Anger is an Energy: My Life Uncensored

John Lydon

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1471137198 ISBN 13: 9781471137198

Publisher: Simon & Schuster UK, 2014

John Lydon has secured prime position as one of the most recognizable icons in the annals of music history. As Johnny Rotten, he was the lead singer of the Sex Pistols - the world's most notorious band, who shot to fame in the mid-1970s with singles such as 'Anarchy in the UK' and 'God Save the Queen'. So revolutionary was his influence, he was even discussed in the Houses of Parliament, under the Traitors and Treasons Act, which still carries the death penalty. Via his music and invective he spearheaded a generation of young people across the world who were clamouring for change - and found it in the style and attitude of this most unlikely figurehead.

With his next band, Public Image Ltd (PiL) Lydon expressed an equally urgent impulse in his make-up - the constant need to reinvent himself, to keep moving. From their beginnings in 1978 he set the groundbreaking template for a band that continues to challenge and thrive in the 2010s. He also found time for making innovative new dance records with the likes of Afrika Baambaata and Leftfield.

Following the release of a solo record in 1997, John took a sabbatical from his music career into other media, most memorably his own Rotten TV show for VH1 and as the most outrageous contestant ever on I'm a Celebrity ... Get Me Out of Here!He then fronted the Megabugsseries and one-off nature documentaries and even turned his hand to a series of much loved TV advertisements for Country Life butter.

Lydon has remained a compelling and dynamic figure - both as a musician, and, thanks to his outspoken, controversial, yet always heartfelt and honest statements, as a cultural commentator.The book is a fresh and mature look back on a life full of incident from his beginnings as a sickly child of immigrant Irish parents who grew up in post-war London, to his present status as a vibrant, alternative national hero.

Review:

'Ridiculously entertaining' The Telegraph

'Coarse, plain-speaking and mischievous' Financial Times

'Anger is an Energy is a great autobiography, if you enjoyed Rotten, then you ll enjoy this too... Lydon is always engaging, challenging and entertaining'

'His book is an accurate reflection of the man it seeks to portray: unique, uncompromising, and sporadically fascinating'

'For John Lydon, the jury's out on whether Russell Brand is in fact 'a bumhole.' But when it comes to the perfect way to cook Brussels sprouts, the former Sex Pistol isn't messing around'

'Just read John Lydon's...new book 'Anger Is an Energy' - a brilliant read. Never mind The Rolling Stones, the Beatles or anyone else; The Sex Pistols are the most important band ever. God Bless Johnny Rotten and thanks for 1977. I'm still pogo-ing' -- Metro

From the Back Cover:

From the legendary front man of the Sex Pistols and Public Image Ltd comes the complete, unvarnished story of his life in his own words

"Vintage Johnny Rotten."--Daily News (New York)

"Packed with . . . vivid storytelling."--San Francisco Gate

"A dishy chronicle."--Details

"Ridiculously entertaining."--The Telegraph (UK; four stars)

"A ripe, breathless romp through an extraordinary life."--The Observer (UK)

"A companion to Lydon's 1994 memoir, Rotten. His life is rich enough to warrant another . . . and he's a gifted enough writer to make it a fun read."--Billboard

"Establishes that there's much more to the person than the public persona."--Paste

"Lydon is at his best when writing about his family . . . and . . . [is] quite moving

in his account of Vicious."--Los Angeles Times

"His passion and his intellect remain an inspiration."--NME

"Unique, uncompromising, and . . . fascinating."--Mail on Sunday (UK)

"A lucid, literate pleasure."--Kirkus Reviews (starred review)