It's wonderful that so many people are tuned in to Jah's bass, but Keith's guitar on this song is just beautiful beyond words. I'll never be able to express how this song makes me feel, such a broad range of emotions. All of it, John's vocals, the bass and the drums, is amazing but it's the guitar, for me, that's the genius element, that just puts the whole thing way out into a realm all by itself. So beautiful and ethereal, this song. Makes me want to cry tears of joy, and sometimes I do.
@simonkinslow8312 жыл бұрын
That hypnotic guitar playing against the bass is just perfection.
@sammacdaibheid9 жыл бұрын
Absolutely mesmerising. That bass is fucking incredible.
@gaz1tinsley8 жыл бұрын
+Somhairle Daibhéid im just learning to play this on bass guitar lol
@liebingf8 жыл бұрын
+Somhairle Daibhéid ...of cause it is, cause it´s Jah wobble!
@Crazyfeline7 жыл бұрын
Somhairle Daibhéid it's a funny comment because Wobble couldn't play bass well and is was a point of consternation with Levene who was a perfection asshole and hated Jah. But for some reason, everyone raves about the bass in this song because it's so up front in the mix. I love it like everyone else, but Lydon writes about the Levene/Wobble pissing match all through his latest memoir.
@sammacdaibheid7 жыл бұрын
Interesting. I didn't know that. He created something special here, no doubt! Regardless of his playing ability.
@jimmytgoose476 Жыл бұрын
@crazy feline that's not what Wobble said in his book . The reason he didnt make more music with Keith was simple - heroin . Jah not a good player ?! Balls . He and Keith WERE PiL , much more so than that chancing wanker Lydon .
@thomassummerhill6357 Жыл бұрын
RIP,Keith Levine his guitar playing complements Johns singing perfectly. A true original 🙏🏻
@uncooldispatch5438 Жыл бұрын
❤❤❤❤
@klausrain1118 жыл бұрын
Astounding virtuoso performance by the entire band. In this version, they were one of the best bands in the world. A shame so few people knew it at the time.
@chrismooney92758 жыл бұрын
I don't know. They were pretty famous in England
@klausrain1118 жыл бұрын
+CJ Mooney Hey, you're right I'm sure. Guess I'm talking about the States, where I'm from. Glad to get your reply; I'll listen to this beauty yet again.
@saraivatoledo18428 жыл бұрын
(In)famous would be the word ... at least up till their greatest period "circa "flowers of romance - (the unfinnished "Commercial zone" ... after "Album" till today , yeah ... "famous" indeed
@klausrain1118 жыл бұрын
+Saraiva Toledo Wow, love getting replies on this video more than any other. Reminds me to listen again. Every time it feels like hearing it for the first time, cause something pops out that I didnt notice before. Keith's playing, holy toledo, its just soooo amazing! Without this band, there is no Edge, therefore no U2, that's for sure. Thank God for that, cause I fucking love U2, too.
@saraivatoledo18428 жыл бұрын
100% agree with you on the Magick in this. And yes, Keith/Wobble interaction in here is yet to be matched after all these years. And these were kids with no fancy musical knowledge or anything - actually leaving John out as if he wasn´t just as important to the genius in the song ... an album which changed the way I perceived music . "Metal box" is such a masterpiece ... and like I told you, "Flowers of romance" is where Atkins truly shines , those drum patterns ... oh boy, I think I´m yet to hear something as impressive as "under the house" or " banging the door" (love when Keith tries to be Wobble as he did in there with that fuzzy, ominous bass line) . Man, took this video and put it on my profile or something - Thanks a lot and if you wish me to delete it I will , Cheers, glad to know there´s people who still love this stuff as much as I always will.
@SnottyPunk11 жыл бұрын
John looks like a post-punk Mozart
@RayStDenis-hs5tk Жыл бұрын
RIP Keith. Post punk guitar god.
@Technosphile Жыл бұрын
Goodbye, Keith.
@danabrahams78926 жыл бұрын
This is actually one of the greatest British pop songs ever written
@DHPearson110 жыл бұрын
This song is so amazing it hurts my head.
