In case you missed it, Saturday the 19th of December 2009 was exactly
thirty-three years to the day, when the Sex Pistols played for the
second time at the Electric Circus as part of the ill-fated Anarchy
Tour. I'd like to say that things are better now, but in all honesty I
can't; I'm still fucking skint which means I struggle to find the money
for concert tickets.
Mind you some concerts are worth the struggle and
forty quid isn't that much to pay to see someone who changed my life for
the better. I just hope the kids enjoy eating chicken flavoured crisps
instead of a turkey dinner on Christmas Day.
With my ticket in hand I get to the Academy early because I want to get
to the front, and fortunately I manage to get a spot right at the front,
centre stage. All I have to do is wait patiently for PiL to take the
stage, which, after watching an average support band happens at ten to
nine.
The band stroll on and Johnny comes to the front of the stage where
immediately he gets hit with an empty plastic beer pot that some prick's
lobbed from out of the crowd. Johnny shouts in the general direction of
where it's come from, that whoever threw it should fuck off now.
However while he's doing this, a second pot gets thrown, this time full
of beer, and hits him square on the chest, drenching him with cheap
lager. He certainly isn't too pleased about this! He says "I see who
you are; turn round and fuck off now because we don't want you here.
The only people who should be here are ones with a smile on their face."
He then adds "You're one of the reasons what's wrong with this country."
Now whether England's really in the doldrums because some goon's chucked
a pint of beer over John Lydon is debatable, but nevertheless with those
angry words Public Image Limited launch headlong into Public Image and
we're off.
And it's a truly beautiful thing to behold.
We're treated to all the classics that we've come to know and love
dearly: Poptones, Careering, Chant, you name them, they played them.
It's funny that although PiL and the Pistols share a common ancestry
they are two completely different entities. The Pistols was a blunt
instrument that would happily bludgeon its point across. Whereas, PiL
are more subtle and insidious, because before you know, the music worms
its way under your skin until you're completely hooked. At times PiL
sound gloriously ragged, and then before you know it the band suddenly
meshes together and becomes a rhythmic throb that shakes down your
spinal column and drags you along with it. There is an earth-shattering
Annalisa which for me was the highlight of the show, with Johnny
literally trawling the dark depths of his soul to dredge up raw emotions
and offer it for all to see. Of all the concerts I've seen, that will
be one of my most memorable moments.
The concert comes to a close at roughly ten thirty and the band leave the stage
for a quick cig before they're back to render an awesome Rise. Then
Johnny asks if the sporadic fighting that's broken out could please
cease before gifting us with a wonderful Open Up. It all finished far
too soon at eleven o'clock.
I missed my train home and had to walk
home. Thirty-three years ago to the day I missed my bus and I had to
walked home then. But I wouldn't have missed that gig, or this one now,
for the world.
