Punk originated with bands like the Ramones, Television, and Patti Smith in the New York underground in the early to mid-1970s. However, it wasn’t until it moved to England that the genre really took off and developed into a full-fledged subculture. With their outrageous shows and unique aesthetic, the Sex Pistols brought the movement to the attention of young people. They caught the attention with their rebellious and unconventional performances. They brought the movement to prominence in Britain.
Under the management of Malcolm McLaren, who co-owned the BDSM-inspired clothing store Sex with Vivienne Westwood, the band gained notoriety. Their grubby, anti-establishment outfits took aim at the mainstream. The Sex Pistols were infamously led by Johnny Rotten, aka John Lydon.
After Lydon’s vivid green hair was noticed around Sex, he was hired. The group accepted him, and he quickly started penning lyrics, making him a perfect fit for their controversial punk style.
The band gained enormous influence, and bands like The Fall, The Smiths, Buzzcocks, and Joy Division were formed as a result of their live performances. Amazingly, there were people at one pivotal Pistols gig in Manchester. Even though the crowd numbered no more than forty, individuals from all these bands were present.
Naturally, the Sex Pistols’ existence was brief. The band disintegrated due to a number of problems, including Sid Vicious’ growing drug issues. In 1978, they split up, and Lydon went on to found Public Image Ltd. The group defied expectations by incorporating sounds from disco and dub into their punk music.
John Lydon has many unexpected influences and favorite musicians. The musician has previously expressed a fondness for Kate Bush, Sinéad O’Connor, and Kraftwerk, among others.
The most shocking thing, though, might be Lydon’s affection for Dolly Parton. It’s not exactly the kind of music you would expect Lydon, a prominent figure in punk, to listen to. However, the American country music star is among the most successful musicians of all time. He has sold over 100 million records.
Lydon was very open about his feelings for Parton. He expressed them in an interview with Pitchfork, where he discussed her breakthrough in 1967 with her debut album, Hello, It’s Dolly. Parton, who is well-known for hits like “9 to 5” and “Jolene,” is regarded as a national treasure.
“I’m a Dolly man—you can all knock ‘9 to 5,’ but I love it,” the singer of The Pistols proclaimed. Because of her immense success, Parton even owns Dollywood, a theme park located in Tennessee. In the vicinity, visitors can also take advantage of Dollywood’s Splash Country waterpark and watch Parton perform at concerts.
Lydon’s lifelong dream is to work in Dollywood. “One of the biggest tragedies of my life to date is that I’ve never been able to get into Dollywood,” he disclosed. I believe I would be ecstatic.