@Tomguild111 жыл бұрын
I am 50 and listen to lots of music from before I was born. This stuff had an impact in 1979 that can't be duplicated, but anyone can love the music
@dawndrk12311 жыл бұрын
Wow, John keeps looking back at Keef, like he can hardly believe the sound he's making, and making so effortlessly. It's so beautiful, unique, original.
@ericrhodesii90259 жыл бұрын
Being a Bass player myself, I must say, Jah Wobble is a big influence on me. The past month alone, I've been listening to this record endlessly!
@finkretana6 жыл бұрын
i am a bass player too and i want to know how to reach that kind of tune!
@andchat62416 жыл бұрын
Fink Alt ,there is a DVD available called Jah Wobble 'On Bass'.its John on stage with a drummer ,playing some music,+explaining some of his techniques & telling some stories- it's good.
@_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_5 жыл бұрын
Fink Alt He loves old fucked up strings. I read that about 20 years ago.
@thompsonlane59705 жыл бұрын
Holy shit there are still bass players out there? Every time I look for one for my band they're either non-existent or a fucking nightmare to work with haha. Keep it up my friend
@lazyrrr24113 жыл бұрын
@@thompsonlane5970 ain't it the Truth - some things never change
@cannellezia10 жыл бұрын
Best live PIL song ever. Jah Wobble is just awesome.
@merickz7810 жыл бұрын
I once heard Henry Rollins say that the music John made with Public Image is miles ahead of anything he did with the Pistols, and I would have to agree.
@mikelindsavvy2 жыл бұрын
That’s a no brainer
@FigmentSALabel2 жыл бұрын
The Pistols didn't have the chance.
@kamikazechivalry12642 жыл бұрын
Honestly, not a fan of the Pistols. No one could play their instruments.
@rrbh Жыл бұрын
Henry Rollins has every right to be wrong.
@DarrenLamb-on3py11 ай бұрын
I once heard Henry rollins say everything
@MattMartinHare14 жыл бұрын
Joy Division were obviously great, but when it's late at night and I'm in that chilling, hypnotic early British post-punk mood, you're much more likely to find me blasting Metal Box through my headphones than Closer or Unknown Pleasures. I just find PIL to be closer to me heart. I think it's that godly bass... Well, that and my preference for Johnny Lydon over Ian Curtis as a singer.
@Spraycando14 жыл бұрын
Metal Box. One of the best albums ever.
@someguyfromanotherplanet52842 жыл бұрын
Love the phaser effect stuff on the guitar. It makes the song feel so hypnotic.
@McDoinky Жыл бұрын
That’s a flanger
@scartissue121 Жыл бұрын
@@McDoinky Hes playing with a flanger and a phaser. You can clearly here the sweep of the phaser at 1:37 to 1:44
@alanhigginson76793 жыл бұрын
Lydon looks like he's just left the stage in San Francisco at the winterland with the pistols in 78
@riverx68022 жыл бұрын
I know exactly what you’re talking about!!
@PinkyPuff694 жыл бұрын
PiL always had the best rhythm parts. Just loved them from the beginning.
@MrCovSid3 жыл бұрын
Musically, this is different level. I wouldn't replace any member of this band with anybody else. Different class. Sublime, and then some.
@jimmytgoose476 Жыл бұрын
Look what happened when they were replaced - pants 👖
@jonnybarnard8578 Жыл бұрын
It's horrible that john lost his wife, but he's going straight into the studio, I've never heard of an artist creating so soon after such a devastating loss like that. Hopefully I'll be able to see them on their tour for their new album.
@Darrenski6 ай бұрын
Probably his way of dealing with it rather than spending all day around the house drowning in memories
@lauranewberry65205 жыл бұрын
Remember this on the OGWT many years ago and I was hugely impressed by P.I.L unique sound , i loved rotten in the pistols , but this took his talent to a new level. And the metal box What can I say ,, it was and still is a masterpiece. And Jah wobble. What A fantastic bassist
@briteness7 жыл бұрын
For actual listening, I'll choose PIL over the Pistols every time. Great band, at least in this incarnation.
@ResidentMich6 жыл бұрын
Definately early PIL was brilliant.
@namebrandmason5 жыл бұрын
We got two or three good albums out of PiL.
