2000

JANUARY

JANUARY 5

VH1 confirm that the first of 7 episodes of 'Rotten TV' will premier on January 23rd.

The accompanying VH1 press blurb states:
"When asked off the top of John's head what the show wa s..... here's what fell out of his bottom: Hep! Tateuch (the first 7 books of the old testament).
Rotten Television is: an executionary cherry; a youthful mixture of both science & health; and erudite promissory note; the last words in folk art..... as opposed to popular delusion; a useful manual on how to control household pests; a program that will leave only the corrupt confused and your air conditioner still broken; a journey through John's shoes focusing on the fine detail work in the stitching of the heels."

"Rotten TV is never the same two times in a row. That's not inconsistency......that's growth! A weekly series would be a weak series. Episodes are delivered on a done-by-basis. Strictly C.O.D. We call these episodic events "the 7 deadly sins" because that's the contract my lawyer negotiated. We don't know what the 7 deadly sins are, but we do know we've got 7 of them…"

JANUARY 8

‘Rotten Radio’ continues on eYada.com. The show will run every Saturday 4-8pm until August; culminating with John broadcasting live from the Democratic Party Convention in Los Angeles.

JANUARY 15

JANUARY 22

JANUARY 23

Episode 1 of ‘Rotten Television’ is finally broadcast on VH1, USA.

"What time does the war start?" John gets thrown off Roseanne Barr's talk show; destroys Sex Pistols memorabilia with a tank; interviews a Hollywood Madame-cum-entertainer (no pun!); gets stood up by 'rock stars'; and interview's wannabe MTV VJ's (yes Simon, we saw it too). Read F&F review here.

JANUARY 23

RottenTV.Com website is launched by VH1 to promote the show. The site features information and screening times, along with video clips and pictures from the first episode, plus a message board to leave feedback.

During the first episode comments of the website: "If you disagree with anything I'm saying here, there is a web site for you to interfere with. And put your own personal point of view across to. And I will respond. And I want that. Because that's the whole point: If we're gonna ever clear up what is wrong with this industry, that's where we begin: You the Public.....and me.....as a member of the public.....image ltd."

It turns out that John is not given free control over the site and after a few months it disappears. The first sign of trouble between John and VH1…

JANUARY 25

The premiere of the Sex Pistols 'The Filth and The Fury' film at The Sundance Film Festival. John Lydon, Steve Jones & Julien Temple are all in attendance. The film is introduced by Danny De Vito whose company Jersey Films is also involved with the film.

John brings the 'Rotten TV' crew and films footage for use in episode 2 of the show; including a hilarious interview with De Vito.

JANUARY 29

JANUARY

FEBRUARY

FEBRUARY 5

FEBRUARY 10

It is announced the Martin Atkins, Jah Wobble, Geordie Walker & Chris Connelly collaboration will be called "The Damage Manual". Their debut EP 'One' will be released by Atkins' Invisible Records on April 25th.

A full-length album and "world tour" is planned to follow later in the year.

FEBRUARY 12

FEBRUARY 19

FEBRUARY 26

FEBRUARY 28

FEBRUARY

MARCH 4

MARCH 11

MARCH 11

eYada.com - ‘Rotten Radio’. Guests include: Robert Sterling from konformist.com & Noble Obani-Nwibari discussing Shell Oil in Nigeria.

MC5 guitarist Wayne Kramer also calls John for a chat. After being asked by Kramer, John agrees to submit a previously unreleased track to a new compilation CD entitled 'Beyond Cyber Punk' which Kramer is involved with. Unfortunately with John being tied up with other projects his track isn't submitted and the CD is eventually released without it.

During their chat it is revealed that Kramer offered John his services while he was recording 'Psycho's Path', but John reluctantly declined because he didn't think it would fit in with the direction of the album.

