1985. The last (first?) great PIL album. A much healthier looking John Lydon sneering his way through the 80's. Bill Laswell did an amazing job producing the record, which features guest appearances by Steve Vai, Ginger Baker, and Ryuichi Sakamoto. The two main points Lydon keeps repeating in "Rise" - "anger is an energy" and "I could be wrong - I could be right" seem to be an evolved perspective on the same things that had him ranting in the 70's - that what is normal to some people may seem totally f*cked to others, and sometimes shouting about it is the best way to draw attention to the disparities. Or maybe he just wanted to they're just words and he totally fooled me, I don't know - crank up Public Image Limited's "Rise" - another essential 80's track!
Anonymous says
Awesome album. I have this track on an OOLLLLLLD mixtape I listen to still, a lot. This song is one of its highlights.
A video of PiL's "The Body"? I must look.......
(Johnny's not wishy-washy on abortion, folks:)
(*THE BODY
When you run about
Without precautions
You'll get diseased
And need abortion
Until now
No vaccination
Can give you back your reputation
We want
We want your body
We want
We want your body
We want
We want your body (repeat)
Cathy go home
Without your daughter
In a welfare state
She'll be well looked after
It's easy now
This other person
Is off your back not a burden
We want
We want your body
We want
We want your body
We want
We want your body (repeat)
Body*)
ebuzzmiller says
funny, i was introduced to Lydon at a Virgin Records Christmas party right about this time (1987?) - i was working at a record distributor and so a sales rep introduced me to Lydon who was reclined on a couch, he just looked up an me and gave this sour smile as I mumbled "Mr. Lydon, it's an honor......ummm....to.....(meet you?)....." and I shrunk into the floor. Exactly like how you think meeting him would be like, so it was for me....but I still loved that album with "Body".
Dale says
Hearing that Ginger Baker was on this album was quite a shock, as Ginger was one of artists at whom Johnny Rotten would have sneered earlier. Still a great song, but not quite at the dizzying heights of Metal Box and The Flowers Of Romance.
ebuzzmiller says
we're gonna keep it nice and friendly or the posts get deleted. one love peeps, there are enough flames on the web (not to mention the planet) to last a lifetime.
1985. The last (first?) great PIL album. A much healthier looking John Lydon sneering his way through the 80's. Bill Laswell did an amazing job producing the record, which features guest appearances by Steve Vai, Ginger Baker, and Ryuichi Sakamoto. The two main points Lydon keeps repeating in "Rise" - "anger is an energy" and "I could be wrong - I could be right" seem to be an evolved perspective on the same things that had him ranting in the 70's - that what is normal to some people may seem totally f*cked to others, and sometimes shouting about it is the best way to draw attention to the disparities. Or maybe he just wanted to they're just words and he totally fooled me, I don't know - crank up Public Image Limited's "Rise" - another essential 80's track!
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