jah wobble metal box in dub tour

• Album Reviews
• Live Reviews
• SPILL RETRO REVIEWS
• Entertainment Headlines
• Concert Listings
• Toronto Concert Venues
• Track Of The Day
• Track Of The Month
• Books + Movies

SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: JAH WOBBLE – METAL BOX – REBUILT IN DUB

Jah Wobble Metal Box – Rebuilt In Dub Cleopatra Records

Jah Wobble formed Public Image Limited (P.I.L.) with John Lydon, aka Johnny Rotten, when Rotten had left The Sex Pistols in 1978.He then left the band he helped create after their second album, 1979’s Metal Box . Although it never made the top 200 in the U.S. and was a minor hit in the U.K., where it peaked at number 18, it has gone on to be recognized as a bona fide classic. Original bassist Wobble has returned to present a rather interesting version of it.

Fans of Wobble will know that ‘dub’ is nothing new to the bassist. He has released, remixed and contributed to a number of ‘dub’ albums and songs in the past, but what may be surprising is his desire to go back to an old P.I.L. one. But why shouldn’t he? Lydon has kept the P.I.L name and has had quite a career with that band, and to be fair he has released a number of great albums with that moniker. But here, Wobble has re-recorded almost all of the songs from the original plus a couple of songs from the first P.I.L releases.

In many ways some of the songs benefit from the dub treatment. There is no point comparing the two, as the original is a classic, and in some ways untouchable, but Wobble has made it magnificent with his interpretation of the classic record. For the most part, it is instrumental but vocals do pop up, particularly with “Poptunes” and “Public Image”, which is from the first P.I.L release.  For the most part, Wobble has arranged the songs to fit his style and his use of ‘dub’.

Metal Box — Rebuilt In Dub kicks off with the original opening track, “Albatross”, which sets the tone. Wobble brings out the melody here, and in some ways is actually more melodic than the original. He takes his time with the song and over the six and half minutes. It is beautifully arranged and is the perfect way to start. The same can be said for “Swan Lake”, once again he takes his time finding his way through the song. In the end it is a beautiful, almost classical dub mix of the original.

It is interesting that Wobble did not cover all of the songs on the original release. Surprisingly, “Death Disco” is not included, which one would think would be the ultimate song for dub. Perhaps it is far too personal to Lydon, so Wobble left it off out of respect to him. Although it is missed, there are other exclusions such as “Chant” and “Radio 4”.  However, the inclusion of “Public Image” and “Fodderstompf” are welcome additions.

Overall, Wobble has created a new album, while paying tribute to a classic one at the same time. That is quite a feat. He was not only there for the original but co-wrote the rerelease. He has lovingly and creatively tackled the project with a great deal of talent and creativity. Metal Box — Rebuilt In Dub is a truly a wonderful album, both the 1979 original and 2021’s rerelease.

Artist Links

STAY UP-TO-DATE WITH OUR WEEKLY NEWSLETTER!

* Mandatory Field

Check your inbox or spam folder now (just in case!) to confirm your subscription.

Aaron Badgley

SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: LOREENA McKENNITT – THE MASK AND THE MIRROR LIVE

SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: THE DECEMBERISTS – AS IT EVER WAS, SO IT WILL BE AGAIN

SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: SLOW JOY – MI AMIGO SLOW JOY

SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: PSYCHIC GRAVEYARD – WILTING

SPILL RETRO REVIEW: THE BEATLES – ABBEY ROAD

• Home | The Spill Magazine
• Contributors
• Privacy Policy
• The Scene Unseen

Copyright © 2024 | The Spill Magazine All Rights Reserved.

1354 West Wabansia Ave, Chicago, IL 60642 | 773.227.4433

Jah Wobble – Metal Box – Rebuilt in Dub Tour

Jah Wobble Jah Wobble, born John Joseph Wardle on August 11, 1958, is an English bass guitarist, composer, and music producer. He gained prominence as the original bass player for Public Image Ltd (PiL), a post-punk band formed by former Sex Pistols frontman John Lydon (Johnny Rotten). Jah Wobble’s distinctive bass lines and experimental approach to music have made him a notable figure in the world of alternative and world music. He has a vast back catalogue , including three big anthologies .  He still tours extensively with his band The Invaders of the Heart. He also tours performing Metal Box – Rebuilt in Dub. 

