The early years 1979 - 1983

4" Be 2"

4" Be 2" were formed by John's brother Jimmy Lydon along with Jock McDonald (real name O'Donnell), together with a whole host of Lydon family & friends. The band's name was taken from an old Irish joke about a plank of wood, and not rhyming slang! The 4" Be 2" claimed John Lydon produced most of their stuff. As far as we know John Lydon's only involvement with them, apart from socialising, was to possibly produce their first two singles. Though he later denied working with them at all, claiming it was all a McDonald cash in... Probably the most famous John Lydon / 4"Be 2" "collaboration" is the infamous trip to Dublin in 1980, where he ended up in Mountjoy Prison after being beaten up by a barman. By Autumn 1981 the 4"Be 2" broke up and Jimmy retired into marriage, the rest of the band with McDonald on vocals had already released two 12"singles in 1980 and 1981 under the name The Bollock Brothers. Many of the Bollock Brothers (and related) releases had a habit of stating that "J. Lydon", appeared on, or produced them. However, this easily could have been Jimmy and not John Lydon. Incidentally John's other brother Martin also appeared with the band, along with a certain Mr John Rambo...

Members: Jimmy Lydon, Jock McDonald

Genre: Electronic Rock

Releases:

1979 One Of The Lads - Island Records
1979 One Of The Lads (7") - Island Records
1979 One Of The Lads (12") - Island Records
1980 Frustration (7", Single) - WEA International Inc.
1981 All Of The Lads (12") - McDonald And Lydon Records

Red Lipstique

Genre: Electronic Rock

Releases:

1982 Drac's Back (12") - Charly Records Ltd.
1982 Drac's Back (12") - Magnet (2)
1982 Drac's Back (7") - Magnet (2)
1983 Drac's Back (12") - Charly Records Ltd.
1983 Oscar Wilde (12") - Charly Records Ltd.
1983 Shame,Shame,Shame (12") - Charly Records Ltd.
1983 Shame,Shame,Shame (7") - Charly Records Ltd.