1994 Chronology
Research by Karsten Roekens and Scott M, plus contributors…
FEBRUARY 11
UK Gold, 'Top of the Pops'. The archive satellite channel re-broadcast PiL's performance of 'Death Disco' from 1979 as part of a run of repeats of the show.
MARCH 17
John Lydon's autobiography 'Rotten: No Irish, No Blacks, No Dogs' is published by Hodder & Stoughton in the UK and St Martin's Press in the USA. It will go on to be an international best-seller.
The main inspiration behind writing the book is to set the record straight and to try help stop the mythologizing of the Pistols: "I'm writing this book because so much rubbish has been written about us that it might be interesting for someone to get the correct perspective on it, and see it for what it really was…"
The book is written together with brothers Keith & Kent Zimmerman; and also features contributions from the likes of John Gray, John "Rambo" Stevens, Steve Jones, Paul Cook, Don Letts, Jeannette Lee, Julien Temple, Billy Idol, plus members of his family. Lydon included the other voices to add a different point of view – and to even contradict – his account of the Sex Pistols.
Although the book centres on John's early life and the Sex Pistols, there is some coverage on the formation of PiL and his trip to Jamaica in 1978. Lydon mentions in his press interviews – that at some point in the future – he intends to write another separate book on Public Image Limited: "It'd be rather stupid to put in the PiL years, because quite frankly PiL is far from over, and most importantly, if you're putting a book out for the first time you don't want it to read like War and Peace and need a wheelbarrow to carry it home…"
Previous to working with John, Keith & Kent Zimmerman had written the autobiography of Hells Angels founder Ralph "Sonny" Barger.
MARCH 28
John has two book signings in London. Athena, Piccadilly Circus at 3pm and Dillon's Bookstore, Kings Rd at 6pm.
MARCH 28
The book launch party for John's autobiography is held at London's Rock Circus. Jah Wobble is among the guests.
Prior to the launch party John unveils a Johnny Rotten waxwork which will be displayed in Rock Circus.
APRIL 2
John Lydon book signing at WH Smith in Bromley. Nora is also in attendance.
APRIL 2
'NME' has a two page spread on 'Rotten: No Irish, No Blacks, No Dogs' featuring various excerpts, plus a review.
APRIL 2
Radio 5, 'The Treatment' - John Lydon interview.
APRIL 3
Sky News, 'The Bookshow' - John Lydon interview.
APRIL 3
Carlton TV, 'London Tonight' - John Lydon interview.
APRIL 4
Radio 1, 'Johnnie Walker' - John Lydon interview.
APRIL 6
Channel 4, 'The Big Breakfast' - John Lydon interview 'On the Bed with Paula Yates'. Lydon quips: “I'm not bad am I?"
APRIL 6
Radio 4, 'Kaleidoscope' - Lydon interview.
APRIL 9
ITV, 'The Big E' - Lydon interview. Recorded at the Rock Circus book launch party.
APRIL 16
'Melody Maker' - Rebellious Jukebox. Jah Wobble picks 'Fist Issue' & 'Metal Box' as his favourite records. "I'm very glad that the line up of PiL split when it did because it ended just right. All of us were very young, still angry and very unformulated. I saw John Lydon last year and he ain't changed - still thinks all the same people are tossers. Great geezer." Wobble also picks records by Miles Davis, Marc Bolan, Can & Joy Division.
APRIL 16
'NME' - Jah Wobble interview. Describing his approach to working within a band Wobble jokes: "I'm like Beckenbauer. I do a good steady job at the back and support the team in a good skillful way. But I ain't a nifty Latin American inside-forward…"
APRIL 18
Jah Wobble and the Invaders of the Heart release the single 'Becoming more like God' (see wobble discography for full info). This is Wob's first release since resigning to Island Records in 1993. The single peaks at number 36 in the UK charts.
APRIL 18
John Lydon book signing at Borders Books & Music, Dallas, Texas, USA.
APRIL 20
ITV, 'The Beat' - Jah Wobble and the Invaders of the Heart performing 'Becoming More Like God' & 'I'm an Algerian'. Recorded live at the London, Astoria.
APRIL 30
ITV, 'The Big E' - Jah Wobble interview.
APRIL
'Select' magazine - - Jah Wobble interview.
APRIL
'Melody Maker' reports (the year old news) that John Lydon has signed to Atlantic records as a solo artist, not a member of PiL, and is working on his first LP.
MAY
'Mixmag' review 'Rotten: No Irish…' The influential dance music magazine gives the book a favourable review, and adds the following:
"The missing element, though, is not Mclaren but the story of Public Image Limited. Where the Pistols in their conviction politics now seem impossibly ancient, PiL's dub-inflected mystery points to now, the '90s of The Orb and Aba-Shanti, ambient and jungle as survival strategies for the hard rimes of this present. Lydon is less willing to disinter the bones of PiL because they mean more to him, but it's their sound we can use and abuse nowadays, not that of the Pistols anymore."
MAY
'Q' magazine - John Lydon interview. John mentions that there were vague plans for him and – the recently deceased – Kurt Cobain to work together. "Kurt and me were going to meet but he would only meet me if I would take him to the zoo, him and his kid. It was just bizarre. I wasn't walking around a bloody zoo with him and his brat!"
MAY 16
Jah Wobble and the Invaders of the Heart release the double album 'Take Me To God' (see wobble discography for full info). The album is Wobble's biggest ever commercial success and peaks at number 13 in the UK charts.
Island records gave the album the kind of financial backing that meant Wobble could gather together a collection of guest singers and players including: Gavin Friday, Chaka Demus & Pliers, Baaba Maal & Delores O'Riordan.