Early Life:

Jah Wobble was born in Stepney, East London. His interest in music began at an early age. His love for reggae and dub music played a crucial role in shaping his musical influences. He thanks punk for giving him the encouragement to start playing bass. 

Public Image Ltd (PiL):

In 1978, Jah Wobble joined Public Image Ltd as the bassist, contributing significantly to the band’s sound. His powerful bass lines were a key element in PiL’s pioneering post-punk sound, combining elements of punk, dub, and experimental rock. Wobble’s collaboration with John Lydon during the late 1970s produced influential albums like “Metal Box” and “Public Image: First Issue.”

Solo Career:

Even before leaving PiL in 1980, Jah Wobble embarked on a diverse and prolific solo career. He explored various musical genres, including world music, ambient, and electronic. His solo work often featured collaborations with musicians from different cultural backgrounds, further expanding his sonic palette.

Jah Wobble has released numerous albums throughout his career, including solo works such as “Betrayal” (1980), “Rising Above Bedlam” (1991), “Take Me To God” (1994) , “Molam Dub” (2000) “Chinese Dub” (2008) “Realm of Spells” (2018) Metal Box – Rebuilt In Dub (2021) and “A Brief History of Now” (2023). His discography reflects a constant evolution and experimentation with different musical forms.

The albums Metal Box – Rebuilt In Dub (2021) and “A Brief History of Now” (2023) mark Wobble’s first U.S. releases since 2007’s “Heart & Soul”. Both albums were co-produced and performed with guitarist Jon Klein (Siouxsie & The Banshees / Specimen)

Philosophy and Influence:

Jah Wobble’s musical journey is characterized by a fearless exploration of sound and a willingness to break musical boundaries. His commitment to embracing diverse cultures and styles serves as an inspiration to aspiring musicians, encouraging them to push creative boundaries and explore the richness of global music traditions.

JOIN OUR EMAIL LIST

Thanks for joining our mailing list!

Check your email for a confirmation!

1354 West Wabansia Ave Chicago, Illinois 60642

773.227.4433

PRIVACY POLICY

Powered by ROCKHOUSE PARTNERS , an ETIX company ​.

JAH WOBBLE’S METAL BOX – REBUILT IN DUB

The garage, london.

• Fri 26th April 2024
• Date: Fri 26th April 2024
• Doors Open: 7:00 pm
• On Sale: Tickets Open

Tickets are now available for JAH WOBBLE’S METAL BOX – REBUILT IN DUB at The Garage !

For more events, check out what’s on here .

JAH WOBBLE’S METAL BOX – REBUILT IN DUB ON SPOTIFY

Get in the mood with our spotify playlist, latest news & updates.

The Latest from Instagram

@thegaragehq, the latest from twitter.

🎟️ ON SALE NOW 🎟️ Tickets are now available for @iamblueyesmusic in September! 📅 Wednesday 27 September 2023 🎟️ Tickets available here 👉 https://t.co/hncNbJRXtN https://t.co/MsmRADYypR

22nd June 2023

75% of tickets have all gone for @LOVErevisited66 + special guests @LargePlantsBand in July. Act fast before they sell out! 📅 Saturday 15 July 2023 🎟️ Get yours here 👉 https://t.co/35xFiLVWdB https://t.co/sluiDKL55w

21st June 2023

Our website uses cookies to understand how you and other visitors use our website so we can personalise your experience and for advertising purposes. For full information please visit our cookies policy here.

• It’s easy, affordable, and cost-effective to be seen at The Vinyl District.
• Contact us.
• The Vinyl District – Black Friday Vinyl Sweepstakes Rules
• The Vinyl District, your daily brick and mortar, indie record store fix.
• The Vinyl District Record Store Locator App Privacy Policy

Graded on a Curve: Jah Wobble, Metal Box – Rebuilt in Dub

An intriguing concept gone terribly sideways, this. Revisiting one of the most adventurous—and sinister—LPs of its time may have seemed like a grand idea to former Public Image Limited bassist Jah Wobble, whose loping, off-kilter playing lent 1979’s Metal Box much of its malevolent charm. The problem is he leaches all of the dread from the original on his 2021 remake, Metal Box – Rebuilt in Dub .

