John Lydon trashes the Eurovision Song Contest just one day after announcing that PiL wants to represent Ireland.
Former Sex Pistols frontman John Lydon has trashed the Eurovision Song Contest just a day after announcing that Public Image Ltd., wants to represent Ireland.
In an interview on RTE’s Radio 1, Lyndon said ‘It’s absolutely awful, the songs. The whole thing of it is disgusting to me. I’m a songwriter, I perform live, and these shows just come across as so dreadfully phony to me. But look, we’re giving it a chance to break out of that mold”
However, after his slagging off of the show, he admitted that he had never watched Eurovision in his life.
PiL has been added to the shortlist of six acts competing for Eurovision glory for Ireland with the song ‘Hawaii,’ a reflective track that’s “a personal yet universal love song that will resonate with many,” the band said in a press release.
The song is dedicated to Lydon’s wife, Nora Forster, who lives with Alzheimer’s disease.
Lydon added in a statement, “It is dedicated to everyone going through tough times on the journey of life, with the person they care for the most. It’s also a message of hope that ultimately love conquers all.”
The heat to determine Ireland’s Eurovision competitor will occur on 3 February, when PiL will perform Hawaii on The Late Late Eurosong 2023 Special. The other artists on the shortlist for Ireland are ADGY, K Muni & ND (Kofi Appiah and Nevlonne Dampare), Leila Jane, Wild Youth, and CONNOLLY.
Follow PiL on Their Socials
Need more Punk In Your Life?

Interview a Punk Promoter #3: Mauro of Some Weird Sin
It’s kind of hard to pin down Some Weird Sin to a particular genre. The duo, consisting of Simon and Mauro, specialise in London shows

Live review: The Damned and The Darts down under at The Tivoli, Brisbane 11/09/2026
A Damned gig, even after 50 years, is a magnificent musical experience. This is a band of talented friends that still enjoy playing together, entertaining

Album review: David Delinquent & The IOUs debut ‘Scandal’
I knew from the first time I caught them live, that there was something magnificently Dundee about David Delinquent & The IOU’s. Not Scottish in

Album review: The Drowns – ‘Harsh Reality’
One question: are the songs any good? That’s what most fans of The Drowns will want to know about ‘Harsh Reality’, the band’s fourth album.

Drug Church, London Electric Ballroom, 11th Sept 2026
Memo to self: next time you encounter a promising debut release, keep an eye on the band. Back in 2013, I reviewed Drug Church’s first

Punk Rock Creatives – Summer 2026 update!
For Punk Rock Creatives Podcast, taking a break doesn’t mean doing nothing… Marie is back with her latest updates, including; recording with The Pukes again,
I’m a London born and bred music journalist, a mediocre bass player and the occasional strummer of the guitar. In the ’80s I worked in recording studios and made a few records you’d probably recognise. I have written a couple of books and made the odd media appearance as a music commentator. I now call Brisbane home.



Did you know that we are 100% DIY? We run our own game. No one dictates to us, and no one drives what we can or cannot put on our pages – and this is how we plan to continue!
