1996 Chronology
Research by Karsten Roekens and Scott M, plus contributors…
JANUARY- DECEMBER
John Lydon's 'Rotten Day' radio segment continues to run weekdays on various stations throughout the USA (see Chronology September 18th 1995 for more info).
JANUARY
John Lydon is hired by 'Mountain Dew' (soft drink) to record a vocal for a short version of 'Route 66' to be used in a US TV commercial. Lydon records the vocal at his own Rotten Studio; in his LA home. He had no qualms in admitting he did it for the money, and stated that the cash went towards equipment for Rotten Studios. He also stated it was a good way of testing the studio out.
The track was originally recorded by session men with a different vocal, however, the producers were not happy with the vocal and Lydon was asked to re-record it (not the backing track).
JANUARY
The release of the album 'Einstein Was A Bullfighter' by Doc Tahri. The band fronted by former PiL bassist Bret Helm.
Rumour had it that John Lydon made a guest appearance on the album. However, this is NOT the case. The track 'Arrest This' featured backing vocals credited to "Logan", which had been rumoured was a pseudonym of Lydon. However, John later completely denied this; and it turns out Logan was in fact the singer from the band Thumpasauras (which were signed to the same label). Rumours began when it was said an early press release for the album stated John Lydon would be involved.
JANUARY
Rumours of a possible Sex Pistols tour continue to circulate. Press reports claim the band will decide after John Lydon completes his solo album; and that he will be spending at least 12 hours a day in the studio until February 18th.
MARCH
John Lydon's 'Route 66' Mountain Dew commercial airs on US TV (see Lydon discography for full info). Lydon does not appear in the ad, and the track has never received a commercial release.
MARCH 16
The rumours are true…
The Sex Pistols hold a press conference at the London, 100 Club to announce their forthcoming 'Filthy Lucre Tour'. During the Q&A John mentions PiL are still “going on". It is also reported that his solo album is finished, but the release will be postponed because of his Sex Pistols commitments.
MARCH
Sex Pistols fanzine 'Never Trust a Hippie' (issue 12) print exclusive interviews with all four Sex Pistols. When asked about the direction of his solo album John Lydon states: "Well, it ain't no disco (laughs). And it ain't no Pistols-type stuff. It's unusual. Rock. Rocky, but not in anyway I've ever done before."
JUNE
Hearing of the (soon-to-be) demise of Sex Pistols fanzine 'Never Trust a Hippie' your humble narrator begins initial plans for a new Pistols & PiL fanzine. However, it will actually be January 1997 before the first issue of 'The Filth and The Fury!' is finished and distributed. Things would never be the same again… !
JUNE 21 - DECEMBER 7
Sex Pistols WILL PLAY! Sex Pistols 'Filthy Lucre Tour', seventy-two dates in Europe, North America, South America, Australia, New Zealand and Japan!
JUNE 23
Sex Pistols - London, Finsbury Park. John Lydon comes home for a 35,000 people "garden party!" in the park a stones throw from where he grew up.
The show is recorded for an official live album set to be released in July 'Filthy Lucre Live' and is also broadcast live on BBC Radio 1. Video footage of the gig is only shot for the promo video of 'Pretty Vacant' which will precede the release of the live album.
AUGUST 3
BBC, Dancing in the Streets - John Lydon interview.
AUGUST 8
On his 37th birthday Martin Atkins meets famous groupie Cynthia Plaster Caster, who makes a copy of Martin's dick for her collection!
AUGUST 17
Sex Pistols
play Aragon Ballroom in Chicago.
The show is attended by Martin Atkins, who meets up with John Lydon after
the show. In a 1998 interview Atkins biliously remembered: "I talked
to John after a recent Sex Pistols show. He was very smug about the amount
of money he'd made. He sat at a bar and drank 13 pints of Guinness, and
I sat at the bar with him and watched him drink 13 pints of Guinness I
think John has lost something over the last two years that he can never
buy back. He's lost his integrity. I know people who were at the early
Sex Pistols shows, the real Sex Pistols shows, and it was something really
special to them to be able to say they were there. But apart from looking
like a fat idiot and sounding crap, he changed forever the meaning of
the Sex Pistols for the people it had a huge amount of meaning for. It's
bullshit. You're rewriting history. You're changing the meaning. It's
lame to do that just for the money."
AUGUST 17
MTV USA, '120 Minutes'- Sex Pistols perform 'Pretty Vacant' & 'Problems' in the studio. John sports a blue & gold (Seattle) PiL logo t-shirt.
SEPTEMBER
The Sex Pistols have a tour window during September. Lydon states that he will be going back to his studio to put the finishing touches on his solo album.
SEPTEMBER
Jah Wobble releases 'The Inspiration of William Blake' (see wobble discography for full info). Having left Island Records by mutual consent the previous year the album is released on Brian Eno's All Saints Records.
Wobble is in the process of starting his own label; 30 Hertz Records.
SEPTEMBER 7
'The Guardian Weekend' - Jah Wobble interview.
NOVEMBER 2
'Rockpalast Classics', Germany. Re-broadcast of PiL's live appearance from Bochum, Zeche October 31st 1983. This version also includes an extra version of 'Public Image' not broadcast back in 1983.