Without John Lydon—whose vocals added pure demented menace to the proceedings—what have we got? A bass pumped up on steroids. Lots of improvisation—much of it bad, because borderline pleasant—that totally dissipates the relentlessly bad vibe of a drone that characterizes the original. And, ultimately, an album that totally fails to put one’s nerves on edge. Metal Box – Rebuilt in Dub isn’t a reimagining of Metal Box , it’s a betrayal of the very spirit of Metal Box , and why anyone would listen to this perverse act of urban gentrification more than once is beyond me.

Wobble—who’s long been one of the most prolific players on the music scene, delving into a dog’s breakfast of genres and collaborating with seemingly everyone, including Can’s Holger Czukay, Ginger Baker, The Edge, and Pharoah Sanders—plays bass, keyboards, and programmed drums. He also takes on John Lydon’s vocal duties, which is unfortunate—I can only describe his generally stilted singing as posh Edwardian wooden. (Wobble’s desultory John Lydon imitation could be the reason some of the originals have been transformed into instrumentals.) John Klein, who plays Keith Levene in the proceedings, sometimes comes through in the nerve-fraying department, but generally comes up short. And several of the original’s best songs have gone inexplicably MIA–particularly “Death Disco” and “Radio 4.”

Opener “Albatross” exemplifies everything that is wrong—and not quite right enough—about Metal Box – Rebuilt in Dub. Gone are Lydon’s vocals and Wobble’s accelerated heartbeat bass. In their place we get a pummeling—Wobble powers through the song hard rock fashion. What it lacks in subtlety and character it makes up for with relentless aggression. What’s missing, and it may as well be everything, is the Public Image Limited version’s sinister alienation, and that clammy-hand-inducing feel that characterizes much of Metal Box . No disquiet here—it’s all power and glory, and there was nothing glorious about Metal Box.

Also missing in action on “Memories” is Lydon’s disquieting warble—what you get instead is the song on steroids, some fluttering guitar by Klein, a trumpet (synthesized? the credits don’t include trumpet) and synthesized strings. You’ll want to listen to it at top volume, but that was part of the beauty of the original—it was queasy-making at any volume. And that’s what’s lacking from Metal Box – Rebuilt in Dub: listener discomfort bordering on panic attack. You can’t listen to Metal Box dispassionately–it doesn’t afford you that luxury.

“Swan Lake” is the LP’s chief offender. Gone are Lydon’s strangled vocals, Klein’s Levene impersonation is sub par, and Wobble replaces the song’s minimalist malevolence with mock concert piano, violin, and other pieces of prettiness that combined with the song’s sheer power, you will hallucinate the Trans-Siberian Express. It’s all a play on the song title’s classical music origins, I suspect, but the results are all so very ‘orrid and tacky, and leave a bad taste in the ear.

“Poptones” is another lamentable Superfund clean-up site—Wobble’s stiff upper lip vocals are a poor substitute for Lydon’s brilliantly sinister performance—what is “Poptones” without his “the cassette played… poptones!” Picknicking—and dying—in the English countryside shouldn’t sound like this. Gone as well is the song’s lopsided feel—Wobble’s bass is bigger, cleaner, and far too linear for its own good. The synthesizers don’t help either. They add a dimension that distracts from the song’s terrifying intensity, and they’re far too… pretty. And the Japanese bit is a needless and counterproductive distraction, as are the jazzy piano interlude, the oompah horns in the middle, and the orchestral end.

It’s all so much clutter. What was so wonderful about the songs on the original was their stripped-down, remorseless drone—prettying them up with instrumental digressions and ornamentation sacrifices their relentless sense of dis-ease. The “Poptones” on Metal Box – Rebuilt in Dub is almost lovely in places—and I can’t think of a worse fate for it.

Wobble’s echo-laden vocals do Lydon a grave disservice on the supersized disco take of “Careering.” Try as he might, he lacks Lydon’s almost supernatural ability to conjure up existential nausea. What Wobble’s vocals sound like to me are placeholders—something thrown in temporarily until a real vocalist could come in and add character. And the song itself is too jazzy for its own good—this is mood music for dancing fools. I suppose you could say the original was mood music too—but the mood wasn’t this… upbeat. It was like being trapped in a car slowly skidding towards a high cliff.

