John Lydon Set to Take Public Image Ltd to Israel

Never one to shirk from controversy, former Sex Pistols frontman John Lydon is set court an outcry as he prepares to take the reformed Public Image Ltd. for a gig in Tel Aviv in Israel. As previously reported in Spinner, artists including Elvis Costello, Pixies and Gil Scott-Heron have boycotted Israel in protest over the country's policy towards Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, but Lydon feels that he can do more by way of protest by actually being in Israel.

Speaking with BBC 6 Music, Lydon said, "Of course, there are all sorts of terrible politics going on down there but there is just about all over the world. You cannot separate yourself from your audience because of the political powers-that-be.

"I mean, I'm anti-government -- I have been all my life no matter where I go -- and I shall be making that loud and clearly proud once I'm in Israel."

His tactics haven't gone done too well with some sections of his fan base, who have felt compelled to make their feelings known.

"We've received a lot of hate mail, as it happens. [That] going to Israel is some kind of political faux pas. I say, 'Don't be so ignorant -- it's John speaking here and I'm going there to cause trouble and I will do it musically.'"