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Thursday, February 26, 2026

Public Image and Sex Pistol

Happiness? That’s nothing more than good health and a poor memory. 
– Albert Schweitzer






Public Image" is the debut single by post-punk band Public Image Ltd (PiL), released in October 1978 by former Sex Pistols frontman John Lydon. It serves as a direct, defiant response to his time in the Sex Pistols, addressing feelings of exploitation by management and the press.
  • Release & Charting: Released on 13 October 1978, the single peaked at number 9 on the UK Singles Chart on 4 November 1978.
  • Context: Written by Lydon (formerly Johnny Rotten) following the 1978 breakup of the Sex Pistols, the song serves as a statement of self-determination.
  • Sound: It features a, heavy, bass-driven post-punk sound, distinctly different from the punk style of the Sex Pistols.
  • Themes: The lyrics address the commodification of Lydon's image, specifically criticizing Sex Pistols manager Malcolm McLaren.
  • Members: The original lineup included John Lydon (vocals), Keith Levene (guitar), Jah Wobble (bass), and Jim Walker (drums).
 

What can we do about corruption?

I hit the corruption theme in The National this morning: As is my habit, the angle of approach in that article differs from what I
Read the full article…


"It's pretty wild": Marc Fennell on the mystery of fraudster John Friedrich


In 'Australia's Greatest Conman?' Marc Fennell sets out to fill in the blanks in the story of the high-profile mystery man who fooled almost everyone. He talks to SBS about why this was a fraud unlike most others.


But Fennell wanted a more personal way into this one. “For me, Australia’s Greatest Conman was always about the person.”

That person was the so-called John Friedrich, a mysterious man who seemingly popped up out of nowhere in the ’80s, with no backstory to speak of, and got involved on the ground floor of the Victorian Division of the National Safety Council of Australia (NSCA).