This is Not The Last PiL Tour
Featuring photos and captions by Dick Slaughter
If Trump, Manson, and the Joker had a baby, that baby would be Mr. Lydon. - PiL at Cruel World Festival. - All photos and captions are courtesy of ©dickslaughter.com.
John Lydon returns to the USA this fall for a gargantuan coast-to-coast PiL tour. Billed as ‘This Is Not the Last Tour,’ the first leg kicks off September 3 at Pappy & Harriet’s in Pioneertown, California. With stops throughout Northern and Southern California before heading across the country, there really is very little excuse not to catch them. With this many towns and cities on the itinerary, there has to be one somewhere near you.
The first leg also includes the recently added Riot Fest in Chicago on September 19, where Lydon may just run into a few of his former bandmates, before wrapping up in Nashville on October 9, 2026. The second North American leg begins in Salt Lake City on February 17, 2027, and winds up in Cleveland on March 24
Like him or not, the man can sing. PiL in Hollywood.
With special guests, Plague Vendor on all dates.
Plague Vendor and PiL. It’s like a match made in a laboratory somewhere in Asia
Following the passing of his wife, Nora Foster, and lifelong friend and manager, John Rambo Stevens, both in 2023, Lydon thought he might retire from touring. However, he was overwhelmed by the response, love, and support of fans, and this year is set to be an important one for the band.
Mr. Lydon reenacts his favorite scene from the 1997 movie Titanic at the Rebellion Fesivals—all photos and captions are courtesy of ©dickslaughter.com.
A new live album, Alive, recorded during last year’s tour, is available via A Way With Media, and the band is working on an album of new material for release in early 2027.
Alive artwork by John Lydon
Currently on tour in Europe, Lydon said, "After losing Nora and Rambo, I couldn’t see a way through. The thing is, people were so overwhelmingly positive; they really showed me a lot of love, and they asked me to tour PiL again. With so many people asking and with the band meaning so much to them, I couldn’t just stay on my sofa and not tour—as tempting though that obviously is.”
A very rare photo of Mr. Lydon with his mouth shut, taken in Hollywood, CA
"We're looking forward to playing to our friends in North America. It feels like it's been a long time and we're pleased to be coming back. We've just been into the studio for four weeks to start work on our new record. You'll be hearing a lot more from PiL."
After fronting the Sex Pistols, John Lydon formed post-punk originators Public Image Ltd (PiL). Widely regarded as one of the most innovative bands of all time, their music and vision earned them 5 UK Top 20 Singles and 5 UK Top 20 Albums.
With a shifting line-up and unique sound – fusing rock, dance, folk, pop and dub – Lydon guided the band from their debut album ‘First Issue’ in 1978 through to 1992’s ‘That What Is Not’, before a 17-year hiatus.
Lydon reactivated PiL in 2009, touring extensively and releasing three critically acclaimed albums, ‘This is PiL’ (2012), ‘What The World Needs Now…’ (2015), and ‘End of World’ (2023).
Following the departure of long-serving drummer Bruce Smith at the end of 2023, his replacement, Mark Roberts, joins John Lydon (vocals), Lu Edmonds (guitar), and Scott Firth (bass).
Love him or hate him, Mr. Lydon is the Pavarotti of punk rock. - PiL in Hollywood—all photos and captions are courtesy of ©dickslaughter.com.
Tickets are available from venues and via pilofficial.com
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