MARCH 18

After many requests John plays one of his previously unreleased solo "ditties". A short untitled instrumental techno track; which he describes as "one of my completely unfinished odds and sods…" The track is either a 'Psycho's Path' outtake or could possibly date from the covert "techno singles" which John has referred to in interviews. In his introduction he laughingly calls the track a "grungy old thing I did about 8 years ago…"

MARCH 23

MARCH 25

eYada.com - ‘Rotten Radio’. Guests include: David McKie from Live365.com, Tim Cavanaugh, editor of Suck.com & Arianna Hoffington, overthrowgov.com.

John plays a live version of 'Rise', recorded at one of his 1997 'Psycho's Path' live shows. Note: The track is neither recorded from LA, August 13th or Club Citta, September 25th.

MARCH

MARCH 27

MARCH 28

MARCH 29

'The Filth and the Fury' film opens at the Film Forum in New York.

This is the film's commercial premiere. It will open in the rest of the USA throughout April; with a UK release in May. Fine Line Films who are distributing the film in the States launch the www.filthandfury.com website to promote the film (not to be confused with the F&F fanzine site).

MARCH

Martin Atkins finally finishes mixing The Damage Manual tapes. Some tracks were originally recorded up to a year ago at Berwick street studios in London.

MARCH

MARCH

APRIL 1

APRIL 2

Episode 2 of ‘Rotten Television’ is broadcast on VH1, USA.

Life in front of – and behind – the media circus. John goes to the Sundance Film Festival; gets interviewed, and does some of his own brand of 'Attack hampster' interviewing. Read the F&F review here.

APRIL 4

APRIL 8

eYada.com - ‘Rotten Radio’. Guests include: Greil Marcus author of 'Lipstick Traces', Danny Kennedy from 'Project Underground' and moles.org, Sean Gifford from P.E.T.A. & Emmett Plant writer for Slashdot.org.

John also plays a pre-1997 unreleased "Rough Mix" of 'Another Way' from 'Psycho's Path'.

APRIL 10

ABC, ‘Politically Incorrect’, USA - John's second appearance on the show this year. Other guests include James Coburn, Michael Graham & Julia Butterfly Hill.

APRIL 10

APRIL 15

APRIL 22

APRIL 25

The Damage Manual release their debut EP ‘One'. The enhanced CD-ROM includes 5 studio tracks, plus 2 bonus remixes, behind-the-scenes video footage, photos & lyrics (see Damage Manual discography for full info). Read F&F review here.

APRIL 29

APRIL

MAY 6

MAY 8

The return of Keith Levene to the public eye after being MIA for several years!

Keith is a guest speaker at 'Rock Goes To College', the "Music Industry Day" at South East Essex College in Southend. Faithless guitarist Dave Randall is also a guest speaker at the event. With the help of multimedia lecturer Mike Sheehan Keith begins work on his own website later in the year…

MAY 10

MAY 10

MAY 12

MAY 13

MAY 18

MAY 20

MAY 22

MAY 26

MAY 27

MAY 28

MAY

MAY / JUNE

JUNE 1

'Free Williamsburg' website - Jah Wobble interview. He states that the Damage Manual album will be mixed by Bill Laswell instead of Martin Atkins.

Disputes over Atkins mixing of the album lead to Wobble's eventual departure from the project…

JUNE 3

JUNE 5 - 11

JUNE 10

JUNE 15

A press release from Invisible Records states that The Damage Manual US tour has been completely cancelled due to visa problems. The band were supposed to play 18 dates between June 13th & July 3rd (see Damage Manual Gig List for full info).

The working title for the band's album is 'Music To Be Murdered By' and will be released in September.

JUNE

JUNE 16

JUNE 17

JUNE 23

JUNE 24

JUNE 27

JULY

JULY 1

JULY 1

JULY 5

JULY

JULY

Speaking in F&F 13, via 'Rotten Radio', John Lydon reveals he has been in "heavy discussion" with VH1 to ensure 'Rotten TV' continues. He makes a point of stating that if it folds it's through no fault of his own; he definitely wants it to continue. He also voices his frustration that there are still no plans to broadcast the show on VH1 Europe. The show's website is also presently offline, but John hopes to take over the running of the site himself: "If you want a job done right..."

