I don't think Lydon gets enough (or at least the right kind) of credit. People are always trashing him and saying he's a poseur, sellout, what have you...But he really shaped the face of punk. He made punk, he has the vision, the words, the music just naturally. PUBLIC IMAGE LIMITED is really groundbreaking stuff, in some ways more complex and developed than Sex Pistols, and they lasted longer. They really deserve more credit I think... Well, that's at least a 16-year-old's point of view...

I agree! PiL are underrated and deserve more credit then they get. A really awesome post punk band.

Lost his mother and then Sid, heartbreaking. Unbelievably strong and unique individual. Legendary.

This was a very different and original song in 1979, when the second generation punks were trying to be John. Meanwhile here was John being himself.

probably the first post-punk band, got to give them credit, especially johnny, absolute legend, the jesus of punk x

I love the way Jah Wobble always sits on a chair in music videos, whilst playing a bass.

I used to fall to sleep to the 12" single - I was 14/15. In my 'art' class I screen printed the PIL logo on t shirts and sold them to class mates - this was Bulwell 1979

First 'punk' song I ever heard, aged 7. I didn't even know what punk was, I just liked this strange little song. I still don't know how Keith Levene made all those sounds with just a guitar. Rest in Power.

Beautiful video, warms the heart. the experiment succeeds and we are the richer for it, thank you johnny

100% totally cool John Lydon stage antics. I love the eyes and the passion! Fucking hell!

Just amazing!! One of the best songs I've ever heard...and John is incredible in the video...god I love him...I wish I could have been to a PiL or a Pistols' gig...!! 5 stars...keep feeding my Lydon obsession :P

awesome,many thanks!

the lineup or Lydon, Wobble, Levine was the absolute best

i love him.

so young here, but still talks about the impact losing his mom, and to a lesser extent, his dad, made in his life.

Awesome stuff! Thanks for posting it. PIL 4 ever!

Oh god Johnny, Keith and Wobble are so fucking gorgeous!

Keith Levene is amazing.

Jah's demented smile at :54. Epic.

PIL at it's PEAK of perfection!! FUCKING BRILLIANT!

I'm not sure they lasted that much longer. I like to think of PiL as several bands.

While not my favourite group, i did and could appreciate what they were doing, and good luck to them for it.

insane song, too good ;)

Great bass line

"Words are useless"

YEP HE IS the Bruce Lee of Punk ,the genuine article

One of the greatest songs ever made, along with We Are All Prostitute by The Pop Group

PIL = Jah Wobble. amazing.

hum! la disco for ever

🖤

Brilllllliiiiiiant....................

Lydon was really cute when he was young.

yeah-what a ghost-gig ! haunteeeeeeedddd

pil at their best!love this song!

well i hope as a 20 year old now, as it indicates you wrote this 4 years ago, you remain as wise. all the best

They certainly moved ahead of the game...gotta give that to Lydon.

it's definitely richard dudanski in this video. watch the video for "bad life" if you want to see what martin atkins looks like.

best ever PIL

When PiL first started playing live, Wobble had to sit in a chair because he couldn't really play the bass standing up.

I agree

Goddamn I love that Travis Bean

He was also quoted as to why he stared so much, becauase he couldn't see the audience properly and putting 2+2 together what he said on 7 ages of rock, needing to keep a eye open for flying bottles etc LOL

This bleakness spilt into my heart in black 1979, in a wonderful uplifting way. The following year, more horrific than punk, yuppie wannabees Spandau Ballet announced that their music was created as an opposite to Metal Box, which they considered to be the most depressing album ever. To cut a long story short, I head from M Radcliffe the other night that the Ballets are to reperform. And thankfully, like me, Mr Radcliffe, the only true peer to John Peel, albeit he seems to be a duet, scorned.

man, levine and his travis beans...

I thought that disco beat in rock context was unique to SOAD. Guess I was off by a decade or two. They do it well though - Violent Pornography is killer.

Lydons eyes are pointing in different directions. cor, wish I could do that

Check out John Lydon's book "Rotten: No Blacks, No Dogs, No Irish".

RIP Tom Snyder

lol :D

early creation talant from pil

Its almost a velvet underground song

Does anybody know the difference between 'Death Disco' and 'Swan Lake'?

Wait. This is not the song "Death Disco." I'm the first person on this thread to note this?

I own the UK CD version of Metal Box and it's still called Swan Lake. Do you mean the original vinyl?

uhhuh!!!!

I can't compare Public Image with Sex fuckin Pistols but they have some nice songs...like this for example.

written for his dying mum

skinny and young

more like.... sex-pistols meets iggy pop : ))

Roger wheres the who at THERE