Wobble’s reworking of instrumental “Graveyard” begins as a spot-on reproduction of the original, then opens up into an exercise in what can only be described as easy listening—the piano is too pretty by far, and the strings and horns are pure distraction. It’s all so very nice, and if there’s one thing Metal Box refuses to do its play nice. “The Suit” is a perfect demonstration of how Wobble has pumped up the bass, trading the original’s wonderful disorienting elasticity for raw power. And Wobble’s imitation of Lydon is a sad thing. The improvisation doesn’t help; on Metal Box the inexorable drone was all.

On Metal Box – Rebuilt in Dub far too much happens. And nowhere is this more evident than on the immensely depressing (but not in the right way) take of the breakneck “Socialist.” The original was simplicity itself—all bass and drums complemented by lots of synth burble. Wobble opens it with a voice (and then voices) going “Da da da da da da da da” until you think you’ll go mad, then follows it with some dreamier vocals singing twaddle. Then you get some far too busy percussion, some ferocious guitar, some intensity increase, and lots of other forms of busy work. It has its moments, but by the time those voices come back you’ll just want it to be over, please God please.

Sans Lydon’s vocals bonus track “Public Image” (from 1978’s First Issue ) is a wash from the get-go. Wobble’s portentous talk-speak is a desecration, and it doesn’t help that turning up the volume knob detracts from the original’s punk intensity. Nor does much of the silliness that follows. Wacky voices, synthesized voices, it all takes you a million miles from the original’s blowtorch simplicity.

On second bonus track “Fodderstompf,” also from First Issue , Wobble transforms the amusing but nervous-making cacophony of voices in the original into a stiff repetition of “We only wanted to be loved,” which I suspect old Johnny Rotten would have dismissed with a sneering, “Boring.” Then you get a big horn takeoff followed by a jazzy dub jam that ain’t half bad if that’s your kind of thing and a piano riff that is pure Happy Mondays. Not bad for what it is, but what it is is slick—I half expect the Brecker Brothers to burst into the studio and go full Steely Dan on the mother.

On Metal Box – Rebuilt in Dub Jah Wobble engages in lots of free-form improvisation, but wasn’t the very point of Metal Box that freedom is a risible illusion? Metal Box is a suit of barbed wire—you’re trapped in it, it’s horribly uncomfortable, and you have no freedom of movement. It induces aural claustrophobia—it’s indeed a box, and you’re inside it and can’t get out.

In his reinterpretation of Metal Box Wobble takes liberties, but Metal Box allows for no liberties, and by doing so Mr. Jah commits a sacrilege. There are those who will enjoy these remakes, but I would ask them to remember that enjoyment wasn’t on the programme in 1978. The whole point of Metal Box was to leave you feeling paranoid, disquieted—perhaps even a bit nauseous. It locked you naked in the trunk of a Japanese car while a cassette played pop tones, and all you had to look forward to was a bullet to the back of your head.

GRADED ON A CURVE: D+

SUPPORTING YOUR LOCAL INDIE SHOPS SINCE 2007

THE VINYL DISTRICT ARCHIVES

Jah Wobble : Metal Box – Rebuilt in Dub Tour

Mon Jul 15th, 2024 at 7:00PM

Hollywood Forever Cemetery 6000 Santa Monica Blvd. Los Angeles , CA 90038

6000 Santa Monica Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90038 (Get Directions)

Find Events

• Comedic Events
• Concert / Music Festival
• Sports / Health / Recreation
• Film & TV
• Sunset Strip
• Design District
• Santa Monica Blvd
• Hollywood Improv
• Hamburger Mary's
• The Peppermint Club
• The Comedy Store
• Dynasty Typewriter
• The Laugh Factory
• The Viper Room
• Whisky A Go Go
• The Roxy Theatre
• Bar Lubitsch
• Hollywood Bowl
• Hollywood Forever Cemetery
• Santa Monica Pier
• The Getty Center
• Walt Disney Concert Hall
• Greek Theatre

Breaking Sound

Legendary charity bingo, wowashwow, kwasi, kindal tate, black from home, happy place, aida rodriguez, juneteenth celebration t-pain plus special guests, wednesday all-star comedy, subscribe to our newsletter.

You want special offers, deals, and the inside scoop on the best activities in West Hollywood? Just opt in below. 👇

Jah Wobble, Metal Box: Rebuilt in Dub Tour

Thu Jul 11 2024 at 08:00 pm to 10:30 pm

441 West Canfield Street, Detroit, Michigan 48201, United States | Detroit, MI

Where is it happening?

