John Lydon hoping to represent Ireland at Eurovision 2023

Public Image Ltd are among six acts vying for the spot

Sam Moore
Updated ·2 min read
LONDON, ENGLAND - JUNE 16: (EDITORIAL USE ONLY) John Lydon of Public Image Limited performs on stage at O2 Forum Kentish Town on June 16, 2022 in London, England. (Photo by Gus Stewart/Redferns)
  • Oops!
    Something went wrong.
    Please try again later.

John Lydon, with his band Public Image Ltd (PiL), is attempting to represent Ireland at the Eurovision Song Contest.

The post-punk group have released a new single called Hawaii for the contest which is about Lydon's wife's battle with Alzheimer's.

Six different acts will compete for Ireland's spot at Eurovision during a broadcast on Irish channel RTE next month.

Read more: John Lydon backs Jacob Rees-Mogg to be next prime minister

The winner will then represent Ireland during the contest in Liverpool in May.

LONDON, ENGLAND - JUNE 16: (EDITORIAL USE ONLY) John Lydon of Public Image Ltd performs on stage at O2 Forum Kentish Town on June 16, 2022 in London, England. (Photo by Jim Dyson/Getty Images)
John Lydon performing with Public Image Ltd. (Getty Images)

The other acts Public Image Ltd will compete against are Wild Youth, Adgy, Connolly, Leila Jane and K Muni & ND.

The former Sex Pistol said of the song: “It 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.”

ATLANTA - APRIL 24: (L-R) Bassist John Wordle (AKA Jah Wobble), vocalist John Lydon (formerly Johnny Rotten) and guitarist Keith Levene of Public Image Limited (PiL) perform at the Agora Ballroom on April 24, 1980 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Tom Hill/WireImage)
John Wordle (AKA Jah Wobble), John Lydon (formerly Johnny Rotten) and Keith Levene of Public Image Limited (PiL) performing in 1980. (Photo by Tom Hill/WireImage)

Ireland has previously won Eurovision seven times but has not qualified for the grand final since 2018.

Ireland's Johnny Logan is the only artist to have won Eurovision twice, placing first in both 1980 and 1987 while also composing the winning song in 1992.

Other notable representatives for Ireland include Westlife's Nicky Byrne, former X Factor contestants Jedward and 1993 winner Niamh Kavanagh.

Sex Pistols frontman John Lydon, also known as Johnny Rotten arrives at the Rolls building in central London on July 22, 2021. - Lydon is in court to fight two former Sex Pistols band members over the use of their songs in an upcoming television series. (Photo by JUSTIN TALLIS / AFP) (Photo by JUSTIN TALLIS/AFP via Getty Images)
Public Image Ltd will compete next month to represent Ireland at Eurovision. (AFP via Getty Images)

Thirty-seven different countries will take part in this year's Eurovision and have until the end of March to confirm their artists and songs for the competition.

The contest was originally set to take place in Ukraine but that is no longer possible following Russia's invasion.

Instead the night will be hosted by the UK with Liverpool winning a bidding contest that also included other cities such as Birmingham, Edinburgh and Manchester.

The Eurovision grand final will take place on 13 May at the M&S Bank Arena in Liverpool.

Watch below: John Lydon blasts Danny Boyle over Sex Pistols series