Public Image, Ltd on American Bandstand

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 11/29/07 at 10:54pm

In case you weren't born yet or somehow missed anti-rock's greatest moment.



Poptones/Careering

[blueroses]

Posted: 11/29/07 at 10:58pm

I loved PIL. I never knew they were on Bandstand! It seems like an odd fit, doesn't it?

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 11/29/07 at 11:19pm

I will never forget watching the show that day. I had seen them a few nights before, they were truly scary/fabulous on that first American tour.

Posted: 11/29/07 at 11:41pm

Bandstand was THE place to be seen for all touring Rock bands back in the days before MTV. All the cool bands played it.

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 11/29/07 at 11:49pm

You're kidding, right? Bandstand was a joke, particularly after it left Philadelphia and the "kids" in the audience were all paid actors. Not a single band ever played a note of live music on that show. Even Madonna, who was in no place to look a gift appearance in the mouth, was condescending when she first appeared.

There were many hipper places for a band to play before MTV. Don Kirschner's Rock Concert on NBC, In Concert on ABC to name two.

Posted: 11/30/07 at 12:57am

Oh it wasn't hip- but it was huge exposure. I remember seeing Prince on there for example.

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 11/30/07 at 1:11am

Another one who dripped with condescension. But when Warner Brothers said to do it, he and Madonna did it.

[wexy]

Posted: 11/30/07 at 4:05am

I saw Public Image Ltd. live in this little place by the Sheepshead Bay subway station in Brooklyn Zoo. Amazing. I also saw Iggy Pop, Billy Idol, Bow Wow Wow, The Plasmatics with Wendy O Williams and a drunk Ronnie Spector there in 81.

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 11/30/07 at 9:59am

I saw all of the above too, except Billy Idol. Poor Wendy. There are some HILARIOUS clips of her on youtube now and again. Particularly the one on the chat show where she confronts Mrs. Fields for selling poison to America.

Posted: 11/30/07 at 11:06am

Debbie Fields? The cookie lady? She's a doll! You back off Wendy!

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 11/30/07 at 11:33am

Don't worry, Wendy killed herself.

While alive, however, she was an ardent health food advocate and what she said to Debbie was what she really believed. Before Wendy walked off the show it was hilarious to watch Debbie squirm, with her Dynasty shoulder pads and would-be power bow. No match for a Plasmatic, though.

[Borstalboy]

Posted: 11/30/07 at 11:47am

PiL was infinitely better than the Sex Pistols...thank you for that glorious post!