Public Image Ltd preview – at Club Nokia on April 13, 2010 and Coachella

If you haven't been living off-world for the last 35 years, you probably know who John Lydon, aka Johnny Rotten is. If not, I'd be interested to hear how you came across this website. As the frontman for the infamous Sex Pistols, Lydon gained fame and notoriety as a sort of unofficial head of the burgeoning punk movement. Following the Sex Pistols' demise in 1978 he went on to start Public Image Limited. It's been 17 years, but PiL is on tour again.

Public Image Limited, named after a novel by a Scottish author about an actress who carefully cultivates her image to hide her lack of talent, is often regarded as one of the most influential bands of the post-punk movement, producing complex and experimental music, and hosting an impressive list of talent. Former lineups have included Keith Levine, an early member of the Clash, Jim Walker of The Furies, Martin Atkins, who played for such greats as Killing Joke and Ministry, and even Steve Vai. The band released eight studio albums, and managed to produce a number of hit singles, including "This is Not a Love Song", a mocking response to criticisms that the band was becoming more commercialized, and a wink and a nod to the Flying Lizards song "Her Story".

This year's tour features Lu Edmonds, originally of The Damned, and PiL guitarist from 1986-88, Bruce Smith of The Pop Group, and PiL drummer from 1986-1990, and Scott Firth on bass, along with the insuppressible Lydon. This is the same lineup that preformed a handful of shows around the UK last December, which were well received by fans, our own reporter Dod listing it as on par with The Specials as one of the best reunion shows to date. (bigwheelmagazine.com/show_reviews/public-image-ltd-at-the-02-arena-glasgow-uk-December-18-2009)

Unsurprisingly, the band's history hasn't been without controversy, from Lydon's difficulty in getting label Virgin Records to sponsor a tour in support of the '92 album "That What Is Not", to dispute with West Coast legends Flipper over the title and packaging of "Album", PiL has shown that drifting towards the mainstream hasn't dulled their edges any.

The current tour kicks off in Los Angeles at Club Nokia on April 13, then hits Coachella before hitting some 19 US cities. Full tour listings can be found on the PiL official site www.pilofficial.com

Win tickets to the Los Angeles PiL show HERE

-Jo Problems-
Big Wheel Music Scene Reporter