PiL
- LA, OLYMPIC, AUDITORIUM, USA
November
16th, 1984
Running Order:
1. ORDER OF DEATH
2. BAD LIFE
3. SOLITAIRE
4. LOW LIFE
5. WHERE ARE YOU
6. 1981
7. RELIGION
8. TIE ME TO THE LENGTH…
9. ANNALISA
10. BODIES
11. PUBLIC IMAGE
12. LOVE SONG
13. ANARCHY IN THE UK
Running Time:
49 minutes (approx)
Picture Quality:
(6) Camcorder Audience Recording
DVD/Video Gradings Explained here
review by TIM BUCKNALL
Notes:
This
is a multi-cam pro-shot video with soundboard audio. Unfortunately
all circulating copies are extremely high-gen, (although some are slightly
better than others). 'Anarchy in the UK' is incomplete.
Review:
'Bad
Life' is much harder than the studio version, as were all
renditions by this line-up. 'Solitaire' is noteworthy. I hated
the studio and 'Live in Tokyo' versions, but the hard-funk of
the '84 line-up really makes the song work.
'Low Life' is exceptional,
Mark Schultz manages a very good Impression of Keith Levene's jagged
guitars. 'Where are You' is the only
truly disappointing song of the night. It doesn't seem
to go anywhere, I much
prefer the early live versions from 1982 featuring Keith Levene & Pete
Jones. However, this song does at least provide a great visual moment
as Brett Helm swaps his bass for a violin. You can see the
broken bow strings flailing around as he saws at the instrument.
'1981' is great, probably the song that really showcases the 84-85
line-up. There's nothing to choose between this version and Melbourne
or Tokyo. 'Religion' is typically ferocious and has the usual post-83
organ intro. 'Tie Me to the Length of That' is another improvement over the studio
version, and illustrates the (perhaps surprising) fact that this song
has quite a few elements in common with the 'Metal Box' era.
Sadly from
this point onwards the audio degrades, and as the audio track slips
out of whack with itself, an echo appears which ruins the
drums somewhat. However, I must point out that the copy of this tape
that was uploaded to YouTube has this problem from the first song
onwards, so this video copy is at least better than some others.
'Annalisa' is good despite the sound problems. 'Bodies' produces the
usual great response from the crowd as Jebin Bruni leaves the keyboard
to strap on a guitar. I love the twin-guitar versions of Pistols
songs that this line-up did. It enabled them to better replicate the
multi layered guitar parts on 'Never Mind the Bollocks', the crazed
intro to 'Bodies' is probably the best example of this.
A guitar string snaps during 'Public Image', but they manage to finish
the song. John is in relaxed good spirits and it shows. There's some
kind of guitar screw-up at the start of 'Love
Song' but nothing major.
It seems like the band are overrunning and being threatened with a
fine as John says, "If we do one more song we go to jail, how
about anarchy?" It's a great version, but sadly it cuts off halfway
through.
I'd recommend this tape to anyone who doesn't mind a less than perfect
picture/sound. If
a low gen copy ever surfaced it would probably be considered a "must
have".
