Punk legend and reality TV star John Lydon has revealed that his upcoming tour with reformed post-Sex Pistols band Public Image Limited (PiL) is being funded with the money he made by starring in TV adverts for Country Life butter.

Speaking to North London newspaper the Camden New Journal, Lydon said, "The money I got from that advert is the advance on the (PiL) tour. We live on a lucky end of a shoestring here until the first gig money comes in."

Lydon also hit back at those who criticised his appearance in the comical adverts, which saw him dressed up as a country gent. "Why are they questioning me?" he demanded. "What manual am I supposed to adopt? I'm promoting a British product which I'm very proud of. Anything I can do to help British industry is fine by me and in return you've got PiL."

He went on to speak of his passion for the band and also what fans can expect from the upcoming shows. "This is PiL -- my heart and soul," he said. "It's not like the Pistols where you learned the songs and they will be sort of what they should be. PiL's will be as it should be."

Lydon continued: "We'll be doing some newer bits and encompassing and focussing and entertaining and exciting. Expect extreme good taste, variety, voracity, honesty, excitability -- a full gauntlet of all the emotions a human being can possibly go through. Songs that experience the tragedy of death to the joy of life."

The singer finished off by reminding us all of his band's importance. He said: "There's a full-on industry of musical escapades that PiL is responsible for, often copied, never duplicated and never surpassed."

The tour starts in Birmingham on Dec. 15 before winding up in London with two nights at Camden's Electric Ballroom on Dec. 22 and 23.