Rise - PIL

'Rise' was written by John Lydon (a.k.a. Johnny Rotten) and Bill Laswell about apartheid in South Africa, specifically about Nelson Mandela as Lydon stated in a 2013 Glastonbury interview. Lydon also referred to alleged Royal Ulster Constabulary interrogation techniques, such as electric torture, in an MTV interview in 1987. The song contains the phrase 'may the road rise with you', which is a direct translation of the old Irish blessing "go n-éirí an bóthar leat" (usually translated as "may the road rise up to meet you"). The phrase "anger is an energy" became the title of Lydon's 2014 autobiography. 

It was one of the group's biggest commercial hits, peaking at number 11 on the UK Singles Chart. I remember being impressed with the song when it came out, but somehow I never bought the single. So finally, here it is, almost four decades later.

My collection: 7" single no. 7810
Found: Lenny's Music Store, Vienna, 17 October 2025
Tracks: 'Rise' / 'Rise (instrumental)' 

Hawaii - PiL

The annual disappointment of an undeserving winner - in my opinion and most of the televoters I could say this year - has happened last night and the Eurovision Song Contest 2023 is history. But the whole thing actually already started with a disappointment!

It was announced, some months ago, that Public Image Limited, the band of ex-Sex Pistol John Lydon, would participate in the Irish national final. 'Hawaii' was a song dedicated to Lydon's wife who was suffering from Alzheimer's. It would have been quite fabulous to see PiL representing Ireland this year, but somehow the Irish chose for a middle of the road, 'once heard quickly forgotten' song by a young band. Well, at least there's this 7" single which presents the song in two versions. I didn't know Lydon was also a visual artist, but it was he who created the artwork. 

My collection: 7" single no. 6988
Found: Amazon, received 11 May 2023
Tracks: 'Hawaii' / 'Hawaii (edit)'

This is not a love song - PIL

Ex-Sex Pistols frontman Johnny Rotten presented his new song 'This is not a love song' in the Netherlands' best music TV show Countdown in 1983. After the performance, the presented walked up to him and tried to start an interview with the remark: 'That's a nice lovesong'. Johnny simply replied with: 'Yeah', and walked away.

The single peaked at number 17 in the Netherlands and number 5 in the UK. I bought a three inch cd-single of the track at the end of the Eighties, but only now I have the 7" vinyl equivalent.

My collection: 7" single no. 3624

Found: Record fair, Utrecht, April 18, 2009

Cost: 1 euro

Tracks: 'This is not a love song' / 'Public Image'