Never one to stray away from controversy, Public Image Ltd front man John Lydon has even managed to alienate those who helped start his career – fans of his former band the Sex Pistols. This became more apparent with the lack of old school punks in the crowd, showing this was very much about the influential career of Public Image Ltd as a collective rather than John Lydon having once been part of the seventies most famous bands.
There’s many reasons why Lydon has offended his fans, some of which including the fact he sold his soul to the corporate world by starring in a certain butter advert… which in a way to redeem himself Lydon has since claimed this helped fund the new Public Image album “This is PiL” (although it could have been from numerous television appearances, various Sex Pistol re-formations or maybe his property investments), although regardless of whether or not Lydon is a sell out the fact is Public Image are back, and just like their latest release the gig was pretty damn good.
The four piece took to the stage with “Albatross” from the Metal Box album, with what was to be a subdued start to the gig – not that I’m complaining, the sparseness of the track helped set the scene for the first few numbers, showing the more experimental side of PiL with guitarist Lu Edmonds constantly using the instrument to provide a soundscape of minimal noise rather than straight forward guitar riffs.
It may have been twenty years since the last PiL studio album but “Deeper Water” and “Reggie Song” from the new album could easily have been recorded back when PiL first came about, both of which showing off Lydon’s trademark warbling voice – although unlike his Sex Pistols career it sounds as though some vocal coaching may have been introduced at some point, rather than being delivered through a youngsters angst with the world.
Perhaps one of the most experimental numbers this evening was the title track from “Flowers of Romance”, and with its hypnotic bass lines it’s a personal favourite of mine aside from the classic tunes that followed.
The first of the classics, was “This is not a Love Song”, the bands biggest hit and one of the more commercial sounding tunes perhaps gaining one of the biggest reactions of the night before being followed by the self-titled “Public Image”, with Lydon encouraging the sing along to the line “Anger is an Energy”.
There was of course to be the obligatory encore, before which Lydon excused himself in order to have a quick cigarette, the band then returning for another tune of the new album “Out of the Woods” with guitarist Edmunds providing the swooping guitar noises along with Scott Firth bass reminiscent of the bands early days with Jah Wobble.
Another old classic in “Rise” provided the last PiL track before ending the set on a fantastic rendition of “Open Up” by Leftield – a track which John Lydon had provided the vocals back when Leftield released it.
So from the experimental to a dance classic, this ladies and gentlemen is PiL – Public Image Ltd.
Cheers for listening
Keef
