A Rotten Way To Spend The Summer! - Music Republic Magazine

The Sex Pistols initial career lasted just two and a half years. Just one studio album and four singles. But that band are one of the most influential acts in the history of British music.

Well, Never Mind the Bollocks, here’s Public Image Ltd. – celebrating their 40 year anniversary.

With a mammoth UK, European and Japan tour, career-spanning box set and documentary. John Lydon aka Johnny Rotten is in fine form and the band are in a purple period right now.

The Public Image Is Rotten Summer 2018 tour is the first since 2016, which many critics hailed as the best gigs of their career. A new documentary premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival in New York and then had its European premiere at London’s Raindance Festival. Directed by Tabbert Fiiller, it will be released later this year in select cinemas.

John Lydon photo copyright: Simon Redley

In 2015 the band released their 10^th studio album ‘What The World Needs Now…’ which followed the huge critical success of 2012’s ‘This is PiL’, the band’s first album in 17 years.

‘What The World Needs Now’ peaked at number 29 in the official UK album charts and picked up fantastic acclaim from both press and public.

The album also peaked at number 3 in the official UK indie charts and number 4 in the official UK vinyl charts.

“What The World Needs Now…” was self-funded by PiL and released on their own label ‘PiL Official’ via Cargo UK Distribution.

Widely regarded as one of the most innovative and influential bands of all time, PiL’s music and vision earned them 5 UK Top 20 singles and 5 UK Top 20 albums.

With a shifting line-up and unique sound, John Lydon guided the band from their debut album ‘First Issue’ in 1978 through to 1992’s ‘That What Is Not’.

After a 17 year hiatus, Lydon reactivated PiL in 2009 by taking them back on the road worldwide.

John Lydon, Lu Edmonds, Scott Firth and Bruce Smith continue as PiL. They are the longest stable line-up in the band’s history.

After fronting the Sex Pistols, John Lydon formed Public Image Ltd in 1978. Outside of PiL John has released several solo records and collaborations. He recently released the autobiography ‘Anger is an Energy: My Life Uncensored’.

Lu Edmonds – Multi instrumentalist and former guitarist in The Damned, Lu joined PiL in 1986, recording and playing on the album ‘Happy?’ and co-writing the album ‘9’, adding yet another dimension to the PiL sound.

Bruce Smith – Drummer in The Pop Group and formerly of The Slits, Bruce became percussionist for PiL in 1986 playing and recording on the albums ‘Happy?’ and ‘9’. Seen as a drumming virtuoso, Bruce brought his unique style into the fold.

Scott Firth – A bass player/multi-instrumentalist who has collaborated and played with a variety of top musicians and bands, including Steve Winwood, John Martyn and Elvis Costello.

SUMMER 2018 UK Tour Dates include:

Thu 21^st June Cardiff, Wales The Tramshed

SAT 23^rd JUNE EXETER, England Lemon Grove

SUN 24^th JUNE WREXHAM, England William Aston Hall

Tue 26^th June Reading, England Sub 89

Wed 27^th June Frome, Somerset, England Cheese & Grain

Fri 29^th June Nottingham, England Rock City

Sat 30^th June Southampton, England Engine Rooms

Sun 5^th Aug Blackpool, England Rebellion Festival

Sun 19^th Aug Hardwick, England Hardwick Live Festival

Sat 25^th Aug Bangor, Northern Ireland Bangor Marina

Tue 28^th Aug Inverness, Scotland The Ironworks