@Captain_Rhodes5 жыл бұрын
mason s. 4 good albums for sure
@CONSIDERABLYMORE15 жыл бұрын
and they were?@@namebrandmason
@realsinisterminister4 жыл бұрын
@Morgoth Bauglir I'd include 1986's ALBUM in there as well
@brianflynn5355 Жыл бұрын
Hypnotic, nauseating & beautiful.
@plemgrubern8 жыл бұрын
I love the little wobble he adds to his voice: ''poptoOoOoOoOoOones''
@paulvalery97783 жыл бұрын
vibrato
@jude74267 жыл бұрын
Honestly, in my opinion, comparing PIL to the Pistols is like comparing apples and oranges. They are both good in their own way.
@PedroVonWorzelburger7 жыл бұрын
I think the first few PIL album releases are incredible, don't think much of it after the departure of Levine and Wobble. I think Lydon got really lucky with this early line up. It was way ahead of its time in my opinion and later line up changes come nowhere near it. As for the Pistols.... well that's another story.
@PedroVonWorzelburger7 жыл бұрын
I'll agree to disagree.
@wasdanah6 жыл бұрын
But are they both fruit?
@royalnass10295 жыл бұрын
I agree
@freezing_moon944 жыл бұрын
I feel the same
@ab77blues Жыл бұрын
Levene adapting a riff from his hero Steve Howe! I only just noticed. (From "Starship Trooper" by Yes)
@seanmoliver13 жыл бұрын
Wobble's bass is one of those killer 60's Ampegs w/ see-through f-holes and the scroll at the head w huge tuning pegs like an upright acoustic. My dad played bass professionally for 50 years until his death in '98, and owned a rare fretless version from 68-74. I loved to 'play' it when I was a toddler. He sold it in '74 when he decided to play only jazz & classical gigs from then on, using his 1826 Italian-made upright. No more playing those god-awful 'rock n roll' gigs for him!
@richieb14258 жыл бұрын
I've said this or similar before, but I love the way John keeps looking over at Keith, as if to say, Beautiful, man. Keep playing that, we're making history! I mean, Keith's guitar on this version is one of the best bits ever recorded, just other worldly and astounding. Throw in the bass, drums and vocals and the whole thing's perfect.
@johnmcluskey13 жыл бұрын
I have just started getting into PiL recently and the one thing I noticed is Jah Wobble sticks out like a sore thumb in the 70's/80's era for his bass sound. Nice harmonics and a great low end groove style with a pretty unique sound that's reggae and rock fused. He's a natural bass player and listening to PiL is awesome. John Lydon has to be recognised as one of the best men in musical history. He's also a very funny guy too when you hear him on tv. Don't make them like they used too..
@daveedine10 жыл бұрын
Melancholical song.Beautiful.
@WorldSystemsMedia12 жыл бұрын
I've recently (re)discovered this early PiL stuff. Absolutely brilliant.
@harrywix Жыл бұрын
Reminds me of the band CAN...Beautiful.
@stephennewby50603 жыл бұрын
One of the best Pil songs ever
@Jordan-18214 жыл бұрын
that bass line is so catchy great band, great frontman, great song
@lirannine11 жыл бұрын
it's heavenly. i enjoy it every time i hear or play it!
@reymontcantil1996 жыл бұрын
that red coat is iconic, just like this song.
@Fetrey15 жыл бұрын
This is post-punk at it's finest.
@darthvawter8 жыл бұрын
timeless!
@TroutMaskReplicaa12 жыл бұрын
can't forget the impression you made/left a hole in the back of my head
@richardsabiston71668 жыл бұрын
Guitarist makes this. captures the decay and brutalist feeling of the time. All band spot on.
@klausrain1118 жыл бұрын
Richard S - I agree, Keith's guitar is just beautiful, no other word describes it for me. John keeps looking back at him, like he's saying "Holy shit, man! Keep playing that!" Someone on here said PIL were underrated, but that's not true. Unknown is more like it. All these years later and songs like this (especially this!) hold up like they were made yesterday. Amazing.
@dougsmith70835 жыл бұрын
Dare I say that Keith's shambolic drumming on the studio track has SOOOOO much more to offer than this technically superior drumming. Levene lurches and stutters like a homicidal maniac flailing about trying to drum his infamous nick from YES...this drumming is too perfect
@ggoldfingers4 жыл бұрын
Keith couldn't play the same thing twice and was one of the reasons this line up didn't last.
