Former Sex Pistols frontman could be heading to Liverpool to compete in Eurovision

Former Sex Pistols frontman John Lydon, aka Johnny Rotten, could be on his way to Liverpool in May to compete in Eurovision.

The punk legend, now 66 years old, has to be the most unlikely would-be contender in this year’s contest.

But he’s set his sights on representing Ireland with his current band Public Image Ltd.

It’s been confirmed that the post-punk band will enter a heart-felt song written by Lydon in a competition next month to see who will fly the flag for Ireland in the finals on May 13.

The ballad, Hawaii, is described as a message of love to his wife of more than 40 years, Nora, who is living with Alzheimer’s.

John says the song is, “dedicated to everyone going through tough times on the journey of life, with the person they care for the most. It’s also a message of hope that ultimately love conquers all.” 

It’s been described as “a pensive, personal yet universal love song that will resonate with many”.

Public Image Ltd will go up against five other bands and artists in the national selection The Late Late Eurosong 2023 Special which is due to be held on February 3.

It’s likely that the winning act will be chosen by a combination of studio juries and viewer phone voting like it was in 2022 when singer Brooke Scullion came out on top.

Although punk icon Lydon was born in north London, he’s proud of his Irish roots. Both his parents were from Ireland – from Cork and Galway – and he even titled his 1994 autobiography ‘Rotten: No Irish, No Blacks, No Dogs’ in a reference to the infamous signs which were put up in some shops in England in the 1960s and 1970s.

The Public Image Ltd song is currently third favourite to go through, but Irish fans will be hoping if their most famous contender makes it he’ll carry on a strong tradition in the contest.

Ireland holds the record for the most victories in the Eurovision Song Contest, winning seven times. Six of the victories were in the ’80s and ’90s including Dana in 1970, and two for Johnny Logan in 1980 and 1987. 

In fact, their winning streak was so notorious that it a prompted comedy spoof entry in 1996 with Father Ted’s My Lovely Horse. 

Most recently they’ve not been so successful, and since the introduction of semi-finals in 2004 they’ve only managed to qualify for the great final eight times.