XFM London marked the 25th anniversary of the release of Public Image Ltd’s Album by broadcasting a documentary about it.

By John Curley 

XFM London recently broadcast an excellent documentary that marked the 25th anniversary of the release of Public Image Ltd.’s landmark release that was simply titled Album. DJ Ian Camfield interviewed John Lydon for the documentary about the making of the album, its impact, and other topics. It was really interesting, and is a must-listen for any PiL fans. 

PiL’s Album was their most commercial release. Among the musicians featured on the album were guitarist Steve Vai and drummer Ginger Baker. 

The documentary is about 60 minutes in length. It can be heard by going to http://www.xfm.co.uk/news/2011/xfm-25-album-by-pil and clicking the “LISTEN AGAIN HERE” audio link.

John Lydon has been discussing his new book (and Arsenal soccer) in recent appearances on UK radio.

By John Curley 

John Lydon has been promoting his new book, which is titled Mr. Rotten’s Scrapbook. Lydon spoke with XFM London’s Ian Camfield about the book recently. (Radio listeners in the New York City area might remember Camfield from his time as a DJ at the now-defunct K-Rock.) Lydon’s book is a limited edition, and he spoke to Camfield about how the book came about as well as other topics. To listen to the interview, go to http://www.xfm.co.uk/artists/interviews/ian-camfield-meets-john-lydon and click the “Ian Camfield meets John Lydon” audio link. 

XFM London are broadcasting a special today (Sunday, February 27th) about the 25th anniversary of Public Image Ltd’s album that was titled, simply, Album. The special should be available for listening after today via XFM’s Listen Again function. See http://www.xfm.co.uk for additional information. 

Lydon, a lifelong fan of the North London-based Premier League soccer team Arsenal, recently stopped by the London studios of Absolute Radio in Golden Square to discuss Arsenal with former Arsenal star and current Absolute Radio on-air personality Ian Wright. Lydon proves to be a very knowledgeable fan, indeed. To watch clips from Lydon’s interview with Ian Wright, click in the appropriate places below: 

Part 1: 

Part 2: 

Part 3:

Adam Lambert announces plans to release “Glam Nation Live” (19 Recordings / RCA Records), a CD/DVD, on March 22nd. Shot in Indianapolis, Indiana at Clowes Hall on August 31st, 2010 and directed by Doug Spangenberg, the CD/DVD features 12 tracks plus a bonus cut and includes some of Lambert’s most popular performances such as “Ring of Fire”, “If I Had You” and the Grammy nominated “Whataya Want From Me.”

Lambert, who is nominated for a Grammy for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance, will be showcasing clips from the Glam Nation Live CD/DVD on VEVO beginning Friday, February 11th. Starting today, fans can pre-order Glam Nation Live as well as an exclusive “Glam Nation Tour Pack” at AdamOfficial.com.

Lambert’s debut album For Your Entertainment (19 Entertainment / RCA Records) has sold over 1 million copies worldwide since making it’s debut at #3 on the Billboard Top 200 chart in November 2009. He is first American Idol to ever tour the world in support of their debut album in the year following their Idol season. Lambert’s hit single “Whataya Want From Me,” written by Pink and Max Martin, became his first #1 hit on the Billboard charts, topping the Hot Singles Sales survey as well as Hot Dance Singles Sales chart. “Whataya Want From Me” has been a smash hit on many charts, including the Hot 100, Pop Songs, Adult Top 40, Adult Contemporary, Hot Digital Songs and Hot Dance Club Play. It has also become an international hit, going top 10 in Australia, Sweden, South Africa, New Zealand, Denmark, Hungary, Czech Republic, Poland, Argentina and Finland and reaching #1 airplay in Canada, Germany & Singapore. “If I Had You” also charted Top 10 in Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Finland, South Africa and Canada.

Lambert’s performances on Season 8 included collaborations with Queen and KISS. His performances of songs including “Mad World,” “The Tracks Of My Tears,” “Ring Of Fire” and “Whole Lotta Love” are still widely regarded as some of the most popular moments in American Idol history.

For more information go to www.adamofficial.com

Glam Nation TRACKLISTING:
01 Voodoo
02 Down The Rabbit Hole
03 Ring Of Fire
04 Fever
05 Sleepwalker
06 Whataya Want From Me
07 Soaked
08 Aftermath
09 Sure Fire Winners
10 Strut
11 Music Again
12 If I Had You
ENCORE
13 20th Century Boy

• Get the new John Lennon book: “John Lennon: Life is What Happens, Music, Memories & Memorabilia”
• Buy the brand new edition of “Goldmine Standard Catalog of American Records 1948-1991, 7th Edition”
• Get a Goldmine collective on The Beatles, “Meet the Fab Four CD”

Nutz
Tightened Up! 
Live In Nottingham 1977
(Market Square MSMCD 153)
Grade: ★★★★

By Dave Thompson

Nutz were one of those hard-rocking bands that pointed the British boards through the first half of the 1970s — too tough to make much headway with the Glam Rock crowd, too big to dent the Pub Rock scene, but too individual to push into the metal circuit, which, let’s be honest, was pretty stultifying by then.  With better handling, they could have given Thin Lizzy a run for their money; with better clothes, they could have topped Nazareth.

In fact, the only reason most people remember Nutz today is for their artwork, a French-maid clad lady bending forward and … well, let’s not worry about that now. Suffice to say, three absurdly under-performing albums filled the band’s time between 1974-1976, and the band’s label, A&M, was already planning a new live LP when the English Radio Trent booked the band for a live broadcast in March 1977.

That is what we have here, and if you’ve spent the last three decades plus in the company of the “official” live set, “Nutz Live Cutz,” then here’s your chance to discover what the band really sounded like, warts and all, with no post-production studio niceties whatsoever. Nutz seethe across a dozen tracks that not only round up the best of the band’s past, but also look toward the future — the New Wave of British Heavy Metal was still a couple of years away from birth. But Nutz know it’s coming and “Tightened Up!” (an ironic title for an album that sounds so deliciously loose) is laying down the blueprint for much of it.

Truly, the only people who don’t like Nutz are … nutz.