Believe it or not we are 15 years late on this story. In 1997, Johnny Rotten was doing a club tour of the States, in a bus, with a pick up band, including a pain in the ass drummer. Who quit on Rotten mid-tour and then sued him for money.
Lydon refused to pony up and they all ended up in front of Judge Judy.
Lydon was a blabbermouth and the Jude was relatively forbearing until stopping Lydon with a sharp, "Did I disrespect you". "No", I chagrined Rotten replied, eyes cast down.
On another level entirely, it is fascinating to realize that at times the iconic Sex Pistol is touring in these sort of conditions, just another road band. It makes his stance against the Olympics this year and Wenner's Hall Of Fame a couple of the years all the more pricipaled. Really, how many performers of Lydon's stature would even be aware of the lawsuit? I was under the impression Lydon was very rich, if only because his wife Nora was very rich. So that may no longer be true. Even so royalties alone should keep him in the pretty polly.
Still a penny saved… so watch and see if Rotten wins his case: