Public Image Ltd. “Death Disco”

Published On: November 15, 2018Tags: , , , , , ,

Public Image Ltd. “Death Disco” b/w “No Birds Do Sing” 1979. “Death Disco” is a deeply funky dissonant post-punk groove that John Lydon wrote for his mother who had recently died of cancer: “She asked me to write a disco song for her funeral.” It’s not a happy song but it is really really good. “Death Disco” went to #20 on the UK single chart and was reimagined and retitled to “Swan Lake” on PiL’s 1979 album Metal Box; it also was included on the ‘83 album Live in Tokyo. “No Birds Do Sing” also has a deep bass groove, dissonant guitar and Lydon’s snarly whine but is not as intense and feels more hypnotic, like super-early gothy shoe-gaze.