Recording Label: ? Running Time: 56 minutes Year: 2010

ISMN: ? Recording Company Code: ? Quality: 8 +

 

Brussels, Belgium, Theatre 140 - 20.12.1978 (Thanks to Mick & Richard)

Complete audience master recording.

PiL played 2 sets at their first ever gig in Belgium, however only a recording of the second set has ever surfaced. It's essential listening for any PiL fan due to the historical aspects of the tape and the rawness of the band at this stage. As the band amble on to the stage Wobble has a dig at the audience, who apparently had to wait outside for a few hours due to everything running late, by saying: "Well, they say the best things are worth waiting for." Although I doubt that the crowd would describe the show that followed as the best things. A lot of tuning up and general sound checking follows before they tear into a ramshackle version of Theme.

The quality is a lot better than some of the PiL bootlegs that turned up within the coming years, which is a huge bonus for this CD.

Belsen was a Gas, which was probably only included because it was the most obscure Pistols song and a good way to pad out the skeletal PiL set at that point, is more shambolic than a true cover version. Strange that they should include a Pistols song yet neglect to play Annalisa. Or perhaps this is a sign that the tape has been edited...

Despite sounding a bit out of tune at times, Keith's guitar sounds amazing and Wobble's bass will make your speakers vibrate. It's only Walker's drumming in my opinion that let's things down, especially on Belsen. It sounds too disjointed and un-rhythmical. People may say it was integral to the original PiL sound, but I always thought Martin Atkins filled this role much more admirably.

After Religion a number of audience members begin shouting: "You take the money - we take the lies!" as Lydon throws abuse back at them. All in all it's a very unfriendly, bitter atmosphere, due mostly to PiL's and indeed Lydon's general hostile attitude towards the paying punters. As early as the third song Lydon is threatening to leave the stage due to a sprained voice, however his threat doesn't actually materialise until after Attack, leaving the band to trot through a few aimless instrumentals on their own.

There is a cut between Cowboy Song 1 & 2

Track Names:

1. Soundcheck .

2. Theme.

3. Belsen was a Gas.

4. Low Life.

5. Religion. 

6. Attack. 

7. Cowboy Song 1. 

8. Cowboy Song 2. 

9. Public image (instrumental).