Has Lydon justified himself?

[The Curmudgeon]

Let's face it - 99% of celebrities endorse products for extra cash. From the biggest moviestars hawking cars and clothes to z-list fame hungry idiots like these two British "celebs" who agreed to pose for THIS not-at-all tacky photo on their fucking WEDDING day.



I remember Oasis frontman Noel Gallagher talking about sad it was to see Jack White writing jingles for Coca Cola. "That's it as far as I'm concerned, he's out of the club. And he looks like Zorro on doughnuts."



Dude's got a point.

But there are SOME people out there that you think should just be above all that. You're not going to blink if you see Britney holding a can of Pepsi, or Brad Pitt wearing designer sunglasses in a magazine spread. But the likes of Iggy Pop advertising car insurance? Dunno if they're in the US but you can't escape them here. And then there was THIS, from anti-authority icon John Lydon..

www.youtube.com/watch?v=7mSE-Iy_tFY&feature=related

Fans were up in arms. The media called him a hypocrite and a sell-out. But now, it appears, the only reason he DID the ads in the first place was to finance a PiL reunion and new album (something they had to split up for in the past, as the record label refused to pay them anymore).

Hmmmm. So here's the question - is "selling out" by appearing in adverts for butter acceptable if it funds new musical ventures?

Discuss.

[Benjamin Haines]

The way I see it, we're all selling out just by working our jobs. Lord knows I've never rung up groceries or flipped burgers because I had a passion for the craft. I did it for the money, plain and simple. I don't think lending one's likeness or star power to advertising is any different. Props to Lydon for doing what he had to do to get by and fund his art.

I think it's only crossing the line when you allow your act of selling out to compromise your creative integrity, like rappers calling out product placement in their songs. I think Jack White's case qualifies as this. The guy is known for being a songwriter and The White Stripes music is really fucking good. If he was just smiling on a billboard holding a can Coke, that's one thing, but a musician who's known for creating dynamic, outside-the-box music opting to write jingles for Coca-Cola is quite another.

[trashcanman]

Those critical "fans" know nothing about Johnny Rotten. He's allowed to do whatever the fuck he wants because he has made it perfectly clear for over three decades that he's all about the money and he does not give a flying fuck what anybody thinks of his integrity. The Pistols were ALWAYS a business venture. It just so happened they were insane and made awesome music.



"People said we couldn't play
The called us foul-mouthed yobs
But the only notes that really count
Are the ones that come in wads

They all drowned when the air turned blue
'Cos we didn't give a toss
Filthy lucre, ain't nothing new
But we all get cash from the chaos

The time is right to do it now
The greatest rock'n'roll swindle
The time is right to do it now

E.M.I. said you're out of hand
And they gave us the boot
But they couldn't sack us, just like that
Without giving us the loot

Thank you kindly A & M
They said we were out of bounds
But that ain't bad for two weeks work
And 75,000 pounds

The time is right to do it now
The greatest rock'n'roll swindle
The time is right to do it now

The time is right to do it now
The greatest rock'n'roll swindle
The time is right to do it now

I just wanna play with my band
Are you good enough for me
Hiya boys I'm the chosen one
Can't you fucking see

I'm a jealous god and I want everything
And I love you with a knife
I'll take you, if you're ready for me
And I'll give you my life

The time is right to do it now
The greatest rock'n'roll swindle
The time is right to do it now

The time is right for Nickey's Special
The greatest rock'n'roll star
The time is right for me, now!"


Sellouts? As advertised. May as well criticize the Village People for acting gay all of a sudden. The fact that Lydon even rebelled against his own supposed culture and blatantly flaunts his lack of "artistic integrity" only makes him that much more punk if you ask me. It's the groups that pretend to be so full of integrity and artistry that bug me. But as long as the music is good, I'm not holding it against them. Extracurricular activities I may or may not agree with or like have nothing to do with what the music sounds like.

[InvisibleWolfMan]

Best. Brad Pitt ad. EVER!

[The Curmudgeon]

Where the hell is that from???

[trashcanman]

Chester Nelly sounds like Aldo the Apache. Women already (maybe) crave my manly phallus, thank you. That ad was epic, man.