SharePublic Image Ltd performing their This Is Not The Last Tour at Rock City Nottingham on Friday 27th June 2025.
Images and Review by Kevin Cooper
The original godfather of British punk John Lydon and the other three members of Public Image Ltd were on blistering form at Rock City on Friday night for the extra date on their This Is Not The Last Tour that was slipped into their schedule because of the cancellation of The Stone Valley, North, South and Midlands Festivals, at which they were due to perform.
Who would have thought that Lydon could still command a crowd fifty years after igniting punk rocks explosive debut, yet on the intimate and atmospheric stage he proved that age is merely a number and that rebellion remains ageless.
There was some speculation that the ageing punk rocker may have quit touring in the wake of the deaths of wife Nora and Manager John ‘Rambo’ Stevens but thankfully this force of nature isn’t ready to pack in any time soon as he stood before a lectern holding his lyrics and belted out the likes of Home, Know Now and Deeper Water.
Lydon’s delivery was a master class in expressive storytelling with his piercing stare, rhythmic jaw movements and his snarling delivery on Death Disco and Flowers Of Romance. With his commanding presence in the centre of the stage being so dominant, it would have been easy to forget the rest of the band, but guitarist Lu Edmonds, bassist Scott Firth and newbie Mark Roberts on drums, were brilliantly tight and still sounded cutting edge.
Songs like (This Is Not A) Love Song, Rise and the self titled Public Image swept through the room with laser sharp clarity, the lyrics a reminder of the band’s uncompromising musicianship. Lydon’s voice was as strong as ever especially on the crowd pleaser, Time Zone’s World Destruction, and the standout Shoom.
Throughout the set Lydon was in fantastic form, as acerbic and defiant as ever. His vocals remain unlike any other singers, at time tortured, often angry and then strangely sensitive. But PiL had delivered an abrasive, energising set that was led by a singer who has made a career of wearing his heart on his sleeve and who will continue to redefine what it means to rock.