Wobble had actually started recording the album in 1992-3 for his last label and had to re-record those tracks when he resigned for Island. He comments that he just kept adding to it and ended up with a double album.
MAY 16
Martin Atkins' Pigface release their third album 'Notes From Thee Underground' on his Invisible Records label (INV 028). The album features guest appearances from Jello Biafra, Lesley Rankine, Genesis P'Orridge; and many others.
MAY 17
'MTV News UK' - John Lydon is the subject of this weeks 'Cult Interview'.
MAY 18
Music press reports that John Lydon is being sued by former Pistols lawyer Stephen Fisher over comments in his autobiography. Years later it comes to light that an out of court settlement was arranged, resulting in future copies of the book having the offending paragraph removed.
MAY 21
Radio 1, 'Johnnie Walker Show' - Jah Wobble interview.
MAY 25
'MTV News UK' - Jah Wobble is the subject of this weeks 'Cult Interview'. One week after John Lydon is featured.
MAY 26
Jah Wobble and the Invaders of the Heart begin a UK tour at Manchester, New Century Hall (see Wobble Gig List for full Info).
MAY
'Late Night with Conan O'Brien', USA - John Lydon interview.
MAY
'Reality Check TV'. The US cable show includes footage from a recent book signing, along with a Lydon interview where he's clearly in no mood to talk!
UKNOWN
John McGeoch begins work on a project with singer Glenn Gregory (Heaven 17) and guitarist Keith Lowndes (future ABC). Glenn Gregory: "I started working with Keith on a project with John McGeoch, we were writing and recording up in Sheffield for about a year. The songs were very good in a kind of U2 dance style, but for whatever reason the band [which never had a name] split up before ever playing live or releasing anything."
JUNE 1
Radio 4, 'Striking Chords' - Jah Wobble interview.
JUNE 4
BBC 2, 'Later with Jools Holland' - Jah Wobble and the Invaders of the Heart perform 'The Sun Does Rise' & 'Amor' live in the studio.
JUNE 13
Jah Wobble and the Invaders of the Heart release the single 'The Sun Does Rise' (see wobble discography for full info). The single is a duet with Delores O'Riordan from The Cranberries and peaks at number 41 in the UK charts.
JUNE 16
Radio 1, 'Emma Freud Show' - Jah Wobble and the Invaders of the Heart in session.
The track 'I'm an Algerian' later turns up on a free BBC Session cassette given away with Vox Magazine (see wobble discography for full info).
JUNE 19
'MTV UK, 120 Minutes' - Jah Wobble interview.
JUNE 25
Jah Wobble and the Invaders of the Heart play the Glastonbury Festival.
JUNE 26
'4 Goes Glastonbury' - Jah Wobble and the Invaders of the Heart live at Glastonbury performing 'Becoming More Like God'.
JUNE
'Mutual Broadcasting System' FM, Jim Bohannan - John Lydon interview and phone-in. US talk radio.
JUNE
'Select' magazine - John Lydon interview. Asked about putting PiL on ice to make a solo record Lydon comments: "Well, I need to get back to playing instruments again… We were becoming too cosy and comfortable and I fell into the role of lead singer in a rock n roll band, so I thought, Ouch! This has got to stop! Boredom was beginning to set in…"
JUNE
Rumours circulate that the Sex Pistols will play a one-off charity gig at The House of Blues in LA. There are also rumours they have been approached to play at the 25th Anniversary of Woodstock.
JULY 15
Jah Wobble's Invaders of the Heart play the Phoenix Festival, Stratford-on-Avon, UK
AUGUST 8
ITV, 'The Beat' - Jah Wobble and the Invaders of the Heart performing 'Becoming More Like God' & 'Visions of You' recorded live at the Phoenix Festival.
AUGUST 20
Jah Wobble and the Invaders of the Heart - WOMAD Festival at Tavastia Klubi, Helsinki, Finland. Also on the bill are Yat-Kha, featuring Lu Edmonds.
AUGUST 28
MTV UK, 'Festival Weekend' - Jah Wobble interview and live footage from Glastonbury.
OCTOBER 3
Jah Wobble and the Invaders of the Heart release the single 'Amor' (see Wobble discography for full info). The track features Chaka Demus & Pliers.
OCTOBER 21 - 31
Jah Wobble and the Invaders of the Heart play 11 dates in Germany (see Wobble Gig List for Full Info).
OCTOBER 30
ITV, 'The Beat'- Jah Wobble and the Invaders of the Heart performing 'Saeta' recorded live at the Phoenix Festival.
OCTOBER 31
ITV, 'Cue the Music' - Jah Wobble and the Invaders of the Heart recorded live at London, Town & County Club September 6th 1992. The show is inter-cut with an interview with Wobble.
NOVEMBER 17
Martin Atkins' Pigface play Los Angeles, Glam Slam as part of their 'Notes From Thee Underground' tour.
Atkins claimed John Lydon had promised to join them on stage, and even mentioned him in the tour programme. However, John later denied agreeing to appear and was furious that Atkins had used his name in the programme.
UNKNOWN
John Lydon buys himself out of his contract with East West / Atlantic Records.
NOVEMBER
'Q' Magazine - John Lydon interview. Special 100th edition of the magazine. John reveals that he has now left East West / Atlantic Records and his solo album will most likely be coming out on Virgin records!
"I did have a contract recently with Atlantic but we seem to have parted ways. I'll tell you about it in greater detail another time. They're very inefficient… So that's the end of that. I gave them their money back so I'm quite happy. So my album will probably be coming out on Virgin. Funnily enough."
