The infamous English post-punk band Public Image Ltd have announced a new album, End Of World, and a UK tour. The album will be released on 11th August 2023, and the tour will follow in September. It will be their 11th studio album, and the first one in eight years.
The announcement is accompanied with the release of the first single from the album “Penge“. You can listen to the new single below, which lead singer John Lydon described as “something of a medieval Viking epic.”
The single was released yesterday, on April 11th, before the news of the tour and album was announced. The band posted videos of the band in the studio on Twitter in anticipation of the release, as shown below.
Penge – New PiL single released Tuesday, April 11th. Also look out for a big announcement the same day…
See PiL and John Lydon socials for teasers over the next few days… pic.twitter.com/DMP8cD4vS0
— Public Image Ltd (@pilofficial) April 6, 2023
The big announcement comes after the news that John Lydon‘s wife of forty-four years, Nora Forster, died this week at the age of eighty. She had been diagnosed with Alzheimers in 2018. The band posted the news on Twitter, as seen below, also announcing that the upcoming album would be released in her honour.
Rest in Peace Nora Forster 1/2 It is with a heavy heart that we share the sad news that Nora Forster – John Lydon’s wife of nearly 5 decades – has passed away. Nora had been living with Alzheimer’s for several years. In which time John had become her full time carer. pic.twitter.com/mEabNLmrHy — Public Image Ltd (@pilofficial) April 6, 2023
They also announced below their plans to continue with the release and tour, despite the awful news.
PiL have decided to continue plans to announce their 11th studio album End of World, following the sad passing of John’s wife Nora Forster. End of World will be released on 11th August followed by a 38-date UK & European Tour.
See https://t.co/LWN0WufLlG website for full info pic.twitter.com/tKvhiQ3prX
— Public Image Ltd (@pilofficial) April 11, 2023
The final song on the album “Hawaii“, was released earlier this year, in honour of John’s wife. It is described on the band’s official website as “the most personal piece of songwriting and accompanying artwork that John Lydon has ever shared. The song is a love letter to John’s late wife Nora.”
The statement continued, calling it “A pensive, personal yet universal love song that has resonated with many since its release in January, the song sees John reflecting on their lifetime well spent and in particular one of their happiest moments together in Hawaii. John said, “Nora loved the album, she wouldn’t have wanted us to postpone it or change any of our plans.” Previously he has said of Hawaii, “It is dedicated to everyone going through tough times on the journey of life, with the person they care for the most.”
The offical tracklist for the album End Of World is as follows:
1. “Penge”
2. “End Of The World”
3. “Car Chase”
4. “Being Stupid Again”
5. “Walls”
6. “Pretty Awful”
7. “Strange”
8. “Down On The Clown”
9. “Dirty Murky Delight”
10. “The Do That”
11. “L.F.C.F”
12. “North West Passage”
13. “Hawaii”
The band, also known as PiL, was formed by singer John Lydon, formerly of the Sex Pistols, in 1978. He formed the band with guitarist Keith Levene, bassist Jah Wobble, and drummer Jim Walker, but has remained the only constant member since. The band’s music is of the post-punk genre, but has a distinct experimental sound often associated with John Lydon’s style of singing.
The band released their debut album First Issue in 1978, the first of 11 albums. There was a seventeen year hiatus between 1992 and 2009, before Lydon brought the band back together for two new albums and a world tour. In 2018, PiL celebrated their 40th anniversary with the release of a box set of career highlights, a documentary, which were both called The Public Image Is Rotten’, and a 32-date UK/Europe/Japan tour.
John Lydon, Lu Edmonds, Scott Firth and Bruce Smith continue as the official line up of PiL.
You can pre order the album here, due to be released on the 11th of August.
Stream the new single here:
Tickets for the tour can be purchased here from the 14th April at 10am. Presale starts on the 12th. The tour begins in Swansea, in September, and all 15 UK dates are listed below:
11/09/2023 – Patti Pavilion – Swansea
12/09 – Dreamland – Margate
13/09 – Engine Shed – Lincoln
15/09 – King George’s Hall – Blackburn
16/09 – Tivoli – Buckley
18/09 – Fire Station – Sunderland
19/09 – Beach Ballroom – Aberdeen
21/09 – O2 Academy – Edinburgh
22/09 – O2 Ritz – Manchester
23/09 – Picture Dome – Holmfirth
25/09 – HMV Empire – Coventry
26/09 – Chalk – Brighton
28/09 – O2 Academy – Bristol
29/09 – Foundry – Torquay
30/09 – O2 Forum Kentish Town – London
