‘I’ve always had a soft spot for Lady Gaga’: John Lydon’s honest playlist

The first song I fell in love with
I loved Gene Vincent as a kid. Then my mum and dad bought You Really Got Me by the Kinks. It shocked me that the guitar was so tough and brilliant. Ray Davies is one of Britain’s finest songwriters.

The first single I bought
Ruby, Don’t Take Your Love to Town by Kenny Rogers, from a little store in Finsbury Park, where I bought reggae and Jimi Hendrix from thereon in. It was run by a little old lady, who played the deepest of deep reggae. She had colossal, mad taste, this old lady.

The song I do at karaoke
I hate karaoke. It’s always embarrassing and awful because the expectations of your drunken comrades is overwhelmingly dull. I’d rather spend the time drinking than pretending I’m Roy Orbison.

The song I secretly like but tell everybody I hate
Die With a Smile by Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars may be written for mass consumption, and even though I’m not corporate-minded myself, that doesn’t mean that I dislike corporate philosophies. I’ve always had a soft spot for Lady Gaga. I really like her vocal deliveries. They’re really quite excellent.

The song I inexplicably know every lyric to
Both The Spy and Waiting for the Sun by the Doors rattle around my brain. They seem that perfect blend of different to the usual rock’n’roll and possibilities. A stunning band by all means.

The song I can no longer listen to
My Coo Ca Choo by Alvin Stardust.

The best song to play at a party
[Sings] “Show me the way to go Home / I’m tired and wanna go to bed / You’re only half a football team / Turn the boys in white and red.”

The song that changed my life
When I first heard Moonlight on Vermont by Captain Beefheart and his Magic Band, I thought it was incredibly absurd. But it hit me when the Captain starts singing: “Gimme dat ole time religion.” I got the humour, but I also got the cleverness: that music shouldn’t be viewed in such strict stanzas, verses and choruses. It’s a brilliant piece of deconstruction that altered my mind completely about music.

The song that makes me cry
Anything by Roy Orbison. Nora [Forster, Lydon’s wife, who died in 2023] loved Roy Orbison. So that hits home.
The song I’d like played at my funeral
Requiem by Mozart, because it’s so self-important.

Public Image Ltd: This Is Not the Last Tour tours are on tour from 22 May. See pilofficial.com