bordeaux, chat bleu, france,
october 20th, 1986
1986 Album European Tour
John Lydon
John McGeoch: Guitar
Lu Edmonds: Keyboards & Guitars
Allan Dias: Bass
Bruce Smith: Drums
Set List:
Kashmir / FFF / Low Life / Poptones / Pretty Vacant / Religion
/ Flowers of Romance / Bags / Home / Rise / Holidays in the Sun
/ Public Image
Notes:
Audio bootleg recorded
Gig Review
review by Hervè Labyre, March 2003
© 2003 Fodderstompf.com / Hervè Labyre
I've
decided to try to review the PiL gig that took place in Bordeaux, October
20th 1986. I was not at the gig, but one of my cousin's was, and he
has often told me how great the show was. Moreover, I read some articles
in local fanzines at that time. Bergerac being only 100 kms east from
Bordeaux, so I got some information at the time. So, here is the review:
In 1986, Public Image Ltd played a date in Bordeaux. The show took place
at Le Chat Bleu, a small club on the docks, that was very popular at
that time, for rock and punk concerts. Most bands and artists were playing
the big venues of the town, but sometimes added a show in this club.
Iggy Pop and the Pogues did. It has now become a dance-techno night
club.
The concert started late, and everyone was getting a bit nervous, but
when John & co arrived on stage, it was madness. The audience was
a real melting pot, with common people, punks, rockers, and also what
we called "new wave" fans at that time. PiL opened the set
with the usual Zeppelin cover of 'Kashmir', and then played some songs
from 'Album' such as 'FFF'. 'Home' and 'Rise' along with old stuff like
'Religion', 'Poptones', 'Lowlife', and even Sex Pistols covers of 'Pretty
Vacant' and 'Holidays in the Sun', which made all the punks in the audience
go crazy, pogoing everywhere. It was the first time John Lydon came
and played here. Neither Public Image Ltd nor the Sex Pistols had played
in Bordeaux before, and everyone was really happy, including the band
itself. John was very quiet, "joking" with the fans in his
own style, and touching hands of people in front of the stage. The show
ended after about one hour.
A
"manufactured" bootleg tape exists for this show. It comes
from an audience take. The sound quality is quite good. It sounds a
bit muffled on some parts, but is still a good recording. This "manufactured"
tape is the only bootleg of this show that exists at the time, no other
source, audience tape or LP have surfaced. Every PiL song is good, 'Rise'
is a quite long version as is 'Religion'. The Pistols covers are played
in a PiL way of course, with these typical guitar effects, but the speed
is the same. On 'Pretty Vacant', the song is stopped, and John makes
the audience sing. The show ends with a good 'Public Image' version,
but not the best I've heard, because I've always preferred the early
gigs.
Hervè Labyre
Note: Religion was not printed on the tape insert
© n/a