@charold38 жыл бұрын
Gorgeous soundscape (not poptoney, however) over which Lydon tells it like it is. Vent for anger at suited, cocaine-fueled record execs in LA, Nashville, NYC, and London, their cardboard pretty boy/girl noise pollution, and an equally unimaginative, gullible public. I dare Pringles or Coors to use this song in one of their commercials!
@missSuchashame14 жыл бұрын
I'm so glad I got the chance to see them live! saw them last week, and maaaan they are still tight!
@user-zz8ul3up6v Жыл бұрын
R.I.P. Keith Levene.
@nirb811 жыл бұрын
Hard to believe that this came out in a major label. Seems like science fiction in today's rock bottom standards. I know it's not a popular thing praising a tycoon, but I think Richard Branson deserves a lot of credit for putting out all those uncommercial masterpieces by PIL, Japan, XTC, OMD, Magazine etc
@DeeDonner16 жыл бұрын
I bought this in the Spring of 1980, POP TONES was in my head constantly...
@jessicaamber66238 жыл бұрын
Spectacular
@Johnconno8 жыл бұрын
Fantastic Overcoat.
@geoffreysmith5028 жыл бұрын
+jaye see Made by Kenny McDonald. He also made their tartan suits. My brother went to school with Kenny. He is serving a life sentence for murdering his girlfriend.
@sharpvonl2017 жыл бұрын
jesus
@flyinspirals7 жыл бұрын
aitch christ.
@dinosaurhotline3 жыл бұрын
@@geoffreysmith502 damn.
@TerracedMckenna3 жыл бұрын
@@geoffreysmith502 lmaooooooo
@hippriest94484 жыл бұрын
Easily one of the best songs ever made
@PiLfan3811 жыл бұрын
Magnifique, incroyable... le son de Keith. la voix de Johnny, les lignes de basse de Jah ...et Martin. C'est vraiment magnifique, à coupé le souffle... c'est PiL et ça me fait rêver x3
@poughkeepsiejohn114 жыл бұрын
You've got to hand it to Johnny Rotten (or John Lydon). He went from working with the worst bass player in rock, Sid Vicious, to the best bass player in rock, Jah Wobble.
@thewhoman31824 жыл бұрын
Wobble definitely isn't the best bass player in rock. More like the best new wave bass player. I would say Post-punk but that would be hooky from joy Division
@andrewgreen59863 жыл бұрын
What is strange is that like Sid, John ‘Jah Wobble’ Wardle was John’s mate and not a musician to start with. Just turned out to be genius.
@riverx68022 жыл бұрын
Haha! Great comment.
@sexobscura2 жыл бұрын
@Bad Lieutenant who wrote all the hit songs we remember them for
@sexobscura2 жыл бұрын
Sid was competent and replaced a very good player/writer in Matlock
@albertoviale72595 жыл бұрын
One of my favourite songs ever
@alandoran7201 Жыл бұрын
Weird how this sounds more in tune and better performed that the recording on metal box
@samsin11175 жыл бұрын
I keep on scrolling down to the like button to like the video but then I keep realizing I already liked the video because Ive already re watched it 100 times. This is one of the few videos i wish i can like more than once lol
@archhall9862 жыл бұрын
'Metal Box/Second Edition' is to pop music what David Lynch's 'Eraserhead' is to film. That grotesquely beautiful painting that hangs at the back of the gallery. Ultimately, all you can do is stare at it endlessly with mouth agape wondering what it could mean. Everyone walks away with a slightly different interpretation. When music and film become real art. I prefer Metal Box for listening but visually, Second Edition's gatefold cover mesmerizes me.
@pickerrs2 жыл бұрын
I agree but I also think Flowers of Romance is insanely good. Thought it at the time and still do.
@archhall9862 жыл бұрын
I quite agree that 'Flowers of Romance' and 'First Issue' are just as essential in their own right. I tend to put the generic 'PiL' (with 'Rise', 'FFF', etc.)' in there too. I think it's a phenomenal album though critics were quick to pounce on it. The session work is incredible particularly Ginger Baker's performances. I follow that with 'This Is What You Want'. But I'm a die-hard Keith Levene fan and his impeccable work on those first albums as a founder are pioneering.and impossible to duplicate. Love his solo work and we can't forget he was also a founding member of the Clash and played a part in Joe Strummer joining. What an integral figure in modern rock's history! Shameful how mainstream rock press understates the importance of individual artists like Keith. Cheers, mate!
