John Lydon has spoken about the motivation behind forthcoming Public Image Ltd. album ‘What the World Needs Now…’.
Earlier today (May 18) the group announced the September 4 release date of their 10th studio album, the follow-up to 2012’s ‘This Is PiL’.
Speaking about the album title to Paste Magazine, Lydon said: “I’m not going to tell you what the world needs now. The dots are for you to fill in. I’m not preachy-preachy, me. I just give alternative ways of thinking and stand back to see what you come up with. That’s why I love books, films, TV – anything human beings are doing is great, to me. Even the bad stuff can be insightful.
“I’m not handsome, you know. I think I’m actually quite ugly. But I’ve made good use of that. And I don’t run my life according to other people’s values system. I have a value system of my own, which I think is far superior. It doesn’t hurt anyone, tries to make space for everyone. There was a time when the media twisted me into this very bizarre, nasty character that would be great to play in a film but impossible to live as a human being. But Johnny Rotten won in the end. I’ve outlived all the prejudices.”
He added: “The Pistols was a great beginning. What a boot camp training ground that was. It was right we broke up, though. Public Image Ltd.’s been my life’s work ever since. It’s where my heart beats best.”
The new album was recorded at Spencer Davis Group member Steve Winwood’s Wincraft studio in the Cotswolds and was self-funded by the band.
PiL will precede the album with lead single ‘Double Trouble’ on August 21. Released on 10-inch vinyl, the track will be backed by B-side ‘Bettie Page’ and bonus track ‘Turkey Tits’.
The ‘What The World Needs Now…’ tracklisting is as follows:
‘Double Trouble’
‘Know Now’
‘Betty Page’
‘C’est La Vie’
‘Spice Of Choice’
‘The One’
‘Big Blue Sky’
‘Whole Life Time’
‘I’m Not Satisfied’
‘Corporate’
‘Shoom’
The band have also announced details of an upcoming tour of the UK and Europe. Lydon and co will kick off a 23-date stretch in Glasgow during September, before playing Manchester, Bristol, London and other major cities.
PiL will then play several Europeans dates, with North American shows to be announced. See their live schedule in full below.
Public Image Ltd will play:
Glasgow 02 ABC (September 18)
Manchester Academy (19)
Newcastle Riverside (20)
York Fibbers (22)
Coventry Warwick University (23)
Bristol 02 Academy (25)
Buckley Tivoli (26)
Reading Sub 89 (27)
Bexhill De La Warr Pavilion (29)
Norwich UEA (30)
London 02 Shepherds Bush Empire (October 2)
Frome Cheese and Grain (3)
Southampton Engine Rooms (4)
Paris Le Trianon (6)
Amsterdam Paradiso (7)
Lausanne Les Docks (9)
Venice Rivolta (10)
Milan Magazzini Generali (11)
Mannheim Alte Seilerei (13)
Ludwigsburg Rockfabrik (14)
Berlin Columbia Theatre (15)
Bochum Zeche (17)
Antwerp Trix (18)