Review submitted to www.sex-pistols.net by Martin Doubtfire

Brixton Academy, the Sex Pistols are playing, and Lydon decides to break all the rules and wears a lime green PIL t shirt, the first signs of what is to come and a glimpse, perhaps, that the Lydon marketing machine is rolling into action. A few years later and a fully fledged PIL hit the road, 2+ hour long sets, no Levine or Wobble, a new bassist, songs you never thought you would hear live like 'Albatross' and '4 Enclosed Walls', and to the PIL purist, perhaps some that you shouldn't, 'Open up' and 'Psychos Path', but, if you know anything about the man that fronts this outfit, churlish not to expect some sort of debate.

This summer, amidst stories of recording new material, PIL tour, mainly festivals, and a new direction for the band, you see playing your own gigs will evidently bring your own fans, yet playing festivals, and in this case, Guildford's Guilfest, a festival that constantly wins many friendly and family festival of the year awards, and brings you face to face to face with people that have parted £100+ to see the likes of Roger Daltrey, N-Dubz and James Blunt. Despite a few old punks scattered on the bill like Adam Ant and the UK Subs, you're facing a tough crowd, and to top it off, a wet and muddy crowd - this is English festival season don't forget - and you are the last band on the Sunday evening whilst James Blunt warbles, on the main stage.

Guilfest is very careful about the acts it's booked, and as a family festival it's fair to say that 95% of the audience are either over 40 or under 20, the troublesome 20-40 age group not being catered for. It's obvious to me, that of those assembled in front of the 'Good Time Guide' stage, many will not have seen PIL or the Pistols before, they are here, either as curious onlookers, to see the legend 'puke n spit n swear', casual admirers or having paid their £100, don't fancy Blunt, and want to get their money's worth and prolong their festival experience.

PIL arrive dead on time, no intro music. Lydon announces that he is fully aware that there are many children present and that neither he nor we should swear. 'This is not a love song', 'Public Image', 'Flowers of Romance' and 'Home' are played, effortlessly, superbly and with a freshness as if the band on stage had written them all yesterday.

When I talk of the Lydon marketing machine, those 4 opening songs sum it up, something for everyone; 'Love song'...the hit and sing along number, 'Public Image' has a few beery blokes jumping about, 'Flowers', as challenging now as it ever was, a song that is the very essence of all PIL were/are, and 'Home', not played on the last tour (I am prepared to be corrected but don't remember it) for the PIL purists that have forked out and stood in the mud and rain for this very moment..

If you're reading this than chances are you have seen PIL either on this tour or the last and are fully aware of the sort of sets they have been playing. 'Home' aside, there are no surprises, but in the face of the type of crowd, the band stick to the more, shall we say, better known songs. The more challenging material, from 'Flowers' and 'Metal Box' left aside tonight, but we do get the fantastic 'Bags' into 'Chant' and a blistering 'Religion' - the all familiar 'more bass' demands from Lydon challenging the festivals PA, which it stands up to pretty well actually.

The encore is, as the first 4 songs, something for everyone, 'Swan Lake', 'Rise' and 'Open up'...the latter I would have gladly dropped, however the sudden rush to the stage and much bouncing about by all ages probably made it the highlight of the festival for all there, apart from us grumpy PIL purists, obviously. Again, Lydon is no mug, he knows that if PIL are to release new material, the handful of old die-hards isn't going to propel him up the charts and fund more tours, and these audience friendly shows are the perfect way to show what he is, what's he's done and that he is still around and meaning business.

As the last chords of 'Open Up' fade - probably because he couldn't resist it - Lydon becomes Rotten and shouts 'Guilfest..fucking open up and get off your arses'...a massive cheer is heard...all have seen PIL, in its glory, they have seen a band that actually meant something and will hopefully mean something going forward, they have heard some of the greatest material ever put onto vinyl, played live. And, if you like that sort of thing kids...Johnny Rotten swore.