After the Sex Pistols crashed and burned in 1978, Johnny Rotten – now John Lydon – conjured PiL from the ashes, melding his own personal demons and passion for reggae, dub, and disco, assaulting the UK charts and defining post-punk for the next 14 years. His inimitable yowl is the only link to the good/bad old days; PiL’s other pillars, bassist Jah Wobble and guitarist Keith Levene, are long gone. Lydon’s stated reasons for this tour (and PiL’s first Seattle show in 18 years) are to introduce his music to a new generation and raise funds for a new record. Think back to his most recent local appearance, the Pistols’ reunion tour at Bumbershoot ’96, and don’t say you haven’t been warned. MICHAEL MAHONEY

Tue., April 20, 7 p.m., 2010