Pure Punk Picks
Annalisa – Public Image Limited
As I’m sure you know, Public Image Limited or P.I.L., was Johnny Rotten’s or John Lydon’s, next band after The Sex Pistols.
And bloody hell! I don’t believe he’s had another band since.
Public Image Limited was one of the first bands I recall being referred to as “post-punk.” And there were quite a few English bands around that time, called that, that I quite liked.
Such as: Joy Division, Psychedelic Furs, Gang Of Four and many others.
And American bands, too, such as: Big Black, Bush Tetras, Pere Ubu and many more.
Of course, with the bands who were new at that time- it’s a bit hard to sort it out. Were they really part of the original punk scene, or post-punk or simply, new wave?
It was merely, a time for a lot of new, exciting bands that played music derived from rock.
In the present, I’m not a fan of bands that refer to themselves as post-punk, as it seems they have very little or nothing at all to do with punk music. Granted, a lot of the original post-punk bands might have not either, but they still offered a distinct, worthy approach to rock music that had grown stale and conformist.
Now, I think that calling yourself “post-anything” is a bit nonsensical. It’s just signifying, that you have nothing to do with what happened before. It’s like saying death is “post-life”, hate is “post-love.”
And P.I.L.’s music had little or nothing to do with punk music, except for the vocals and lyrics, but that element being such an important part of their band, I guess, that has to be taken into consideration.
Johnny Rotten had been influenced more by obscure, prog rock bands like Van Der Graf Generator and Can, along with dub reggae; a lot more than The Stooges or the New York Dolls, which the other members of The Sex Pistols had been influenced.
But I believe the first few albums by P.I.L. were great, and their influence on the current local scene and beyond, was immense at the time.
And Johnny, no matter what name he’s choosing at the time, is always an amazing, one of the best punk singers.
And though, he’s had many great vocal performances- I think this might be my favorite one.
If I remember correctly, this song was based on a true occurrence- of a religious couple believing their young daughter was possessed and they literally, starved herself to death.
“Annalisa was 15 years, stole her soul, but I have no tears. Ever been alone and heard the voice? Not your own, I’ve seen those fears- Annalisa.”
A hard driving beat is met with Keith Levine’s abrasive, dissonant guitar licks. He was an original member of The Clash, but noting his style, I can see why he didn’t fit in with that lot!
The all female punk/funk band the Bush Tetras were playing in New York at the same time and the music of this song sounds very similar to them, but I really believe that they were both probably unaware of each other in their early stages.
This song is very groove orientated, has no “nice” production values to make it more palatable. With stark, dissonant guitar and bleating, passionate vocals- there was no compromises here to make it reach the then, current pop charts.
At seven minutes, some might say it was a bit indulgent, but it’s not like there’s drum solos here. It’s pretty neat to know that these guys were not giving the powers that be what they wanted. That they were making music exactly how they wanted and it was great, and that’s what’s known as art.
“Somehow you used ignorance for sense. Melodrama in your eyes, all concern rests with the dead… Annalisa had no escape, starved to death in a waiting room. Cheap concern and rosary beads. Did not solve screaming needs- Annalisa.”
Towards the end of this song when Johnny repeatedly screams out the name of the person who bears the title of this song, is exciting, terrifying, blood-curdling and thrilling. Much like Iggy Pop’s singing on “Death Trip” or Kathleen Hanna of Bikini Kill’s singing on “Tell Me So.”
It’s not vocals that are “over the top” or “on the edge” but really, beyond both those phrases. It’s not so much singing, but screaming with intense emotion and feeling. That rips at your gut and soul and every living organ in between.
And now, the youth of our country, and really the youth of the world, try to make their way and survive in a life corrupted and spoiled by their elders. By the extravagant, immoral, blind ways of the old, the tired, the depleted.
They’re left to set right a course, that’s been set for disaster and extinction for a very, long time.
But unlike Annalisa, I think they will win out. I believe in the youth more than anything I’ve ever believed in.
And as the rotting corpses of my generation rot way, along with their old, stupid, prejudiced, inscrutable ideas and ways-
The children of their children will inherit a true and positive and healthy good life.
With a much better outcome than Annalisa.
(Slimedog)
