PiL “Public Image” 1978. 45 rpm.  Wizard Records (This is an Australian import which came with a 4 page PiL newspaper, a black and white version of the UK sleeve, designed to be a parody of a tabloid. Wizard 25 302 appears on the newspaper.).

The single “Public Image” hit #9 on the UK charts in 1978 and is a scathing critique of John Lydon’s experience in the Sex Pistols: all image and no brain. PiL was Lydon’s f-you to the music machine, helping to propel punk into post-punk with musical experimentation, wit, intelligence while giving a great big middle finger to ‘the man.’ The b-side of the single is “The Cowboy Song,” distortion and frenetic bass, incoherent yelling and nary a melody line or hook to speak of, apparently its purpose was to mock the purchase of the record and/or piss off the record execs.