Retro Spins: Public Image Ltd - 9

Well, here we are. The final entry of Public Image Ltd. for the 80's. They're a band, for me, which started off the decade somewhat struggling, but ultimately got better and better as their sound evolved, and new members came into the fold.

By 1989, the band was reduced to a quartet with the departure of Lu Edmonds, who left from difficulties associated with tinnitus. However, while he wouldn't contribute guitar to the ninth PiL studio album, appropriately called, 9, he would be credited as co-writer. He would eventually be replaced by Ted Chau. However, Chau doesn't perform on the album.

Evolving again, the band settled into a new wave pop rock sound for their decade ender. While it was initially intended to be produced by Bill Laswell, who had worked with Lydon on 1986's Album, once again Laswell caused waves. Much like with 1987's Happy? which saw the producer wanting to replace the band with session musicians, Lydon simply wouldn't agree to do that. The end result was that the agreement was dissolved, with Steven Hague, and Eric Thorngren being brought in to fill the role.

9 produced the band's most successful single to date, Disappointed. It would reach number thirty-eight in the UK, and hit both the Billboard's Modern Rock Charts, and Dance Club Songs charts. Further, Lydon himself has stated it's his favorite song he's ever written.

When it first kicked on, I felt the album was definitely bigger than previous releases. It included what felt like a full band sound, while also incorporating female background vocals. Extravagant comes to mind.

By track four, while I hadn't heard anything I disliked, it would be the odd U.S.L.S. 1, which would be the first track I actually wanted to add to my shuffle list. Worry would be the next which hit this mark, but again, I stress that I wasn't hearing anything bad. If anything, I kind of want to listen to the album from front to back again.

Was it a smashing ending to the decade? No, not really, but 9 was an enjoyable album overall. If nothing else, I'm really glad that as a whole I found some new tunes in this journey.

The irony is that when I first got into buying PiL albums, it was at the same time as when I started getting the Psychedelic Furs. If you would have asked me at the time, I would have told you the Furs were going to be the superior of the two. That turned out to be quite the opposite.

Years of living in the excess of the party life, Bruce Smith felt it best to step away in 1990 to get himself cleaned up. The band, consisting of remaining member John Lydon, John McGeoch, and Allan Dias, would continue on, recruiting Gregg "J.P." Arreguin, and Curt "Kirkee B." Bisquera for the 1992 released That What Is Not.

Virgin Records would decline to pay for a tour in support of the album, culminating in Lydon disbanding PiL. Rather than return to the music scene, he would spend 1993 working on his memoire, Rotten: No Irish, No Blacks, No Dogs, which was released the following year. in 1996, he participated in the reunion, Sex Pistols' Filthy Lucre Tour with Steve Jones, Glen Matlock and Paul Cook. This was followed in 1997 by his solo album, Psycho's Path.

2009 would finally see PiL reemerge, but unfortunately only Lu Edmonds, and Bruce Smith would return, with new member, Scott Firth. This new iteration would release three albums, This Is PiL (2012), What The World Needs Now... (2015), and End Of World (2023).

Sadly, Lydon's wife of forty-four years, Nora Foster, would pass away from Alzheimer in 2023. The singer would announce his retirement shortly thereafter but thankfully end up changing his mind. Public Image Ltd. is currently on tour, with shows scheduled to wrap up in May of this year.

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