JULY 8

JULY

JULY 15

JULY 20

JULY 22

JULY 24

JULY 28

it is announced that John Lydon will be attending the Democratic National Convention in Los Angeles in August. John will be covering the proceedings for eYada.com & 'Rotten TV'. "I'll be on the offense and the defence, but I will never sit on the fence."

JULY 29

JULY 31

JULY 31

AUGUST 5

AUGUST 10

AUGUST 12

AUGUST 15

This is the last 'new' edition of 'Rotten Radio' transmitted. After the successful 'Rotten Politics' feature's John wanted to move the show up a gear but due to budget restrictions eYada were unable fund it. Money and promotion problems plagued the station's short life and eventually led to its demise in July 2001.

eYada continue to rerun archive 'Rotten Radio' shows until mid September.

AUGUST 16

AUGUST

AUGUST / SEPTEMBER

Jah Wobble severs ties with The Damage Manual. Martin Atkins mixing of the forthcoming album is the catalyst for his departure. However, personal and musical disputes between the two have been simmering for sometime. Wobble decides he just doesn't need the hassle.

Before leaving Wobble had insisted Bill Laswell was brought into mix several of the tracks. Laswell reportedly stated that Atkins original mixes were in the worst state he has ever had to work with!

Speaking about the disputes over mixing Martin Atkins later commented: "Wobble and Geordie were going to kill me… There’s a mix of ‘Stateless’ on the album called ‘Delusional Mix’ because Geordie came to my house and called me delusional because of my choice of tracks and mixes for the EP. I went down to my studio and mixed ‘Stateless’ and called it ‘Delusional Mix’…"

SEPTEMBER 1

SEPTEMBER 5

‘The Damage Manual’ album is released on Invisible Records (see Damage Manual discography for full info). Several remixes are added, including the disputed Bill Laswell mixes. The album is not as warmly received as the EP.

Martin Atkins: "The problem with the album is that Wobble and Geordie insisted that Bill Laswell mix the tracks. Then insisted the mixes went on the album even though I thought they were crap and long winded. They wouldn’t tour unless those tracks went on. So I put them on, and that was the end for me, I just thought the record was too long…"

SEPTEMBER 25

SEPTEMBER 28

SEPTEMBER

OCTOBER 12

ABC, ‘Politically Incorrect’, USA - John's third appearance on the show this year. Other guests include Bill Engvall, Melissa Moskal & Bruce Davison.

OCTOBER 14

A no-nonsense press release from 30 Hertz Records states that Jah Wobble left The Damage Manual several weeks ago and will have no part in their forthcoming US Tour.

30 Hertz: "We are informed that Jah Wobble features on posters and publicity for the forthcoming Damage Manual shows. This concerns us as, several weeks ago, Jah Wobble specifically stated to Martin Atkins at Invisible Records that he would under no circumstances be touring with Damage Manual at any time. He also told Martin that his name ( Jah Wobble ) was not to be used in publicity for any forthcoming shows. This was fully understood and acknowledged by Invisible Records. We hope that this mistake will be rectified. "

OCTOBER 16

OCTOBER 19 - 26

OCTOBER 21

OCTOBER 26

OCTOBER 27

The third episode of ‘Rotten Television’ is broadcast on VH1 USA.

Election Special. Mr Rotten visits the Republican and Democrat Party conventions! A behind-the-scenes look at the hypocrisy and fake showbiz glam of American politics, but with an important message: Make your voice heard!

NOVEMBER 8

John Lydon attends the French premiere of 'The Filth and the Fury' at Paris, Max Linder Panorama. Julien Temple is also in attendance.

NOVEMBER

NOVEMBER

NOVEMBER 13

NOVEMBER 25

DECEMBER 9 - 16

DECEMBER

Rumours continue to circulate that the Sex Pistols are to play at 'Revolution' – a special event also featuring Primal Scream & The Chemical Brothers – on New Year's Eve at Alexandra Palace in London. John Lydon has already shot down rumours that the band will be appearing; at least with him…