Pistols.
PiL went on to blend a variety of different musical styles; there were no rules. The change of direction would frustrate many Sex Pistols fans, but equally open up a variety of people to more eclectic tastes. PiL continued in one form or another through three decades, releasing numerous albums, and scoring some unlikely hits along the way. Always chameleons, bar Lydon, the line-up would constantly change; as would the style and content of the music.
After a drawn-out legal case against Malcolm McLaren, 1986 rightfully saw John reclaim the name “Rotten” and win a deal which gave control of the Sex Pistols assets back to the band themselves. He went onto publish his best-selling autobiography ‘Rotten: No Irish, No Blacks, No Dogs’ in 1994 which mainly focused on Sex Pistols. The book featured contributions from Paul Cook and Steve Jones; together with various friends, family and associates including John Rambo Stevens, Julien Temple, Chrissy Hynde, Billy Idol, and many more…
Reviews
What you see is what you get
He is often seen as opinionated, brash, outspoken, and uncouth, but those are the very things I love about him the most. I love that he tells it like it is, and that what you see is what you get.
While it was important for John to share the pain and the trauma he endured throughout his life, it was also important for him to show a piece of Johnny Rotten, the rebellious and outspoken musician, and we saw both sides of him in spades. And for that, I love him so much.
A triumphant show
While many, to these days, consider Lydon still a little like an enigma, there is no doubts that in a world where everything gets diluted and everyone’s life is constantly under control, Lydon is one of nowadays’ very rare loose cannons of uncompromising honesty and unconditional emotional beauty.
Because he says just like he sees it, something that we, as a society, have long forgotten how to be. A triumphant show.
Utterly compelling
Whether you know him best as the profanity spouting frontman of the Sex Pistols, leader of post-punk pioneers Public Image Ltd, I’m A Celebrity camp mate or advocate of Country Life butter, it’s certain that John Lydon will have made an impression.
It’s a show of two halves; the first is loosely biographical. Loosely, because the way Lydon tells a story is seldom linear, often veering off at tangents as he thinks of something else he wants to mention. But when Lydon talks, you listen; his straight talking and distinctive delivery always utterly compelling.