PiL @ Marquee Theatre

There will be no Sex Pistols songs performed at the Public Image, Ltd. concert. Yes, PiL is fronted by the former British public enemy number one and Sex Pistols singer Johnny Rotten (real last name Lydon), but those days are past. In fact, Lydon, despite the obvious royalty check boost,...

By Glenn BurnSilver

October 25, 2012

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There will be no Sex Pistols songs performed at the Public Image, Ltd. concert. Yes, PiL is fronted by the former British public enemy number one and Sex Pistols singer Johnny Rotten (real last name Lydon), but those days are past. In fact, Lydon, despite the obvious royalty check boost, considers it exploitation that the classic Pistols singles "Anarchy in the U.K." and "God Save the Queen" were reissued to coincide with Her Majesty's Diamond Jubilee. But there's plenty of PiL material to fill a concert, including songs from the recently released This Is PiL, the group's first album in 20 years. Lydon formed the post-punk group in the wake of the Pistols' disastrous demise, releasing First Issue in 1978 with Metal Box (considered the band's best work) following quickly in 1979. Mixing new wave, pop, reggae, dub, punk, and noise with Lydon's stream-of-consciousness rants, PiL followed an experimental musical path over the years that, at times, seemed devoid of any real direction. Still, Pistols fans enjoyed the edginess, while new wavers took to the band's bouncier numbers. With This Is, Lydon's path still wavers musically, yet one constant remains: He's forever the wild frontman ready to stare down a crowd.

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