NLOS ANGELES (Sex Pistols Fans Website) -"If you think we have anything to do with KROQ or Levi's, you're wrong," announced caustic
Sex Pistols frontman John Lydon during the band's first (and only scheduled) U.S. appearance in six years on Saturday (Sept. 14).
Corporate sponsorship and irony (the Pistols can be heard in an Absolut vodka commercial) aside, the Inland Invasion 2 at Glen Helen Blockbuster Pavilion in Devore, Calif. was a sometimes wild, often tame, punk rock primer packed into a 12-hour festival.
The event assembled 17 bands on two stages before a crowd of 50,000 people. Despite sweltering heat, rowdy fans moshed, crowd surfed, started bonfires on the lawn, fought, and went to extremes (two men were stabbed; another was arrested).
L.A.'s Distillers opened the festival stage, followed by Adolescents, T.S.O.L., and Birmingham England's venerable G.B.H., whose super-charged set was a frequent topic of conversation. Circle Jerks' chatty Keith Morris and company blitzed through more than a dozen hardcore tunes, including "Wild in the Streets," "Coup D'Etat," and the Soft Boys cover, "I Wanna Destroy You."
Unwritten Law launched the main stage at mid-afternoon. Together with headliner Sex Pistols and the Buzzcocks, the Damned represented the England's old-school punk vanguard. They gave one of the event's most exhilarating and unique performances. Captain Sensible dispatched sizzling guitar solos and snide remarks, while keyboardist Monty pogoed like a madman. Goth singer Dave Vanian's theatrical flair added drama to selections from 2001's Grave Disorder ("Democracy," "Amen"), but it was the classics - a bristling "New Rose" (the first British punk single in 1976), high energy "Neat Neat Neat," and an intense "Smash It Up" - that reached truly dizzying heights.
Not to be outdone, X started off with a fiery take on the Doors' "Soul Kitchen." John Doe and Exene Cervenka's tradeoff vocals were sharp as ever ("White Girl," "Los Angeles"). Guitarist Billy Zoom was in his "legs spread apart/Cheshire cat grin stance" and ripped rootsy riffs with precision ("Johnny Hit and Run Pauline," "Devil Doll"). Doe worked up quite a sweat, too, and clearly enjoyed himself -- even if the crowd response wasn't quite up to snuff.
The Buzzcocks didn't waste any time either, plowing through 14 crisp pop-punk songs at a breakneck pace. The influential Brits let the music do all the talking during a standout performance marked by Pete Shelley's still-distinctive nasal vocals and economical guitar riffs. The biting, anguished "Something's Gone Wrong Again," "Orgasm Addict," and "Ever Fallen in Love" proved best of the lot.
Walking onstage with arms aloft, the always unpredictable Lydon, 46, sported bleached blond hair divided by red and green stripes and was clad in a baggy tracksuit. The brawny force of "Bodies" launched the steamrolling 65-minute performance that never let up momentum. Lydon continually worked the entire stage, bugged out his eyes, spat, cleared his nostrils, did German lock-steps, dodged a barrage of trash, bragged about himself, chastised a guy holding up a sign ("ever get the feeling you've been fucked over, hippy?"), and let out those crazed caterwauls and guttural growls ("Pretty Vacant") to a rapturous crowd response.
As for the band, original guitarist Steve Jones, bassist Glen Matlock, and drummer Paul Cook created a forceful sound and gang-like backing vocal chants ("Liar," "EMI") to fine effect. Hey, they even looked bemused at being back. Finally, the Pistols concluded with a 1-2 punch ("God Save the Queen," "Anarchy in the UK") and threw in a Hawkwind (!) cover for a surprise encore. Then Lydon promised he'd be back soon -- with PiL.
Social Distortion leader Mike Ness summed up the vibe of the event best, saying, "This is like a high school reunion." The band's compelling lyrics about rebellion and individuality still ring true after 20 years. A pair of somber new tunes ("Angel's Wings," "I Wasn't Born to Follow") were just as compelling as the harmony-laden faves ("The Creeps," "Bad Luck"). Meanwhile, New Found Glory, Pennywise, Blink-182, and Bad Religion turned in sets that varied little from their respective spring and summer festival appearances. It was crowd-pleasing, business as usual from the Offspring.
