Johnny Rotten Biography and Timeline

Birth of Johnny Rotten

Birth of Johnny Rotten, as John Joseph Lydon

Saint Martins College

Fronts the Sex Pistols at their first gig, giving the band its confrontational vocal identity.

Role range: 1975-1978

Sex Pistols

The band play their first gig as Sex Pistols at Saint Martins College

Sex Pistols

The Sex Pistols originally comprise vocalist Johnny Rotten, guitarist Steve Jones, drummer Paul Cook and bassist Glen Matlock (later replaced by Sid Vicious). John Lydon (Johnny Rotten), is spotted by Mick Jones at the now renamed and restyled SEX boutique

Nashville Rooms

Performs with the Sex Pistols when they support The 101ers, influencing Joe Strummer's move toward punk.

Role range: 1975-1978

100 Club Punk Festival

Appears at the 100 Club Punk Festival, helping define the London punk scene.

Role range: 1975-1978

Sex Pistols

Following a showcase gig held during London's first punk festival, at the 100 Club in Oxford Street, in September 1976, the Sex Pistols sign to the major label EMI

Anarchy in the UK

The band's first single, "Anarchy in the UK", is released

Anarchy in the UK

Delivers the vocal on Anarchy in the UK, making the single a notorious statement of punk revolt.

Role range: 1975-1978

Bill Grundy Interview

Appears on the Today programme interview that turns the Sex Pistols into a national controversy.

Role range: 1975-1978

A&M Records

Attends the public signing with A&M Records outside Buckingham Palace.

Role range: 1975-1978

Sex Pistols

At a press ceremony held outside Buckingham Palace, the Sex Pistols sign to A&M Records

Never Mind the Bollocks, Here's the Sex Pistols

"Never Mind the Bollocks, Here's the Sex Pistols" is recorded between March and June 1977, in Wessex Studios, Highbury, London, produced by Chris Thomas

God Save the Queen

The Pistols second single, "God Save the Queen", is released, during the week of Queen Elizabeth's Silver Jubilee, the single reached number one in the NME chart

God Save the Queen

Sings God Save the Queen, released during the Silver Jubilee period and banned by major broadcasters.

Role range: 1975-1978

Sex Pistols

The band sign their third and final record deal with Virgin Records

Pretty Vacant

Sings Pretty Vacant, turning the title phrase into a defining punk slogan.

Role range: 1975-1978

Holidays in the Sun

Sings Holidays in the Sun, drawing on the band's experience of Berlin and Cold War imagery.

Role range: 1975-1978

Huddersfield Benefit

Performs at the Ivanhoes benefit shows, the band's final British performances of the original era.

Role range: 1975-1978

Sex Pistols

The Sex Pistols final UK performance takes place at Ivanhoes, where the band play a matinee and evening show as part of a benefit for the families of striking firemen

Sex Pistols

Rotten announces his departure from the Sex Pistols, amid a turbulent tour of the United States

Public Image Ltd

After leaving the Pistols, Johnny Rotten reverts to his birth name of Lydon, and forms Public Image Ltd, with former Clash member Keith Levene and school friend Jah Wobble

Metal Box

Public Image Ltd record the post punk classic "Metal Box"

This Is What You Want... This Is What You Get

PIL release, "This Is What You Want... This Is What You Get"

Public Image Limited released Album (also

Public Image Limited released Album (also known as Compact Disc and Cassette). Most of the tracks on this album were written by Lydon and Bill Laswell

Sex Pistols

The Sex Pistols reunite for the "Filthy Lucre" tour

called Psychos Path

Releases a solo album on Virgin Records called Psychos Path, he wrote all the songs and played all the instruments

Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

The Sex Pistols are officially inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, but they refused to attend the induction, calling the museum a "piss stain"

Sex Pistols

Lydon, Jones and Cook re-record Pretty Vacant in a Los Angeles studio for the forthcoming video game "Skate"