Event Location & Nearby Stays:

Host or Publisher Third Man Records

It's more fun with friends. share with friends, discover more events in detroit.

Soul on Ice Detroit Drinking Den

4114 Vernor Hwy, Detroit, MI 48209, USA

Lager House

2905 Beaufait, Detroit, MI, United States, Michigan 48207

Belle Isle Beach

7130 E Jefferson Ave

VIEWS BAR & GRILL

WARNING THIS IS A BILLBOARD SEE FLYER FOR ACCURATE EVENT DETAILS

Dr. Lavonne M. Sheffield Bridge Center

DELMAR Detroit

The Shadow Gallery

The Sandbox Lounge (Behind Mix Bricktown)

82 Clairmount Ave

Sloppy Crab Restaurant

Baker's Keyboard Lounge

715 E Milwaukee Ave

Your neighborhood

What's Happening Next in Detroit?

This website uses cookies and other tracking technologies to better personalize your browsing experience, to analyze website traffic, and to present you with targeted content from the partner venues and organizations you visit on etix.com.

By selecting "Accept", you consent to the use of these cookies and other tracking technologies.

An Evening With Jah Wobble: Metal Box - Rebuilt in Dub Tour

Mississippi studios.

* Does not include convenience or handling fees.

Never Miss The Artists You Love!

Register for a See account here to import your Spotify library or ‘follow’ artists you find on our site to add them to your ‘favourites’. We will send you email alerts every time one of your favourite artists goes on tour.

In your user account, you can import your Spotify library or ‘follow’ artists you find on our site to add them to your ‘favourites’. We will send you email alerts every time one of your favourite artists goes on tour.

Jah Wobble's Metal Box Rebuilt In Dub

Lighthouse. wednesday 15 may 2024 at 20:15.

This event is now in the past - Jah Wobble's Metal Box Rebuilt In Dub at Lighthouse on Wednesday 15 May 2024 at 20:15.

Find more Jah Wobble's Metal Box Rebuilt In Dub performances  

• Private Events
• Annie O’Toole

GREAT AMERICAN MUSIC HALL

Jesse Dayton

with Mike Stinson

Mike Stinson

Event Doortime: 7:00PM / Event Showtime: 8:00PM

at Great American Music Hall

$24.00-$27.00

Share Event

MELT-BANANA

with Tomato Flower, babybaby_explores

TOMATO FLOWER, BABYBABY_EXPLORES

Event Doortime: 6:30PM / Event Showtime: 7:30PM

$27.00-$29.00

Hot Water Music 30th Anniversary Tour feat. Quicksand

Hot Water Music

with Quicksand, Tim Barry

Quicksand, Tim Barry

$39.00-$42.00

Los Campesinos!

$27.50-$30.00

Goldenvoice Presents

*CANCELLED* November Ultra

November Ultra

Event Doortime: 8:00PM / Event Showtime: 9:00PM

Singer/Songwriter

Dark Entries 15 Year Anniversary

Brontez Purnell

with Loveshadow, Topographies, Topazu

Loveshadow, Topographies, Topazu

$18.00-$25.00

D’Aydrian Harding

The Stay Sober Summer Tour

$45.00-$125.00

Hip Hop/Rap

An Evening With...

Jah Wobble - Metal Box – Rebuilt in Dub Tour

$30.00-$35.00

Sign Crushes Motorist

with Olivia O., Argo Nuff

Olivia O., Argo Nuff

$25.00-$30.00

Great American Music Hall & Psyched! Radio present ...

Beachwood Sparks / The Asteroid No.4

Beachwood Sparks, The Asteroid No.4

with Noelle & The Deserters, Pink Breath of Heaven

Noelle & The Deserters, Pink Breath of Heaven

Alejandro Escovedo

with James Mastro

James Mastro

$33.00-$36.00

with Inter Arma, The Keening

Inter Arma, The Keening

$25.00-$29.00

Doom/Stoner Metal

Join Our Mailing List

We’ll keep you in the know!

Jah Wobble & The Invaders Of The Heart announce 2023 UK Tour

Pin It on Pinterest

Metal Box: Rebuilt in Dub

STREAM OR BUY:

Release Date

Discography timeline, user reviews, track listing, similar albums.