Birmingham Mail - December 16th, 2009
© 2009 Birmingham Mail
Public Image Ltd
Birmingham, Academy, December 15 2009
* * * *
Public Image Ltd at the O2 Academy, Birmingham
by Gary Young
THE old punks heading to the Academy last night may have been greying and thickening around the waist, but a lean and youthful-looking John Lydon shrugged off the years to produce a blistering performance with the relaunch of his band Public Image Ltd.
Any fears that jungle celebrity, wildlife documentaries and THAT TV butter advert might have mellowed him a little were swiftly blown away as the stomach-churning bassline of Public Image kicked off a passionate performance by the former Johnny Rotten.
The Sex Pistols reunion may have been unashamedly about the filthy lucre, but PiL has always been a project close to Lydon’s heart, and he gave his all as he worked his way through his impressive back catalogue.
PiL have never been easy listening, but anyone with an ear for Lydon’s songs will have been thrilled as Careering, Poptones, This Is Not A Love Song, Death Disco, Flowers Of Romance, Annalisa and Religion all hit the spot.
A blistering finale of Rise and Leftfield Lydon’s Open Up rounded off a triumphant return.
He still means it, maaaaan.
© n/a