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Music > Live Reviews

Public Image Ltd

The Nick Rayns LCR, UEA

by Stuart

08/06/18

Public Image Ltd

 

There was a real sense of anticipation before this gig. PiL had played here in 2015 and everyone who was there already speaks about that night as being one of the most memorable gigs of recent years. Word of mouth clearly works wonders as there was a noticeable bigger crowd here this time. Disappointingly there was no support band, and although it was great to hear some reggae & dub selections, played straight off his 7s by the DJ, I can’t help but think there was a local artist who would have jumped at the chance to support such a well-known act.

Shortly after 9 the lights dimmed and Lu Edmonds, Scott Firth & Bruce Smith strolled onstage closely followed by Mr. Lydon. It’s not that often that I get to see someone who can rightly be viewed as a legend, and it always takes me slightly by surprise. Like – holy shit, there’s actual John Lydon standing just a few feet away from me. John has a lyric book on a lectern which accentuates the feeling that he is our preacher and we are his congregation. Opening with Warrior was an inspired move, everyone immediately getting into the groove. Sadly Lu’s guitar was buried in the mix but by the end of the first song this was sorted and we were off. John told us he had flu and thanked us for sticking with him, but honestly John if this was you operating on anything less than 100% you’d never have guessed. His voice is incredible – strong and powerful, enunciating brilliantly and almost yodelling at times; it was hard to tear my gaze away from him. Despite not feeling well he seemed far more relaxed than last time and in affable, amusing form. The set was a great mix of old and recent – songs off the latest album like Corporate & I’m Not Satisfied slotting in perfectly next to classics Death Disco & Flowers Of Romance. There is such a danceability to their music, which kept the crowd moving throughout.

I loved hearing Fishing off the 1986 album…Album, and This Is Not A Love Song straight into Rise provided an impeccable end to the set. John headed off for a fag before returning for their signature song Public Image and a fantastic rendition of the Leftfield/Lydon classic Open Up, never did I think I’d hear him perform this. What a song, what a reaction. Open Up morphed into Shoom allowing us one final chance to sing along…what the world needs now, is another FUCK OFF!

After the gig everyone spilled out with broad grins, PiL are easily in the top band of live acts I’ve ever seen, and it is a group performance, not Lydon and backing musicians. John Lydon is real, he is still a man of the people and seeing him in the flesh proves that he more than justifies the legend tag.