Text by Cath Holland
Pix by Tony Gaskin

It’s amazing how many people still think of PiL as just another punk off-shoot of the Pistols, when in fact they were one of the most diverse and influential bands to emerge from the filth and fury of the late ‘70s.

1978 saw the demise of The Sex Pistols and the chance for John Lydon to really show the world his creative genius and along with Keith Levene (who had played with The Clash) and Jah Wobble, a boyhood friend, he formed PiL.

As can be expected with anything Lydon is involved in, there were numerous problems mainly to do with tensions within the fledgling band, but an album appeared late in ’78.

“First Issue” was a rushed affair and only had eight tracks and was obviously greatly influenced by the reggae backgrounds of the band, but its sound would influence many of the emerging bands of the time (compare the drum and bass with Killing Joke, some of those guitar riffs with early U2 and The Pixies).

It was the following year in 1979 that saw the release of the subliminal “Metalbox” album, and it’s an obvious statement that Lyndon chose to re-form PiL to celebrate the 30th anniversary of this album, rather than celebrating “First Issue”.

So that brings us back to 2009 and we wait in the plush surroundings of the new Birmingham O2 Academy, and strangely enough Lydon has chose to open the show with a track from “First Issue”.

The angry post-punk anthem that launched PiL all those years ago has lost none of its power or appeal and Lydon wastes no time in getting the crowd on his side by kicking off with “Public Image”.

This is the first date of the tour and no one knows what to expect. What we get is two hours of some of the finest work Lydon produced, from the vitriolic early hangover days of post Pistols, with tracks like “Religion” and “Annalisa” to the funkier “Death Disco” and “Memories” off “Metalbox”.

Although the songs are tight and well rehearsed, Scott Firth on bass will never be able to capture that quintessential bass sound that we got from Jah Wobble, but is capable enough. Lu Edmonds (The Damned) on guitars and other various stringed instruments and Bruce Smith (The Slits) on drums do managed to capture that unique PiL sound though.

Lydon still likes to bait the crowd, but it’s all taken in good humour and is all part of the show.

As the long set enters its final stages, it’s obvious Lydon is struggling with his voice, but battles on with a combination of Courvoiser and throat spray!

After a brief break they are back on stage to finish with the anthemic “Rise” and “Open Up” and the crowd respond accordingly. All in all a great come back and we hope that new material will be forthcoming as Lydon will always have something to say and he has never said it better than when performing with PiL

“It might not sound good, but I fucking mean it!”.  Enough said!

Set List:
Public Image / Careering / This Not a Love Song / Poptones / Albatross / Tie Me To The Length of That / The Suit / Death Disco / 4 Enclosed Walls / Flowers Of Romance / Psychopath / Disappointed / Warrior / USLS1 / Banging the Door / Chant / Bags / Memories / Annalisa / Religion II / - SUN / Rise / Open Up