Public Image Ltd. perform for first time in 17 years

[Adenoid_Hynkel]

The sneering "'ello 'ello 'ello" that began the song "Public Image" and the band Public Image Ltd in 1978 reintroduced both last night, as John Lydon fronted the equally great band with which he followed the Sex Pistols for the first time in 26 years. Then his trousers nearly fell down. "Fucking hell," he moaned, not missing a beat, "all that butter, and I've still lost weight..."

The one-time Johnny Rotten advertising butter isn't incongruous, because he remains irreducibly honest, even as he contradicts or lets himself down. Few performers are so thin-skinned, both woundable and wounding. Even his last revival of the Pistols bent with his psychic weather, ripe English music hall at early shows becoming stormy provocations later. But he's acknowledged the Pistols are a musical dead end.

PiL was when he started digging at the scars celebrity and his deprived, diseased childhood inflicted. A jagged, supple musical language was built for the purpose from Jah Wobble's dub-funk bass and Keith Levene's needling guitar. Both were gone by 1983, and neither returned last night. With late-period members Lu Edmonds (guitar) and Bruce Smith (drums) and new bassist Scott Firth for less challenging company, this was Lydon's very personal show.

<...>

But maybe exhaustion is an energy, because he rallies for a raw, angry "Religion". He pretends delight at the Lockerbie bomb, too, as he and his wife had tickets, and "they missed me", while "The Warrior" sails close to the dodgy, LA exile's bulldog patriotism that stud all his recent gigs. He turns that theme on its head, though, with an angry denunciation of Blair and the Iraq war, and declaration of multi-cultural pride. Public Image Ltd gave Lydon his freedom to be frighteningly honest 31 years ago. It did the same in last night's best moments.

http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/reviews/first-night-public-image-ltd-o2-academy-birmingham-1842068.html

[Capn Sunshine]

1. 31 years ago?

Fuck.

[JCMach1]

2. Gulp... am now officially OLDER THAN DIRT

:(

[old mark]

3. Just wait....the feeling gets worse.

I remember hearing a new guy's music on the radio.....Chuck Berry.

mark

[JCMach1]

4. Something often heard at my house: 'Dad that song is sooooo ancient!'

Two budding goth/emo girls age 11 and 14... What can you say?

[old mark]

7. Geezer rockers. Probably from the 20th century, before music got good.

My brother's twin girls were horrors from around 13 through about 17. Never said a word to any adults, just sat around looking put upon and text messaging each other between two rooms.

They did grow up somewhat and actually are going to college now, where they have suddenly learned everything about life after a few months.
Amazing - they are just like we were, but we didn't have the technology.

mark

[Robb]

6. +1. Damn. nt

[Symarip]

5. Get off your ass, John, and tour the states

I know Virgin/Warner never gave them the support they needed when they were in their hey-day. The Sex Pistols reunion was a good cash cow, but let's get busy reviving the best music of your career.