@cellojordan2 жыл бұрын
Love those shots of Wobble's spindly fingers spidering up the bass's neck.
@Shauneroo9 жыл бұрын
High art.
@ozzie-sk9dh10 жыл бұрын
WOBBLE WOBBLE WOBBLE
@mrsuperger54292 жыл бұрын
One of the most beautiful songs in UK pop history. The " live " version on their Paris album is even better, if that's possible, which it is.
@sexobscura2 жыл бұрын
That album is PURE gold ✨️
@velvetpilot20089 жыл бұрын
Probably the most incredible performance of "Poptones" ever. This completely rules over the "too long" (Levene's words, not mine!) album version from Second Edition. Just listen to Wobble's bass! Of course, I miss Keith very much and have missed him since Flowers. Keith may have had a heroin addiction during this time, but the man CARRIED the band almost by himself. John Lydon, the incredibly selfish genius that he is, let his best partner walk out the door. Depending on who you ask, Commercial Zone was the last good PiL album. Don't get me wrong though, songs like "Rise", "Cruel" and "Acid Drops" still keep me a big Lydon fan. Not to mention "Psycho's Path". That album was all killer, no filler.
@sexobscura2 жыл бұрын
Levene was/is a musical wunderkind
@alejandro7559513 жыл бұрын
Uno de los mejores grupos de rock, sin duda. Desde México
@NuUrbanMusic6 жыл бұрын
This album was a favourite and a massive influence for Thom Yorke and Radiohead....
that was a great band god bless keith marting and jah. pil. so far ahead of their time.
@lancetop11 жыл бұрын
It's Saturday, and what a better day to make a PIL Festival Day:) I'm on my fourth LIVE performance so far, and I'm already practically paralyzed. How do people like John Lydon hear these totally unique tunes and lyrics in their heads?
@davidkoral167329 күн бұрын
I read an interview with Keith Levene in The Wire in 2002; he said he'd been playing "Poptones" when it dawned on him that he'd lifted it from "Starship Trooper," by Yes. In fact, when Keith was fifteen, he ran away from home to be a roadie for Yes. Who knew?
@bardhenninglie410910 жыл бұрын
Best work by PIL ever.
@EverSinceMyExorcism6 жыл бұрын
Bård Henning Lie, Schnab??
@michaelohara70913 жыл бұрын
why do we not see anything as interesting as this today?
@violentrainX15 жыл бұрын
Gotta respect a man who does everything possible to keep society from defining him. Johnny Rotten/John Lydon is just as good with PIL as with Sex Pistols. It is a different genre, and a completely different tone. His voice is the greatest thing about this. Taking Punk Rock and turning it into something Complex.
@neef63094 жыл бұрын
gives me chills
@daveashe11 жыл бұрын
My mate played this from the original vinyl tin box, blew me away..
@rossgreenberg11297 жыл бұрын
Let's get these two matters sorted, shall we? I'm 57 and just in case I die tonight, you should ALL have clarity. 1) It's called heroin and after Sid, John had no interest in making the same mistake twice (ala"never stay with a sinking ship") and hanging around an addict who he felt would eventually OD. He grew up with Sid and loved his mate if you saw the interview. 2) Jude seems to be one of the few persons on the planet who gets it; the Pistols and PiL were two amazing and completely different bands with two completely different goals (As John stated PiL was supposed to be a so-called corporation but not actually a band and they led the way artistically, including videos which he originally stated as part of the bands' "manifesto" of what they would not be). The only thing both bands have in common are the singular genius of John Lydon!! Enjoy them both and enjoy the B's sides from both bands including the Cowboy song from Pils' First Edition, (sounds suspiciously like St. Francis Massacre), Home is where the heart is from Flowers, the finest album ever made and the Vampire, which was never released but was due to be on Flowers. Hint: It's on KZfaq. My best to all of you with the guts and smarts enough to explore your musical choices a little deeper; you make the world a more beautiful place. :-) Ross
@beefheart14107 жыл бұрын
Ross Greenberg Actually, Lydon didn't grow up with Sid. The two met at Hackney Technical college two to three years before Lydon joined the Pistols. What's more, even though Lydon and Levene would spout this nonesense about PiL as a "corporation" that would have fingers in a variety of media pies, they never made good on any of this and, baring a few out takes, everything PiL created between 78 and 81 was released publicly (no pun intended) on the first three studio albums, a live album a clutch of singles and very few live performances. Lydon and Vicious both, were substance users well prior to the Pistols era, with Sid already having a history of I.V drug use. Likewise, Levene was well into the "drug scene" prior to PiL forming and, given that the band, and particularly Levene and Lydon (who lived together for quite some time) spent the majority of the time between 78 and 81 sat around Gunter Grove getting smashed rather than doing anything constructive, it would be best to take Lydon's reasons for getting rid of Levene as being due to Levene's personal habits, with a huge pinch of revisionist salt. Oh, and by the way, the track is called "Vampire" and not "The Vampires". "Flowers" is a good album, I agree, but it comes in a paltry third imho behind "First Issue" and certainly the magnificence of "Metal Box".
