John Lydon: 'PiL will definitely record new material'

John Lydon has said that the newly-reformed Public Image Ltd. will "definitely" record new material after their December tour – as long as they have enough money to do so.

The former Sex Pistols man said that without record company money hitting the studio was not a certainty – but if the tour generated enough money it would happen.

"Yes, if I raise the money from this, I most definitely will [record new PiL material]," he told BBC 6music. "But what you've got to understand with is that every single time we recorded we only had one take, no money."

Lydon was referring to early recording sessions following the band's formation in 1978. "The Jam would pull out of Goldhawk Road [after recording in Townhouse Studios]", he said. "They're writing their new hit wonderful album because they have lots of record company backing.

"We knew they'd left so we'd run in, quickly record it, and that's [1979 album] 'Metal Box' for you. That's basically the John Lydon approach to music – wham, bam, thank you ma'am."

John Lydon to fund new PiL album with US tour

John Lydon has said that Public Image Ltd. are likely to record their first album in nearly 20 years after their forthcoming US tour.

The reunited post-punk band are set to kick off their first US gig run next month and Lydon said that the funds raised from the jaunt will probably be used to record the new album, possibly at his home studio in Los Angeles.

The band have not released a studio album since 1992's 'That What Is Not'.

"We've got no backing – no record company, no sponsors, nothing like that," he told Billboard. "The only way we can make money is the touring, and then we can make a new album. It's sort of like the old days of PiL, when the [Sex] Pistols went kaput; I had to scrimp and scrape out of my own pocket. Not much has changed."

Speaking of the band's new material, he added: "I never stop writing. Most of my influences have never really come from a musical act. It tends to be things like the poetic beat of a newscast. There's a rhythm to the way it's laid out. Movies can do that. Shakespeare and good poetry does that, and a bloody good book does that, or just a long walk."

Public Image Ltd. kick off their US gig run at the Coachella festival on April 16.

John Lydon postpones new PiL album to mourn Ari Up

John Lydon has postponed the recording of Public Image Ltd.'s new album in order to mourn his stepdaughter, The Slits' Ari Up.

The singer, real name Arianna Forster, died of cancer on October 25 aged 48. Lydon has said he is not yet ready to return to music-making with the reunited post-punk band.

"We were going to go into the studio but in light of my stepdaughter's death I really can't be doing that at the moment," he told BBC News.

He added: "I don't want to leave my wife alone for any length of time right now. So the music side has had to be held."

Lydon said he feels the delay will ultimately benefit the album's sound, adding that his Public Image Ltd. bandmates "all understand" his reasons.

Public Image Ltd confirm they're working on new material

Public Image Ltd. have confirmed that they are in the process of writing and recording new material.

The post-punk band, who reformed in 2009, last released a studio album almost 20 years ago, with 1992's 'That What Is Not', but have been touring extensively over the last 12 months and have now indicated they are looking to release a brand new album.

According to the Quietus, Lydon has said the band are in a studio which is "in the outskirts of nowhere."

Lydon, who funded Public Image Ltd.'s UK tour in 2010 after performing in a series of Country Life Butter adverts, said in the past that he would use the funds from that to pay for studio time as well as touring costs.

Public Image Ltd. recently performed at the Isle Of Wight Festival and are also booked to play Guilfest in two weeks time, alongside Status Quo, Peter Andre and Gallows.

John Lydon loses Public Image Ltd. songs after his house burns down

John Lydon has revealed that he has lost some of the new songs he has written for Public Image Ltd. after his house burned down.

Speaking to BBC News, the singer told of how he was in Italy when his wife called to tell him their house had burned down.

He said: "I was in Italy. My wife rang me up just before we were going on stage. She said 'Oh John, I don't want to disturb you. The house has burnt down.' I hadn't been in the house for two years. First time I tried to get the house clean it goes up in flames."

The singer then told reporters that he had lost several songs he had written for the new album of Public Image Ltd., saying of this: "Welcome to Rotten World."

He added that hearing his wife Nora Forster was unharmed from the fire "was the best news I've ever had in my whole life" and that the destruction of the house "doesn't matter."

Lydon also said working with Public Image Ltd. "has been the most difficult thing I've ever had to do in my entire life."

The singer had previously said that the band were in a studio which is "in the outskirts of nowhere", working on their first album since 1992's 'That What Is Not'.

John Lydon reveals title of new Public Image Ltd. album

John Lydon has revealed that the title of Public Image Ltd.'s long awaited ninth studio album will be 'This Is PiL'.

The band, who announced their reformation in 2009, have been working on their first album since 1992's 'That What Is Not' for the past two years.

Speaking about the album to BBC 6Music, Lydon said of the planned title: "It is probably going to be called 'This is PiL' basically because it is, it is all the work, effort and energy we put into this record."

The singer also spoke about the struggle he and his bandmates had gone through to create the album, saying that though people believe he is a wealthy man, he was forced to tour for two years with Public Image Ltd. to raise enough money for recording costs.

He added: "I was always full of ideas, but I had to wait until I had enough money to release an album. Everybody thinks I made such a fortune with the Sex Pistols. Well, unfortunately that is not true, to make this record we had to tour extensively for two years."

Public Image Ltd.'s new album is set to be released at some point in 2012.

John Lydon: 'If you want to know why PiL don't have a record label, look at 'X Factor''

John Lydon has said that the reason Public Image Ltd. struggled to find a record label is because of The X Factor.

The frontman told NME that he and his band had found it hard to find a label they wanted to work with because the music industry is unwilling to take a risk on artists who "strive to break barriers".

With Public Image Ltd. set to release their new studio album 'This Is PiL' this year, Lydon revealed that the band were now "very close" close to signing with a label but said that it had been hard to find one free from "shenanigans or dictatorships".

Speaking about the impact the likes of TV talent shows like The X Factor and American Idol had had on the music business, he said: "[They're] unimportant. And it's a shame that the music industry has been taken over and dominated by them. Particularly American Idol… you know, the way they love to awards themselves every year, those institutions.

"It's all artists from that ilk, isn't it? If you want to call them artists. Unfortunately there's some fantastic singers that come out of that, but they're karaoke."

He went on to add:


'This Is PiL', which is expected to be released in the first half of 2012, will be the band's ninth studio album. Lydon previously claimed that the band were forced to tour extensively to raise enough money to record the LP, stating: "Everybody thinks I made such a fortune with the Sex Pistols. Well, unfortunately that is not true, to make this record we had to tour extensively for two years."

I saw them on Kimmel and I think the new lineup sucks. The guitarist is terrible. Pass. PiL were a great band though.

Anyone know where I can get a look at a setlist from the current tour?

[Edit - nevermind, turns out there's actually an updated official site including show reviews, and looks like no songs from That What Is Not]