The Public Image Ltd front man and former Sex Pistols says the Russian President owes him money.
The PiL Frontman frontman, John Lydon, has spoken out against Russian President Vladimir Putin, calling him “rotten”. He also criticised Putin’s leadership and alleged corruption.
“He’s rotten to the core, I’m sorry,” said Lydon. “If you’re a leader of a country, you should be there for the people, not just to fill your own pockets.”
Lydon’s attack on the embattled Russian leader came about when he was asked what his worst decision was, John answer?
“Playing in Ukraine with PiL just before the Russians invaded. We got ripped off. The promoter didn’t turn up with the money. They left us stranded there and we had to get out of the place as quickly as possible. “And perhaps foolishly I said in an interview, ‘Now Putin can pay us what the Ukrainians owe. That was a lead balloon of serious proportions.”
PiL is set to release 13 new song on August 11th followed by a UK and European tour in September and October. The band’s lineup has undergone changes over the years, resulting in a distinct and innovative sound that blends various genres such as rock, dance, folk, pop, and dub.
Lydon has guided PiL from their debut album ‘First Issue’ in 1978 to the influential ‘Metal Box’ in 1979, and onwards to ‘That What Is Not’ in 1992, before embarking on a hiatus that lasted 17 years.
In 2009, Lydon revived PiL, embarking on extensive global tours and releasing two highly acclaimed albums: ‘This is PiL’ in 2012 and their 10th studio album, ‘What The World Needs Now…’ in 2015. The latter reached a peak position of number 29 on the official UK album charts.
In 2018, PiL commemorated their 40th anniversary with a comprehensive box set and a documentary titled “The Public Image Is Rotten,” along with a 32-date tour across the UK, Europe, and additional performances in Japan.
End Of The World can be pre-ordered here. PiL’s UK and European Tour Kicks off on Monday, September 11 at the Patti Pavillion in Swansea and concludes Monday 30 October in Milan at the Magazzini Generali. Full tour dates are below.
Follow PiL on Their Socials
Need more Punk In Your Life?
Live review: John McKay’s Reactor / TV Smith & The Bored Teenagers / Marco Pirroni Q&A – 100 Club, London 19/9/2026
Half a century after Punk properly announced itself at the 100 Club, we’re back in the same basement with three men who didn’t just buy
Live review: Flamin’ Groovies celebrate 50 years of ‘Shake Some Action’ with The Peawees & Music City, 229 London 19/9/26
Just over 50 years ago, a pivotal Punk moment occurred in London – on 4th July, at The Roundhouse, San Francisco-based Flamin’ Groovies headlined a
Shake Some Acton gig #174, London Hope & Anchor, 23rd Sept 2026
If you’re relatively new to Punktuation, and you’ve wondered why we seem to see this band Shake Some Acton every other week, it’s because it
‘Anarchy! McLaren Westwood Gang’ Boxset release celebrates Punk’s 50th year
Releasing on 25th September 2026, to coincide with the 50th Anniversary of the Punk Festival at the 100 Club, Cadiz Music is bringing out a
Live Review: The Rock N Roll Circus rolls into town!
Four days of musical mayhem at Sheffield’s 2026 Rock N Roll Circus saw the Don Valley lit up with magic across two stages! Phil Thorns
Live Review: LOVE NOISE FREEDOM festival, Downstairs at the Dome, London – 19/9/2026
German underground label Exile on Mainstream presented London with four of their finest DIY acts at the LOVE NOISE FREEDOM festival – a grassroots celebration!
Fri Sept 8 -Sheffield, Leadmill.
Sat Sept 9 – Farsley, Old Wollen.
Mon Sept 11 – Swansea, Patti Pavillion
Tue Sept 12 – Margate, Dreamland
Wed Sept 13 – Lincoln – Engine Shed
Fri Sept 15 – Blackburn, King Georges Hall
Sat Sept 16 – Buckley, Tivoli
Mon Sept 18 – Sunderland, Fire Station
Tue Sept 19 – Aberdeen, Beach Ballroom
Thurs Sept 21 – Edinburgh, O2 Academy
Fri Sept 22 – Manchester, O2 Ritz
Sat Sept 23 – Holmfirth, Picture Dome
Mon Sept 25 – Coventry, HMV
Tues Sept 26 – Brighton, CHALK
Thurs Sept 28 – Bristol, O2 Academy
Fri Sept 29 – Torquay, Foundry
Sat Sept 30 – London, The Forum
Monday 02 Oct -Köln, Die Kantine
Wednesday 04 Oct – Amsterdam, Paradiso
Thursday 05 Oct -Gent, Vooruit
Friday 06 Oct – Stuttgart, Im Wizemann (Halle)
Sunday 08 Oct – Hamburg, Gruenspan
Monday 09 Oct – Götebor, Pustervik
Tuesday 10 Oct – Stockholm, Nalen
Thursday 12 Oct – Tallinn, Helitehas
Friday 13 Oct – Helsinki, Ääniwalli
Sunday 15 Oct -Berlin, Metropol
Monday 16 Oct – Prague, Lucerna Music Bar
Tuesday 17 Oct – Brno, Fleda club
Friday 20 Oct – Madrid, Shoko Madrid
Saturday 21 Oct – Barcelona, La Salamandra
Sunday 22 Oct – Bilbao, Kafe Antzokia
Tuesday 24 Oct – Porto, Hard Club
Wednesday 25 Oct – Lisboa, LAV – Lisboa Ao Vivo
Friday 27 Oct – Paris, Le Trianon
Sunday 29 Oct – Lausanne, Les Docks
Monday 30 Oct – Milan, Magazzini Generali
Punktuation Magazine For All Your Daily Punk News, Features, Interviews, Lifestyle and more!
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!