@durashka12313 жыл бұрын
God, that's amazing.
@dawndrk12311 жыл бұрын
Respectfully, I hear what you're asking,and I know it's a rhetorical question, but PIL was definitely a collective effort. Keith and Jah were indispensable to the overall sound and concept of this band.
@kohlemainen14 жыл бұрын
This is so...beautiful :)
@patthewoodboy4 жыл бұрын
I love the story of this awesome song ..
@dallaswwood7 жыл бұрын
This is so much better than the version on the album.
@danw13745 жыл бұрын
The peel session of this is fab too, with the bass guitar strumming intro and john lydons voice with the added echo effect.
@adrianjohnson28744 жыл бұрын
I disagree with that sir, but it's good.
@davidleach15929 жыл бұрын
the best, perfection!
@filled_soda9 жыл бұрын
Along with the music being magnificent, do these lyrics scare the hell out of anyone else? Stunning stuff.
@EverSinceMyExorcism9 жыл бұрын
Indeed! The music fits perfectly with the lyrics. Haunting.
@surplusrevenge20133 жыл бұрын
Well it’s about a girl getting murdered in a car in the countryside so... I guess it oughta
@speedking7224 Жыл бұрын
@@surplusrevenge2013 no its about a girl getting raped and left to die, John's own words
@samuelward11486 жыл бұрын
I love you Jah Wobble.
@perimason12310 жыл бұрын
love this song
@Thekijuju13 жыл бұрын
this is my favorite version
@louisfriendhastaste4 жыл бұрын
punk destroyed everything which was easy, the difficult thing was to rebuild and be creative...this shows real talent
@colleendito20466 жыл бұрын
John Lydon saving the world one song at a time. He rules. Really, hes a smart guy. Sexy too
@finosuilleabhain77814 жыл бұрын
What, still (last bit)?
@mattycfox7 жыл бұрын
JAH on bass!
@nihalstic84695 жыл бұрын
Great track and yeah, a fine progression from the Pistols.
@LizardKucera11 жыл бұрын
Absolutely. You speak for me and I suspect many others too.
@akabak14 жыл бұрын
Super Release! Saw live Performance of this tour! :))))))
@chrisfryer70812 жыл бұрын
Wow could this be the most head fuck song ever made never heard anything like it gives me goosebumps just amazing
@nic-ci_66-773 жыл бұрын
Rotten invented punk and Lydon invented what came after.. too much genius for just one johnny!
@purplewoodencustard Жыл бұрын
This should be taught in music lessons at school!!!
@SoilentGr33n11 жыл бұрын
This particular live rendition sounds so much better and immediate than the album version.
@giggie14 жыл бұрын
fuckin brilliant ! still ahead of its time !
@mattycfox12 жыл бұрын
Awesome stuff
@beefheart14106 жыл бұрын
1978 to 1981 sublime. After that, forget it!
@struttingbirdlofi3 жыл бұрын
Commercial Zone would have been good. The unfinished version of it is on KZfaq and is really good.
@royalnass10297 жыл бұрын
john lyndon and david byrne are few of the only front men that gave ian curtis a run for his money from that era but he was still the best. RIP Ian Curtis