John Joseph Lydon (born 31 January 1956), also known by his former stage name
Johnny Rotten, is an English singer, songwriter, and musician. He is best known as the lead singer of the
punk rock band
Sex Pistols from 1975 until 1978, and again for various revivals during the 1990s and 2000s. He is the lead singer of the
post-punk band
Public Image Ltd (PiL), which he founded and fronted from 1978 until 1993, and again since 2009.