As much as we like to deliver digs at John Lydon around here for exploits like his bit as a promoter of dairy products, I have to give him mad respect. I saw Public Image Limited last night, and the show was amazing.
Lydon, with a band that includes two PiL veterans (none original) and a new face with connections to the Spice Girls, held the entire club in sway for two hours, regaling us with PiL classics and displays of his Rottenness.
He took the stage with little fanfare, issued two rules for the evening - one being that the stage was his space, and the floor was ours and the other directed at the security "treat these people with respect, and they'll treat you with respect" - and tore into "This is Not a Love Song."
As a prelude to "Warrior," he even dropped another bombshell - that he's about to become a US citizen. Apparently the man has made enough anarchy for the UK, and is ready to bring his nationality to this side of the pond. After this performance, I'd be proud to call him a countrymen.
His presence won't likely be that anarchic, though; although he repeatedly referred to himself as "Mr. Rotten," he's clearly a kinder, gentler Johnny. Although that's not to say that he was entirely kind or gentle - he yelled at people yelling from the balcony, booted a fan off the stage, and even soundly admonished a security guard sitting on the stage in no uncertain terms, which lead to an exchange and his request that the venue come "sort him out" - unless they were also bullied by their security.
Truly, I think that some were there for nostalgia's sake, and some were there out of curiosity, but neither attitudes were apropos for the evening. Instead we found a singer and a band that's still vibrant and still relevant. This is no swindle; PiL is a full-blown spectacle worth witnessing.
Detroit City TV has posted a recording of PiL's rendition of "Rise" during the encore, and you can watch it here, and it includes the exchange he had with the security guard. It's really just an inkling of how great this band still is, and how rumors that this lineup may continue recording should really come to fruition.
The remaining tour dates are listed here.
Comments
Lydon’s lived in LA for years.
Sure, but never as a citizen. At the show he announced that he’s about to officially become a U.S. citizen.
Your reference to “his presence” made it sound like he’s just now moving here.
It’s “a countryman” by the way.
Fair enough. There was no intent to mislead.
Wankers.
i saw pil at coachella and is one of the best things ive ever seen
long live lydon, that even if this a nostalgia act (no new songs yet) this is as relevant or even more relevant than on their top days. I still wouldve liked to see levene and wooble but lu edmonds is just as amazing performing the songs, and that damn bass is amazing
Agreed. That bass was pretty high on the awesome scale.