After an extensive reunion with , singer Johnny Lydon (or Johnny Rotten) also brought Public Image Limited (PIL) back to life from 2009 onwards. This group created confusion among punk fans from the late seventies, with albums full of drawn-out post-punk, kraut rock and dub. In 1983, however, the sharp edges were gone; core members (bass) and (guitar / keys) had left and Lydon now surrounded
… himself with some faceless musicians while he was against the commercial side with the hit single (This Is Not A) Lovesong. In October 1983 they recorded a performance for the German music program Rockpalast. Lydon is definitely on a roll in exemplary (if not neat) performances of material from the groundbreaking first three albums, among others. But his cynical grin speaks volumes, especially when the group uses the Sex Pistols classic Anarchy In The UK. That the passionate and unconventional icon he once was has turned into an innocent caricature, is also apparent from the bonus interview in which Lydon's obstinacy appears to be nothing more than a role. And he knows, the record that the group released not much later is not called for nothing . (MR)more
