When the Pistols split in 1978, punk was still rising, so when Rotten reverted to Lydon and formed PiL, the world wasn’t ready. The eponymous debut single suggested a minor departure from his previous manifestation, yet when the album arrived, it was clear that post punk was born.
That debut single expressed Lydon’s frustrations with Malcolm McLaren and the album was a release of an unrestricted creativity. Under-appreciated at the time, it now stands as a pivotal masterwork which drove the genre into a new generation. Lydon’s affinity with reggae brought an infusion of dub and a wider influence from world music. There was greater emphasis on the music resulting from the partnership with bassist Jah Wobble.
By the time ‘Flowers...’ arrived, Wobble had departed and the band left bass out of the majority of the album. The result is a barren, meandering experience, yet it was Lydon’s most inventive writing and has gained wider appreciation through time. It led to the band donning a more commercial apparel into the ’80s, creating a chameleon back catalogue that has influenced a multitude of bands since.
'First Issue' 9/10
'The Flowers Of Romance' 7/10
Words by TC
